Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 HEALTH
Wednesday 18 July 2018

Endless Vacation

school summer vacation is three months long place conflicts – causing lowered office perfor-
because immigrants could not exclude their mance. Some companies are resorting to mak-
children from the farming demands during the ing their employees to take vacation days or
short growing season. Similarly, the spring re- “time out” in order to improve their profit mar-
cess coincides with the labor intensive period gin. In our clinic we see many of our patients
when live stock gave birth and crops needed take a mini vacation or “time out” when they
to be sowed and the fall break coincides with come in for an acupuncture session.
the traditional harvest period. Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy that
A forth reason for a rest is health related. Without is becoming more widespread in the West uses
question, the greatest health benefit is where a various procedures, such as heat and pressure
vacation helps in your stress reduction program. but mainly fine needles, to stimulate points on
My father, who lived ninety six robust years, told the body to relieve pain by rebalancing the
me several times, a heart attack is natures way flow of energy. The world health organization
of telling you to slow down. Someone with ail- has listed many conditions treated safely and
ing health has few prospects. Sickness carries a effectively by acupuncture including, allergies,
By Dr. Carlos Viana message that only the wisest heed. hypertension, injuries, chronic pain, depression
A fifth motivation for a vacation is a respite and fatigue.
Aruba, with our beautiful beaches and per- from our profession or occupation. This break Many of these are interrelated with stress. While
fect climate is an endless vacation paradise. could be the most important. We labor franti- many of our patients come in for their twenty
However, the summer is traditionally known as cally to make ourselves more comfortable and minute session to relieve pain; our policy of turn-
“vacation time.” With the children home from end up with the byproduct of modern society, ing cell phones off or on silent allows our clients
school, people make extensive plans to catch stress. Continuing stress causes a whole host to more fully relax. After their sessions many re-
up on all the things they never seem to have of health problems. A recent survey reported alize that the treatment has gone beyond pain
enough time to do. They arrange elaborate forty percent of North Americans are suffering reduction and they feel a balance and harmo-
family reunions and fly off to more exotic loca- from chronic stress. Stress is what pushes some ny in their body, mind and spirit.
tions. people decide to finally take a vacation. Early My father once told me that he had never
signs of stress are Mother Nature’s way of telling heard anyone state in their closing years that
Traditionally, we vacation for several reasons. us something is wrong and needs our attention. they wished that they had worked harder. In
Though not all countries have evolved into the A break from work could be vital to our well be- our pursuit to make ourselves more comfort-
practice of vacationing, most do provide some ing. Unfortunately this critical period is also he able, our daily affairs have a way of obscuring
time off for newly married couples. The “hon- least respected. Weekly, we observe tourists more important issues. Issues we ignore until we
eymoon,” originally month long, was a reprieve trying to accomplish the most possible during are forced to retire or Mother Nature gives us
from daily pressures where almost total strang- their vacation. Enjoying all that the Island has her message in sickness.
ers could adjust to living with another person. to offer, they are partying, gambling, and franti- Get the point; a diversion from daily responsibili-
Today the “honeymoon” can be an extension cally pursuing their hobbies. Their motto is “work ties can rejuvenate our lives. Either this week-
of the courting period where new couples can hard, play hard.” end at home, or this summer spent in an exotic
agree on goals of their joint lives together. Although the exercise we do on vacation can place like Aruba, take time to reflect on health.
A second reason for a vacation is the “second be a good stress reducer, moderate exercise Schedule a spa treatment between water
honeymoon.” Special observances of wedding needs to be done on a regular basis to contrib- sports and rounds of golf. Have some tropical
anniversaries are usually reserved for milestone ute to overall health. Not working out the rest fruit on the breakfast buffet instead of coffee
dates like the tenth, twenty-fifth and the “gold- of the year and then overdoing it on vacation and toast, put away the laptop and enjoy the
en” fiftieth anniversaries. During these honey- causes more stress. Many people need to re- view. Come in for an acupuncture “time out.” If
moon replays, some couples have a ceremony turn home to their “normal” lives to recuperate you’re ready for a complete makeover, wheth-
where wedding vows are repeated. This vaca- from their vacation. These people may have er you’re visiting or live in the land of endless va-
tion then serves as a reaffirmation of the original had a temporary break from their work and cationers, at our natural healing center, we do
hopes and aspirations for their marriage. problems, but they certainly have not benefit- full health evaluations, based on science, but
A third reason is a school break. School breaks ed physiologically from their vacation. with a stress free, barefoot, Island flavor. Call us
were originally provided because children were It has been estimated that managers spend for a mini or maxi vacation that can have ef-
essential in agricultural areas. In North America, at least 25 percent of their time resolving work- fects that last long after the break.q