January 2008 - Posts
By Diane Mapes, contributing writer
What it is: "Still Point Inducer” ($21.95)
Amazon.com
According to the manufacturer, the new and improved Still Point Inducer (SPI) will put you into “a state of deep relaxation,” relieve your headache and muscle pain, enhance your immune system efficiency, and encourage your body’s natural health. The SPI does this by reaching “soothing still points similar to those of CranioSacral Therapy,” an alt-med approach that’s been touted on everything from Oprah to ESPN.
My experience: I tend to work on a computer for 12 hours a day which can often result in blindingly bad tension headaches, so I was intrigued by the Still Point Inducer’s claims of easing headache and muscle pain. What I wasn’t prepared for, though, was the SPI’s appearance. It basically looks like a pair of small red rubber breasts. The idea is to rest the back of your head onto these rosy mounds for 10-15 minutes, up to four times a day. And let me tell you, those babies are firm, even on the “soft model” I tested.
CONTINUED >>
By Linda Dahlstrom, health editor
What it is: Ear candling (also called ear coning). Spa sessions are generally between 30 and 60 minutes and cost between $40 and $80.
Getty Images
Advocates of ear candling say it’s a natural way to remove excess wax and debris from inside the ear. A long, hollow, tapered “candle,” usually a cone made of muslin and coated with wax, is inserted into the ear and lit. Proponents say the smoke moves down the cone, into the ear and back out, creating a vacuum effect that draws out debris and wax.
My experience: I wouldn’t have thought that spending an hour with fire coming out of my ears would be relaxing. But the cushy massage table, heated pad cradling my neck, luxurious shoulder massage and soothing sounds of Enya quickly put aside my anxiety.
I’d read about ear candling online and seen horror stories about candle wax dripping back down into the ear itself, causing excruciating pain and serious injury. But I’d also read its praises and the accounts of people who swore by the procedure, saying it helped relieve fluid buildup and even tinnitus.
I’d had a mild cold a while back that was still causing my ears to pop. Maybe candling would make it go away?
CONTINUED >>
By Jacqueline Stenson, contributing health editor
What it is: Push Up Pro ($19.95)
Amazon.com
The user manual says the Push Up Pro is “the ultimate upper body workout!” With this product, which is actually two push-up grips that allow the user’s arms to rotate during the move, “more muscles are targeted more effectively while reducing strain on wrists and joints.” The Push Up Pro is “a must for anyone who is serious about getting in shape.”
Our experience: I’ve always found push-ups to be pretty punishing, so the idea that a fitness gadget might make them somehow better -- perhaps even easier or at least more likeable -- was enticing.
But the Push Up Pro certainly did not make them easier for me. With a normal push-up, you push against a stable floor surface. But the Push Up Pro has a rotating base that creates an unstable surface and requires additional effort just to stabilize your arms and support your upper body.
CONTINUED >>
