Photo by Antonika Chanel on Unsplash
Written By: Dr. Hoon C. Kim, Acupuncturist and Human Touch Wellness Council Member

What is Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune Diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues.  There are more than eighty serious chronic illnesses in this category including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and Guillain–Barré syndrome. 

According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) twenty percent of the population suffers from autoimmune disorders.  Each disease appears uncommon on an individual basis but, as a group, the disorders make up the fourth-largest cause of disability among women. 

Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions including acupuncture and Asian medicine have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment particularly for use in providing pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life.

What Causes Autoimmune Disease?

Under normal conditions, an immune response cannot be triggered against the cells of one's own body. In certain cases, however, immune cells make a mistake and attack the very cells that they are meant to protect. This can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases which encompass a broad category of over 100 diseases in which the person's immune system attacks his or her own tissue.

The exact mechanisms causing these changes are not completely understood, but bacteria, viruses, toxins, and some drugs may play a role in triggering an autoimmune process in someone who already has a genetic (inherited) predisposition to develop such a disorder. It is theorized that the inflammation initiated by these agents, toxic or infectious, somehow provokes in the body a "sensitization" (autoimmune reaction) in the involved tissues.

As the disease develops vague symptoms start to appear, such as joint and muscle pain, general muscle weakness, possible rashes or low-grade fever, trouble concentrating, or weight loss. The following symptoms may point toward something being wrong: numbness and tingling in hands and feet, dry eyes, hair loss, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or repeated miscarriages can also be caused by an autoimmune response.

How Acupuncture Treats Autoimmune Disorders

According to East Asian medicine, autoimmune disorders occur when there is imbalance within the body. Imbalance can come from an excess or deficiency of yin and yang that disrupts the flow of Qi, or vital energy, through the body.   Acupuncture is used to help the body restore balance, treating the root of the disorder, while specifically addressing the symptoms that are unique to each individual.

Clinical research has shown that acupuncture causes physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure, body temperature and the immune system.

In addition to acupuncture, your treatment program to manage your autoimmune disorder may involve a combination of therapies including stress reducing exercises, moderate physical activity, herbal medicine and nutritional support.

While attending the CES (Consumer Electronic Show) show this year in Las Vegas with Tough Tested and my racecar, I got to meet the wonderful people from Human Touch. They had come to my booth, stopped to say hello and ask some questions about my racecar. I immediately loved their positive energy. We took some great photos and I promised to check out their booth the next day.

If you have never been to the CES show, let me tell you, it makes for some very long days of standing!  My feet and back were aching from standing around for three days.  As promised, I still wanted to drop by the Human Touch booth. I figured with all my aches and pains this was probably the best time to go check out massage chairs.

Upon arriving at the booth I could see that it was very popular. There was a very long line to test out these chairs.  When it became my turn, I quickly hopped in to a really beautiful red chair. A wonderful 5-minute demo message was started. It was one of the best 5 minutes of the show! When I arrived at the booth, my back on down to my feet were aching. After just five minutes I got up feeling energized and refreshed. My feet no longer were screaming!

There is something you need to know about my history. At about the age of 8, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis. I began with a 15% left Thoracic curve. I had to wear a hard shell preventative brace that covered my entire torso from my hips to my neck for 20 hours a day. After wearing numerous braces, that failed to prevent the curve from progressing, I had progressed to a 40% Left Thoracic curve with a rib hump. My left shoulder was 4 inches higher than my right. The curve caused my chest to begin to impede on my heart and lungs. When I was 15 years old, it was determined that I needed to have corrective Scoliosis surgery. I entered the hospital in Phoenix and came out not only straighter, but with two 12-inch titanium rods in my back.

Since I was very young, all I have ever wanted to do was race. I would race the kids on my street on my bicycle. I was the little kid that loved watching NASCAR on the television. When I was ten years old I began to race Quarter Midgets. Since then I have worked my way up to Bandoleros, Legends, Late Models, Super Late Models and have even had a shot in ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World Trucks. It was when I was racing Legends that I had to take a year off to recover from Scoliosis surgery.  I listened to everything my doctor told me to do, worked extra hard in physical therapy and ate extremely healthy. My doctors were amazed when I was fully healed in nine months and wanted to get back in my racecar seat. My Thoracic area is now the strongest part of my back. The only thing I will never be able to do is a back bend, and I don’t think I will ever miss doing that. 

It was after learning about my history of Scoliosis and the fact that I am involved in a high impact sport that I was asked to be a part of the Human Touch Wellness Council. I was so honored when asked.  I am excited that Human Touch not only meticulously designs their massage chairs, but they truly care about well-being, fitness, wholeness, strength and recovery. 

So far I am really enjoying my NOVO XT chair. Delivery was a breeze. I have found my stress level reduced and I am sleeping much better. I am excited to try the chair after a race in my NASCAR Super Late Model. The placement of my rods always causes deep bruising in my lower thoracic area after long periods in my racing seat, and I hope that the NOVO XT will help with this. I am looking forward to sharing with you how well my chair helps me to recover from back pain and accelerates my recovery.

Human Touch®, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair® recliners, and other wellness solutions, has been honored with five 2018 Awards for Design Excellence (ADEX). Conducted each year by the Design Journal, the ADEX awards recognizes the superior product design of furnishings marketed and sold throughout the international architecture and design industry, and this year the annual competition received entries from 600 companies. This is the eighth year that Human Touch products have been recognized by the ADEX committee. 

“Human Touch continues to impress our committee each year with their innovative and attractive designs,” says John Platter, ADEX Executive Director. “The ADEX awards are the largest awards program in the design industry, and we’re proud to recognize Human Touch for the eighth year running.”

Human Touch’s ADEX-winning wellness solutions include:

*  The Human Touch Novo XT massage chair received a Platinum ADEX Award for its distinctive unibody design, which follows a unique L-track that massages the entire back, from the top of the shoulders all the way down to the glutes. The space-saving wellness solution requires only 2” of wall clearance, and features a full-body stretch, Bluetooth speakers, lumbar heat, cloud touch acupressure, zero-gravity massage and an extending foot-and-calf massager. The Novo XT massage chair is endorsed by the World Federation of Chiropractic as an optimal way to improve spinal health and relieve overall stress.

*  The Human Touch Perfect Chair® PC-LiVE™ zero-gravity recliner also won a Platinum ADEX Award for combining innovative design with therapeutic benefits. Like all Perfect Chairs from Human Touch, the PC-LiVE combines contemporary architecture with old-world craftsmanship. The physician-recommended, zero-gravity seating position offered by Human Touch’s Perfect Chairs is made even more perfect with the PC-LiVE by using 3D EasePoint Technology™, which features a proprietary and patented fluid-cell cushion that distributes pressure evenly across the entire seating surface to deliver the benefits of zero-gravity in any seating position.

*  The Human Touch Perfect Chair® PC-610 Omni-Motion Classic zero-gravity recliner received a Gold ADEX Award for its stylish design using hand-carved wood and luxuriously crafted leather upholstery. The dual-motor mechanism allows for infinite comfort positions and provides a unique balance of support and seating comfort by placing the body in a zero-gravity, virtually weightless position that physicians recommend as the healthiest way to sit.

*  The Human Touch Reflex SOL Foot and Calf Massager won a Gold ADEX Award for its combined use of Human Touch’s exclusive CirQlation® and Figure-Eight Technologies® that are designed to emulate those of a professional masseuse. By incorporating reflexology massage, a popular holistic and complementary therapy, the Reflex SOL helps to improve general health and relieves stress and pain in other parts of the body. The calming effects of the Reflex SOL are complimented by under-foot vibration to soothe the feet, while WarmAir Technology provides the ultimate healing comfort.

*  The iJOY® Massage Anywhere by Human Touch earned a Gold ADEX Award as a powerful, portable solution that provides the perfect massage anytime (and anywhere). The iJOY Massage Anywhere uses a rechargeable battery to provide two full hours of portable massage, and offers the same powerful FlexGlide® orbital massage found in the iJOY line of massage chairs.

“Here at Human Touch, we are committed to educating and providing our consumers with lifestyle products that fit their needs,” said David Wood, CEO of Human Touch. “In doing so, we complement design, function and comfort without compromising any of these elements. We are honored to receive each of our five awards and look forward to receiving continued ADEX recognition in the coming years with future products.”

About Human Touch

Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that have been delivering indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for almost 40 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today’s hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.

Media Contact:
Megan Harvey
Direct Ph: 562-733-7317
Direct Fax: 562-424-7846
Corp. Ph: 562-426-8700
mharvey@humantouch.com
www.humantouch.com

How does Olympian and World Champion Triathlete, Andy Potts, keep his competitive edge? A strict training regimen that just won’t quit.

Learn just what it takes to become a champion from the Ironman legend himself. It certainly isn’t easy, but his training and recovery schedule has helped him to achieve over 28 Ironman 70.3 first place titles since he took home his first Ironman 70.3 World Champion title in 2007.

Learn more about Andy Potts, and how Human Touch products help him to bring his best each and every day, in this press release.

Mr. Goosen to enrich the Human Touch Wellness Council with his insight and expertise as a top-ranked Official World Golf champion

Megan Harvey
Direct Ph: 562-733-7317
Direct Fax: 562-424-7846
Corp. Ph: 562-426-8700
mharvey@humantouch.com
www.humantouch.com

Image By: Haley Powers
Written By: Jill Roberts, wellnessgeeky.com

What If I told you that there is a way to make your home look beautiful, impress your friends and improve your health all at the same time?

Crazy? Not really.

There are a few products that can bring luxury, wellness and aesthetic appeal right into your living space.

Whether you want to relax your back, make your workspace more comfortable and relaxing, or you simply want a better sleep, there are few brands that will make your dream a reality.

Here are 5 products that will take your family's happiness and well-being to the next level:

Modern Massage Chairs

With the technology that modern high-end chairs are incorporating nowadays, you may want to think about skipping a visit or two to a massage therapist.

A modern massage chair not only comes with a striking aesthetic appeal but also features a few settings and programs that can deliver a relaxing and therapeutic deep-tissue massage for your back, legs, neck and any other areas you can imagine.

It will stretch your sore muscles and help to rejuvenate a fatigued body.

A prime example of a luxury chair with up-to-date modern technology as well as modern design is Human Touch® Novo XT.  It can provides a soothing massage from head to toe. With 34 auto-wellness programs, the chair offers perfect immersion, effective therapeutic relaxation and complete recovery.

Its innovative L-Track Unibody design extends massage coverage from the neck and shoulders all the way down to the glutes. Key features include zero-gravity positioning, full-body stretch, cloud touch acupressure and extendable leg rest that will adjust to your height. It strikes a perfect balance between design and function.

Reclining Work Stations

A set of well-designed reclining work stations can bring elegance into your working or gaming space, and will no doubt amaze your friends.

This new kind of beast now comes with a comfortable chair that provides a perfect leaning position for a superior concentration and productivity boost. That means you can work or game all day without getting tired or compromising your health.

Altwork Station has taken the market by storm as one of the most innovative and flexible standing desks for use in the office or at home. One of the most outstanding features of this workstation is that you are getting the comfort of a luxury chair that can allow you to transition from sitting to standing to a lying position.

It also comes with an adjustable metal monitor mount that will allow you to enjoy an optimal viewing experience. Your wireless peripherals can remain intact even as the desk moves, thanks to the magnets that are embedded in the desk as well as within the attached mouse pad.

That means you can type, browse and play video games in literally any position your heart desires.

Zero-Gravity Chairs

Sitting for an extended period of time can not only cause physical stress on the glutes and sciatic nerve but also put pressure on your heart.

Relaxing in zero-gravity position allows body weight to be evenly distributed, which eliminates uncomfortable, painful and unhealthy pressure points while ensuring better blood flow.

One of the models that can do just that is the Perfect Chair® PC-LiVE™. This stress relieving chair can allow you to sit or lie down in any position without feeling a pinch of discomfort or pain.

It is designed with 3D EasePoint Technology™ that uses a fluid-cell cushion to displace pressure while distributing it evenly on the entire seating surface, eliminating harmful pressure points.

Another defining feature are the far-infrared Jade Stones that deliver healing warmth up to three inches deep and can help soothe tired and aching muscles.

The chair’s premium high-density Memory Foam Plus is highly responsive and can contour the entire body. This feature maximizes comfort and provides the ideal support your body needs.

Other features you can enjoy include:

* Adjustable lumbar support
* Highly adjustable independent back and leg rest
* 5-way omni-motion control
* Premium leather upholstery

Infrared Saunas

The use of hot air baths as a method of treating and healing ailments has been around for thousands of years. Long before focused light therapy was invented, people created basic saunas by lighting a fire in an enclosed structure.

This traditional sauna uses heat to warm air in the surrounding area, which in turn warms your body. On the other hand, infrared sauna uses light to create heat that is capable of penetrating through human tissue.

The effect is increased sweating and heart rate, which comes with several anti-aging benefits. There are also a host of other benefits that come with this treatment.

An infrared saunas comes in a small, attractive wooden design that can either be installed inside or outside the house. Installing one near your bathroom or in the garden can not only act as a perfect wellness center, but might also surprise and impress your friends.

Apart from anti-aging benefits, infrared saunas come with a number of other great benefits such as detoxification, relaxation, weight loss and pain relief. It can also lower blood pressure, improve circulation, treat congestive heart failure, promote cell health and stimulate faster wound healing.

A study conducted in 2010 and published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicated that people with type II diabetes, who used far-infrared saunas, improved their quality of life compared to diabetic patients who used different lifestyle interventions.

People with diabetes are more likely to suffer from depression, chronic fatigue, pain and congestive heart failure. And infrared saunas have proven to provide relief to these ailments too.

Memory Foam Mattresses

A memory foam mattress is made of high-density foam that’s soft and energy absorbent.

This is one of the distinguishing factors from standard mattresses. The majority of memory foam mattresses are soft, flexible and resilient. Getting one for you or your family can provide you a great comfort, soothing relaxation and ultimately better night’s sleep.

Memory foam mattresses also provide additional benefits such as:

* True body fit that molds the body perfectly in response to heat and pressure
* Precise temperature control support
* Pain relief comfort
* Motion transfer resistance

All of the above-mentioned products offer viable options for you to enjoy a healthy and productive life from the comfort of your own home.

Apart from improving general wellness, these products can go a long way in reinforcing the aesthetic appeal of your living space. Try it and let us know how it improved and enhanced your life.

Image by: Tessa Rampersad

In holistic healing and crystal therapy, light green Jade stones are considered to be a lucky stone that is associated with good health, wealth and love. It is also associated with the 4th chakra, the spiritual source of power located in the heart center, and it is also connected with water and the astrological signs of Cancer, Pisces, Libra and Virgo. These affiliations can be broken down into three areas of benefit:

1. Being associated with the heart chakra, Jade is useful to treat stress, anxiety and disorders of blood circulation.
2. Being associated with the heart chakra and the sign of Virgo, it is the stone of love, power, and excellence.
3. Being associated with water, it has an effect on the sphere of the emotions and on the feminine sphere (once more, love, then intuition and compassion). It also has an effect on the kidneys, stimulating and regulating their function the expulsion of the calculations, and it also strengthens the immune system.

On the other hand, dark ocher Jade is associated with the 2nd chakra, the one of the lower abdomen. It strengthens the spleen and liver, stimulating the liver purification.

According to crystal therapy, Jade also has calming and soothing properties, it eliminates fear, comforts and calls for benevolence. Then, it helps the heart to find compassion to make the right decisions, balances emotions, and gives modest and clear ideas. Finally, it opens your mind and persuades you toward renewal.

Nephrite Jade is composed of the minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium. Magnesium makes up 40% of jade, and it gives off far-infrared heat.

Research conducted in 2002* concluded that the far-infrared rays found in Jade stones have certain kinds of effects on the human body, especially on skin, blood circulation, and skin cell vitalizing. Finely-ground Jade powders were screened for radiation properties and tested for the effects of far-infrared rays on the human skin by temperature observation using an infrared thermal analyzation tool. As a result of measuring the effect of Jade on the human body, it was discovered that Jade emits a high far-infrared ray.

These far-infrared rays penetrate the human body and facilitate the supply of oxygen by dividing the red blood cells that stick together, and extend those benefits by lightly shaking every cell vessel in the hands and feet to deliver the effect of warming the body.

Since there are so many health and wellness benefits associated with Jade, it is often used for skin products, pillows, mats, house building materials, jewelry, and as a deeply-penetrating heat agent in high-end furniture such as the Human Touch PC-610 Omni-Motion Classic recliner.

*Yoo BH, Park CM, Oh TJ, Han SH, Kang HH, Chang IS. Skin Research Institute, Pacific Corp. / R & D Center, 314-1, Bora-ri Kiheung-eup, Yongin-si, Kyounggi-do, Korea 449-900 JAN 31, 2002

Learn how Dr. James Rouse, Naturopathic Physician and Human Touch Wellness Council member, uses massage as a means of achieving his New Years Intentions for 2018 and beyond.

Human Touch, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair® recliners, and other wellness solutions, is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which will take place from January 9-12, 2018.

Human Touch will be exhibiting in Booth 18215 in the Tech East segment, inside of the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. They will be a part of a showcase by Innovation & Tech Today, an award-winning publication that specializes in new technology, business innovations, sustainability and STEM. During the show, Human Touch will be offering demonstrations of the most advanced massage chair on the market, the Human Touch Ascent Series Novo XT.

The Ascent Series Novo XT massage chair is the best way to supercharge your daily ritual and gain a high performance edge. Featuring a striking design and best-in-class performance, it provides a therapeutic massage that can be custom-tailored to fit your lifestyle so that you can be and feel your best. 

“We launched the Novo XT in 2017, and it quickly gained notoriety as the most innovative massage chair on the market,” says David Wood, CEO of Human Touch. “Since its debut, it has gained popularity among professional athletes ranging from NFL to PGA players, has helped rehabilitate people suffering from a variety of health conditions, and has allowed everyday people to live their lives with more calm and focus. CES has earned a reputation for being the best place to find new and innovative technology, and we’re proud to share our Novo XT there so that even more people can use this amazing wellness solution to live their best lives.”

The Novo XT captivates with its Unibody design, which enhances the style of any room. Its distinctive L-Track massage system also covers 60% more of your back than conventional massage chairs, delivering three-dimensional massage along the entire length of your spine and all the way down to your glutes. 

With 34 auto wellness programs and an easy-to-use LCD controller, the Novo massage chair is endorsed by the World Federation of Chiropractic as an optimal way to improve spinal health and relieve overall stress. It has also been awarded a Platinum Award for Design Excellence (ADEX), which recognizes superior product design of furnishings marketed and sold throughout the international architecture and design industry.

Create your own custom massage experience with five intensity settings, and three deep-tissue massage programs designed to soothe, stretch, and rejuvenate your entire body. Whether you’re preparing for an intense workout, recovering from a lingering injury, or winding down after a long day at the office, the Novo XT is the perfect way for you to supercharge your daily ritual. The Novo XT is currently available in Black, Brown, Cream, Red, and Gray, and has a retail price of $8,999.

The CES event showcases more than 3,800 exhibiting companies, including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more, and draws over than 165K attendees from 150 countries.

Join Human Touch in Booth 18215 at CES 2018 to experience the amazing Novo XT Massage Chair for yourself, and find out what massage every day can do to help you be your best and feel your best.

About Human Touch

Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that have been delivering indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for almost 40 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today's hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.

Media Contact:
Megan Harvey
Direct Ph: 562-733-7317
Direct Fax: 562-424-7846
Corp. Ph: 562-426-8700
mharvey@humantouch.com
www.humantouch.com

Every morning I move from my daily workout and immediately into my Novo XT massage chair to mediate and visualize what I would love to experience. And this morning, YOU “popped” into my mind and into my heart.

I’m willing to bet that we will both spend a portion of this week before the New Year thinking about the year in retrospect and the one to come. Oftentimes we may find that we all too easily put ourselves into our own personal penalty box for not being perfect, and for not reaching our vision for the preceding year. Well that doesn’t work, but today we can take the path of heart, and help ourselves learn to create a life that we love.

A life we love…really?

Consider how much of your 2018 desires are connected to following thru on intentions to increase your peace, your positivity, your prosperity and your overall performance. I believe we all want a way to support each of these goals with a practice that is easy and powerfully effective. Easy and powerful? Too good to be true? No. Here’s how it works.

The body of science-based research confirms that massage serves our mind and body to promote physiological and neurochemical empowerment, balance and harmony. When our minds and our bodies have the support of massage under its wings, our overall life performance takes flight. When we optimize our innate chemistry we will experience our life by design; less stress, greater resiliency, stronger immune system function, a decrease in pain and an overall increase in energy, positivity, high level performance and peace.

Do any of these mimic and or connect with what you have your list for 2018? In times like these, we are all too often grading ourselves on expressing a “human doing”. The key to creating a life you love is more about becoming a human being, and one way to make this happen, is engaging your Human Touch with massage.

Happy New Year to you!