Ever want to lay down on a bed of nails? Turns out it’s better for you than you’d think. The Yantra Mat updates this 4,000-year-old form of Chinese medicine. The mat has 8,820 acupressure points, which reputedly help to improve your circulation, lower blood pressure and help increase nutrient delivery to key areas of your body. All that, and it’s shockingly comfortable. Don’t be surprised if it inspires you to indulge in that other ancient form of traditional medicine: the nap; $49; YantraWay.com.
Skin Treat
After you treat your body to an intensive outdoor workout, treat your skin to a lush session of rehydration therapy with this kit from H2O Plus. Powered by antioxidant-rich marine botanicals and sea minerals, the Oasis Intensive Hydration System consists of 4 formulas designed to clean and deeply hydrate your skin; $58; H2OPlus.com.
Joint Savers
In a community fortunate enough to have summer-like weather all year round, outdoor activities can be enjoyed almost every day. At times, however, injuries to the knee, shoulder or hip can slow you down. Simple twisting injuries can be debilitating to both competitive and recreational athletes. Seeking care and treatment from a board-certified orthopedic surgeon can get you moving again. An orthopedic surgeon will diagnose your problem through a thorough history, physical exam and sometimes with diagnostic studies such as an X-ray or an MRI. Once the problem is identified and a diagnosis is made, every attempt is explored to treat the problem without surgery. If after physical therapy and medicinal management the pain persists, surgery is considered. Depending on the type of problem, either an open procedure or an arthroscopy can often be done to repair a problem in the joint. In an arthroscopy, the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts an instrument with a camera to illuminate and magnify the joint. The surgeon can see inside your knee or shoulder by looking at a high-definition monitor. Small tools can also be inserted into the joint to repair the problem. Due to the smaller incisions, faster healing and a more rapid recovery is possible. At the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, our highly trained, board-certified physicians are committed to restoring mobility, whether you’re suffering from a work or sports injury or arthritis.
› Dr. Carlos J. Lavernia, Medical Director of the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, is a renowned Orthopedic Surgeon and Biomedical Engineer. He performs comprehensive research and surgical procedures in a single state-of-the-art facility. For more information, visit OrthroMercy.com.
“Some people think that doctors and nurses can put scrambled eggs back into the shell.”
— Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Famous Choppers
Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s false teeth were not made of wood. They were more likely made of gold, ivory, lead — or, in a pinch, a nice mix of previously-owned human and animal teeth.
Bubble Maker
Those who accidentally swallow their Trident or Bubble Yum need not fear: chewing gum does not sit in your stomach for 7 years like your mom told you. It moves through your system like any other mostly-indigestible food. Corn, anyone?
Shark Attack
Author William I. Lane’s 1992 book claimed that Sharks Don’t Get Cancer right from the cover. Turns out they actually do, along with just about every other animal on Earth — from housecats to hawks. Not even Jaws is safe from this one.
