Thursday Thirteen

Today I thought I'd share with you some noninvasive health tips.
Acupressure points are places on the body that you can press or massage in order to relieve symptoms. They have been used for thousands of years on Chinese Medicine and go hand in hand with acupuncture. This is the same principle that some of those wrist bands use for motion sickness; they are pushing on particular points.

To use these pressure points, you should massage the area with a firm pressure for at least a minute. It might hurt a little.

Frequently you will find that the pressure point is more tender than surrounding areas. That is a good indicator that you are massaging the right place.

Here are a few that I use:

1. To relieve leg cramps, pinch together the ridges between the end of your nose and your upper lip. Hold it for a few seconds - it might hurt just a little - but your leg cramp will instantly release.

2. To help a headache, pinch the web of skin in between the thumb and first finger.

3. You can also help a headache by pressing points on each temple.

4. The spot right in between your eyebrows just above your nose will release tension and pressure in your sinuses. It also helps with anxiety.

5. For lung issues (coughs, congestion, etc), massage the area just beneath your collar bones.

6. For sinusitus, massage the area behind each nostril.

7. Sleeping issues can be addressed by massaging the points directly beneath your skull along the backside of your spine. Massage down toward your shoulders.

8. Relieve heartburn by massaging the area halfway between your belly button and your breastbone.

9. Treat allergies by pushing on the area between the big toe and second toe. You can also treat them by pushing on the area on the outside of your arm just above your elbow joint and below the muscle.

10. Anxiety and nervousness may be treated by pushing on the inside of the arm, in between the bones, about three fingers above the wrist line.

11. For asthma, push on the center of the breastbone, midway between the breasts.

12. Earaches may be treated by massaging the area at the front of the ears.

13. For general overall health, massage the entire ear. It has points that relate to all of the body systems and stimulating it will promote well being.

I am not an acupuncturist, doctor, or medical practitioner, so try these at your own risk. I see an acupuncturist and have read up on acpressure, and as I said, I find some of these spots beneficial. But I urge you to research your condition before using them. Pregnant women probably shouldn't try any of them at all.



Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 216th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.