Why You Should Massage Your Feet before Going to Bed

Ending your busy day of walking and standing around, with a nice relaxing foot massage is surely something everyone desire. Not only that it will relax you, but the foot massage will provide you with beneficial effects for both, your mental and physical health.

Foot massage is essential component of the alternative medicine called reflexology. Our feet have couple of nerve endings, reflexes, which are connected to different organs and systems in our body. Once we activate these reflexes through foot massage, they show therapeutic effects.

However, foot massages are recommended by health experts for improving the overall health of all age groups, and there are many studies which have actually proved this. Nursing & Health Sciences has published a 2002 study focusing on the benefits of foot massage, saying that it supports healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, especially improving relaxation, blood circulation, and a person’s own healing power. There’s no need of a professional masseur for a regular foot massage. Just do it yourself right before bedtime.

 

Foot Massage Health Benefits

1. Promotes Sound Sleep

We are often struggled by our everyday problems even before we fall asleep, which prevent a good sleep. A short massage on your feet will relax you and will encourage a sound sleep, although we know that a full body massage is ideal one. 

Massages support the free flow of energy, and stimulate the reflexes alongside meridians, thus relaxing you and enabling a restful sleep.

Critical Care Nursing journal in Iran has published a 2014 study, according to which heart patients, especially those with ischemic heart disease, should practice foot massage to improve the quality of their sleep.

2. Improves Blood Circulation

Most of us wear tight and uncomfortable shoes throughout the day, which is why the circulation in our feet is often restricted. In addition, the feet muscles of most people don’t get any exercises which only adds to the poor circulation.

Massaging the feet 10 to 20 minutes before bedtime is recommended for everyone, especially for diabetics as they have more chances of peripheral neuropathy.

This issue happens when nerves and tissues in the extremities, both feet and hands, aren’t supplied enough with oxygen and nutrients because of poor circulation. This can result in tingling, numbness, and burning sensation.

The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation have published a 2014 study which proves that the level of physical activity isn’t connected with massage benefits, since massaged have enhanced the vascular function in those who don’t practice exercises.

Impaired blood circulation can be the reason for high blood pressure, heart and kidney problems, organ damage and varicose veins.

3. Alleviates Low-Back Pain

Foot massage before going to bed is recommended for people suffering from low-back pain. They should use their thumbs to apply pressing alongside the arch of their feet for a short period of about 5 minutes.

The Nursing and Midwifery Iranian journal has published a 2012 study according to which reflexology is more beneficial and effective in lowering of the chronic back pain, than massages on the lower back itself.

This type of pain can cause difficulties in having a sound sleep, which is why you should reduce it with a nice foot massage.

4. Fights Anxiety and Stress

We have all felt anxious or stressed some time. By massaging your feet, you will lower your anxiety and stress, and you will experience more benefits than just relaxation.

Pressing specific feet reflexes promotes relaxation, and causes responses in the nervous system, such as lowered anxiety or stress. 

In order to find the reflex responsible for relieving stress, called the solar plexus reflex, squeeze your foot’s sides together. This reflex is located at the center of the scrunched area.

BMC Nursing has published a 2012 study which demonstrated that foot massage has reduced blood pressure and anxiety, while improving the mood in long-term people working with older patients with dementia. 

Foot massage is the perfect, effective way to deal with the everyday stress and anxiety.

5. Reduces Blood Pressure

Since high blood pressure can lead to myriad health problems, we should try to reduce it so that we can lower the risk of those other problems. A regular foot massage can help you in that.

PLOS One has published a 2016 study which states that aroma foot massage drastically reduced the mean diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Not only that, but it has also lowered the state anxiety score and increased the life scores related to mental health.

6. Prevents Lower-Leg Edema

This condition happens as a result of fluids build-up in the legs, causing painful, swollen and stiff legs. Some of the common causes of edema are poor blood circulation and pregnancy. This condition makes people have difficulties and pains in moving, and also sleep problems.

Besides stretching, swimming, or light exercise like walking, foot massage can as well help in fast relief from these symptoms. 

The International Journal of Nursing Practice has published a 2010 study which states that this type of massage has proved to be effective in edema treatment in pregnant women.

7. Lowers Foot and Other Chronic Pain

A nice massage on your feet will relax them, soothe and stretch the muscles, as well as lower the painful swelling.

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice has published a 2014 study which discovered that reflexology lowers pain and relaxes people with conditions such as chronic pain and whiplash injury.

Pain Management Nursing has published an American Society study from 2014, according to which foot massage was actually effective in postoperative management of pain in patients with breast surgery. 

 

How to Give Yourself a Foot Massage

You can easily massage your feet not relying on others, unlike massaging other parts of your body. In just half an hour regular foot massage, you will reap all of the mentioned benefits.

• Pour warm water in a large bowl, and add 2-5 drops of your favorite essential oil.
• Soak your feet in the warm water for about 10-20 minutes. Then pat dry them with a clean soft towel.
• After this, sit in your comfortable place. Put the right foot sole on your left knee, and spread some warm olive, coconut, or mustard oil on the same foot.
• Massage your foot with the oil, while moving the fingers back and forth along the bottom of your foot.
• After the sole massage, focus on the toes by extending, squeezing and flexing them in order to improve their flexibility.
• Do the same procedure on the other foot.

If You Press This Point On Your Foot Before Bed, This Is What It Does To Your Body!

The percentage of people suffering from insomnia is huge. In US this number is increasing little by little, and many people are worried about their lack of sleep.

You must have had this problem in some point in your life. You don’t have to be insomniac to have this problem from time to time, and it can happen to everyone. There is a little trick that comes from the acupuncture technique and a lot of people claimed that for them was a real salvation. 

The acupressure points for better sleep

The secret is in the point LV3, and this point is not only the cure for insomnia but for many problems connected to the quality of your sleep. This point can be found between your toe and second finger on your feet . This point should be pressed and hold like that for 5 seconds.

Another important point on your body that will treat insomnia thanks to the acupressure is the point P6. It can be found 3 fingers widths above the wrist, between tendons. In order to have effect you should press and hold the point P6 for 5 minutes.

The K1 point is also effective and it’s found at the center of the indentation below the foot ball. You should press this point for half a minute and then rest for 5 seconds. Do this a couple of times.

Press These Points On Your Body To Never Feel Tired Or Sick Again – Workout Hit

Chronic fatigue is an extremely contested medical disorder because of its complicated characterization of extreme tiredness that can’t be explained by any related underlying medical condition.

Its most troubling feature: in general rest doesn’t help. Since there is no cause for chronic tiredness currently, it’s believed to be a syndrome brought by a holistic combination of factors like viral infections, problems with the immune system or hormonal imbalances.

 

Symptoms of chronic fatigue affect several parts of the body and they include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Bigger lymph nodes in your throat or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Moving joint pain, without inflammation or infection
• Headaches you are not used to
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Unexplained depression (resulting in social isolation)
• Feeling tired long after exercises or experiencing mental stress

Treating Chronic Exhaustion with Meridian Lines

Meridian lines originate in ancient Chinese medicine. Referred to as “energy

highways” or “energy pathways,” in our body these meridian lines coordinator “Qi” (chee) energy flows. Meridians can be mapped and span over the entire human body; flowing within the body, corresponding to specific acupuncture points along its course.

According to the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences, the “meridian” explains the entire energy distribution system and, “helps us to comprehend how basic substances of our body (Qi, blood and body fluids) permeate the entire body.”

Considering that meridian lines are founded on the energetic distribution network of energetic manifestation, it’s no surprise that many have considered this ancient Chinese healing practice to treat of and relieve their chronic tiredness.

 

Tiredness and the Triple Warmer

Based on the Ancient Chinese Medicine of meridian lines, the energy line located behind the ear (aka “Triple Burner Meridian” or “Triple Warmer”) is correlated with depression and chronic exhaustion. There is absolutely no single physical organ for the Triple Warmer, rather, this energy line related to all organs, controlling the relationship between the hormone glands and hormonal distribution systems.

The name “triple warmer” is due to the matrimony in the body’s heat system, spirit and mind. With that, it works to regular water and heat channels throughout the body. If the triple warmer becomes over energized, it commences to seep energy from the immune system and attack the body, presenting itself in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Seeking out specialized help to calm the triple warmer can be an option, but subsiding it can certainly be accomplished in the comfort of your own home. Once you feel fatigued, drained or pulled, use one or both of these self-help energy ways to sedate the triple warmer meridian.

 

Option One:

1.Hold your left fingers under your left knee. At exactly the same time, keep your right fingers right above the left elbow. You’ll start to feel your pulse in both areas.

2.When you hold these points long enough, you’ll feel both pulses commence to synchronize. This will let you know that the points have been held long enough. If you cannot feel the pulses just hold for a couple of minutes.

3.Do the same pose on the right side of the body (right hand below right knee, left hand above right elbow) and again hold until pulses are synchronized, or up to 2 minutes.

 

Option Two:

1.Keep your left fingers at the indent at the outside of the left baby toe. At exactly the same time, hold your right fingers at the point between your base knuckles of on the left side, between your little and ring finger. Again you might feel pulses in both points – hold till the pulses beat in a synchronized way, or for up to 2 minutes.

2.Repeat with the other side of the body (right hand at right baby toe, left hands at base knuckles of right hand).

Using these meridian lines will help you treat chronic tiredness, but it is critical to evaluate your lifestyle and habits, and make an effort to find out the source. Don’t continue steadily to put stress on your spirit as well as your body.

Which Finger Should You Massage To Get Rid Of Headaches

If you are plagued with headaches, you know how frustrating it can be. That persistent ache in your head can be a nuisance in the least. When the pounding pain is at its worst, it can keep you in bed and out of commision. Medications and relaxation techniques are possible solutions, but there is another alternative that might surprise you. Learn the magic of massaging a particular finger and your headaches could go away.

Try the Tips of Your Fingers
According to numerous researches acupressure techniques can relieve headache pain. One way to find effective relief, especially when it is around the sinus areas, is to massage the tips of the fingers. The thumb is the only finger that will not be useful. Massage firmly close to the fingernails. Work on all four and begin to feel relief.

 

Focus on Your Index Finger
Wiki How shares a variety of remedies for curing a headache, including acupressure that centers around the index finger. Rather that massaging the finger itself, it is recommended to move to the base of the index finger and press firmly on the webbing of skin that is found between the index finger and the thumb. Relief should come with steady pressure. This method is especially effective for tension headaches.

 

Trust the Valley of Harmony
Dr. Oz offers a wealth of advice when it comes to a host of health remedies and is no stranger to acupressure. He also stresses the benefits of massaging the hands to make that nasty headache go away. Naming the Valley of Harmony as the key place to begin, he pinpoints the webbing between your index finger and thumb as well. You can perform massage on both hands. You should apply pressure to the webbing with the thumb from the opposite hand. Press hard enough to feel slight discomfort and hold that position for two minutes. Switch hands and perform the same technique. You should feel relief. As an added bonus, you can expect to feel more energized when you are done.

 

Set the Stage for the Best Results
When that next headache hits, establish the best environment to make the pain go away. You need a place that is dark and quiet. If you are at home, excuse yourself to the bedroom and turn off the lights. If you are at work, request use of an empty room to rest and treat your headache. Perform your finger massage and wait for the results of your efforts. In a short amount of time, you should feel better. There really is power in your fingers if you know how to tap into it.

Sources , Sources , Sources

Press A Finger And Your Back Pain is Gone! See What Happens When You Press Your Other Fingers

 

Many people, ancient and living today, believe(d) that most of the body’s ills comes from within. The disharmony can be achieved via bad diet, bad habits, and/or poor thoughts. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient art of natural healing from Japan that uses pressure points to relieve stress and create harmony again in your body. 

 

You can use the image above to find the right fingers for applying pressure and watch it help relieve the symptoms in your body.

If you put pressure on the thumb:

You can bring harmony to your stomach and spleen. You can also relieve nervousness, anxiety, depression, relieve skin problems, headaches, stomach aches, and the sensation of being ill.

 

If you put pressure on the index or pointer finger:

You can bring harmony to your kidneys and bladder. You can also relieve feelings of apprehension, as well as muscle cramps, back pain, tooth aches and digestive tract problems.

 

If you put pressure on the middle finger:

You can bring harmony to your liver, nerves, feelings of anger and uncertainty. It also improve cardiovascular health, menstrual pain, vision, and headaches.

 

If you put pressure on the ring finger:

You can bring harmony to your lungs and digestive organs. You can also relieve feelings of distress as well as ringing in the ears, breathing problems, and digestive problems.

 

If you put pressure on the little finger:

You bring harmony to your heart. Feelings of tension, anxiety, and loneliness are relieved. You can also improve throat pain, flatulence, and problems with your bones.

Here’s What Happens if You Massage This Point On The Ear

In a TV show about healthy living, Mark Sandomirsky, a doctor of medical science and psychiatrist, advises his patients to relieve stress using a simple technique.

The causes and effects of stress often vary, and people experience it in many different ways. After being stressed, we are left with an uncomfortable feeling of heaviness or pain in certain parts of the body.

The first thing you should do is get rid of all destructive emotions. Do not keep them in. Then, remove the physical effects. Psycho-reflexology helps a lot. The fact is, our bodies have natural anti-stress points.

Ancient Chinese culture called this point Shen Men or “The Gate of Heaven”. Treating this area brings celestial energy to your whole body. Shen Men is a deep, miraculous point that strengthens your overall health, decreases stress, and boosts energy.

This acupressure point also suppresses inflammation and addiction, and massaging it relieves pain in every part of your body. Shen men or the Gate of Heaven is located in the center of the upper third part of your ear.

Dr Sandomirsky advices:

• Using a cotton bud, press this point and gently massage it. Breathe deeply.
• Then listen to your body carefully.
• Keep breathing deeply.
• When you inhale look to the left, and on the exhale look to the right.
• You will feel how your body calms down.

 

Extra tips:

• Massage this point using your fingers.
• Massage it well every time you are stressed.
• You can also repeat this technique every night before you go to bed

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Massage Your Feet Before Going To Bed! Here Is Why It Is So Important!

In addition to being very good for your health, massage is by far the most effective way to de-stress. Even better, you can carry out the task from home.

You can also do it yourself at the convenience of your own home.

Additionally, massages are good for your skin because they revitalize it by improving its health and appearance. But because they increase metabolism, promote sweating, burn fat, and improve blood flow throughout the body and its tissues, they have an even greater impact on our overall health.

Furthermore, massages stimulate digestion and relax our muscles. In addition, during massaging, we eliminate the acids responsible for cramps.

Today’s article will present one type of massage which is extremely healing.

Numerous health experts say that the feet represent a map of the whole organism. They play a significant role in the nervous system because the soles of the feet contain more sweat glands and sensitive nerve-endings per square centimeter than any other part of your body. These nerve- endings are linked to other body, and their massage in fact stimulates the organs in your body.

Therefore, you can treat various ailments and maintain proper function of your organs by regularly massaging your feet, more particularly, applying pressure on particular spots of your feet.

This should be done by applying pressure strongly with your thumb on a particular spot, hold for several seconds and then move to the next spot. For best results, this massage should last for 10- 15 minutes. Experts believe that this massage should be done every single night, before going to bed.


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5 Acupressure Points You Can Do By Yourself To Relieve Stress and Anxiety

The ancient healing modality of acupressure was developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago and has been filtered and refined ever since. It is a simple yet effective therapy that is often used as a means of self-treatment to reduce pain and tension, decrease stress, fire up the immune system and boost circulation, contributing to the treatment’s broad scope of use from healing emotional pain to improving sexual performance.

This article will provide numerous acupressure points that you can self-administer as and when is necessary, to reduce and eliminate a state of mind that can plague any one of us; stress and anxiety.

Acupressure uses the same pressure point locations as acupuncture, however, it uses different strengths of finger pressure to stimulate them, as opposed to the needles used in acupuncture. The mechanism of action is based on theory that, by applying pressure to these points, we can manipulate Qi (energy) that flows through energy pathways inside of our bodies known to Traditional Chinese Medicine as meridians. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundation describes meridians in the following manner:

“Picture a road map: a profusion of points woven into a web by lines of travel. Now imagine this system 3-D in your body: a vast network of invisible energy pathways connecting to each other and to every atom, cell, tendon, bone, organ, each centimeter of skin — everything in your body! They link the upper portion with the lower and the surface with the interior, so that nothing is truly separate.

“Now add other dimensions to this 3-D interconnected body “map”: your mind, your emotions, and spirit — everything conscious and unconscious within you. These amazing pathways are the meridians, and they form your body and all invisible aspects of your being into an intercommunicating whole.”

 

Acupressure – The How and Why

Modern living offers many incredible benefits such as comfortable and leisurely standards of living, and easy access to healthy food and clean water. However these positives comes with a negative price in the forms of financial stress, tight work deadlines, rocky and wavering relationships, just to list a few, which all ultimately contribute to levels of stress and anxiety that are bodies simply did not evolve to counter and cope with. Exposing our bodies to frequent stress and anxiety can manifest in all sorts of problematic and health-impacting symptoms such as insomnia, head aches, diminished sexual desire and low energy, all of which prevent us from effectively pursuing our passions and dreams. 

As mentioned, acupressure can be used to alleviate a host of varying ailments. Modern western science has not quite drawn up an empirical conclusion as to how or why exactly meridian therapy works, but it does nonetheless recognize its effectiveness. The scientific literature is abundant with evidence of its successful application, one such catalog of studies can be found at pubmed.com which houses studies on the effects of acupressure on ailments from nausea to pain and stiffness to anxiety.

 

Below is a list of five of the most potent acupressure points which each one of us can utilize on a daily basis to stop stress and anxiety dead in its tracks when it starts to arise in our bodies and minds.

A single acupressure point can work in two different ways. When a point is stimulated in the same area that pain and tension is occurring, this is referred to as a local point. Other points may be stimulated on a specific part of the body with the intent of relieving a symptom or ailment elsewhere in the body; this is called a trigger point and works through the electrical pathways of the meridian system at a distance.

Before self-administering acupressure, it is advisable to do some deep breathing and light stretching, in order to maximize relaxation and muster a peaceful mental state beforehand.

To apply pressure and stimulate the pressure points, a firm pressure is the most fundamental and effective technique. Using either the thumbs, fingers, knuckles, palms or the side of the hands, apply firm and stationary pressure to the chosen point. You should slowly increase the amount of pressure applied to the point over a period of 3 minutes to experience optimal results from the treatment. Each point will feel slightly different when pressure is applied and you should be firm enough that it begins to hurt somewhat. If the point is particularly sensitive, you should gradually decrease the pressure until a balance between pain and pleasure is struck.

 

Caution: If you have a serious or life-threatening illness, please consult with your physician before practicing acupressure.

Point 1 (Nei Guan)

Starting from the wrist, measure the length of three fingers down the forearm. Where the third finger meets the middle of the arms width is where the point is located. Apply firm pressure using the thumb and gently rotated the thumb in a circular motion to massage the point for 2-3 minutes. Doing this to both arms will help to melt anxiety and will also help reduce any nausea present.

Point 2 (Union Valley)

This point is located between the webbing of the index finger and thumb. Apply the index finger and thumb from the opposing hands to either side of the webbing to form a pinch. Apply firm pressure for three minutes whilst taking deep enough breathes to fully inflate the abdomen. Applying pressure to this point will help to relive stress and tension in the body.

Point 3 (Shoulder Well)

This stimulation point is located half way between the point of the shoulder and the base of the neck. Applying pressure with your index finger to this point aids in relieving stress and decreasing tension in the body. According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this point also helps to free up the flow of Qi throughout the meridian system.

Point 4 (Central Treasury)

This meridian point is located on the tender tissue two finger widths above where the underneath of the arm meets the chest. Using the tip of the index finger and applying moderate pressure to this point, to either one or both sides simultaneously, will aid with deep breathing and increased blood circulation, and help with the balancing of unstable emotions.

Point 5 (Heavenly Pillar)

This point lies one fingers width below the base of the skull, upon the rope-like muscles roughly one half-inch either side of the spine. Web the fingers across the back of the skull and use both thumbs to apply firm pressure to both points. Close the eyes and take long and deep breathes whilst stimulating the point for around 3 minutes to relieve stress. These points also assist in insomnia, a stiff neck, over exhaustion and swollen eyes.

Original article and credits: WakeUpWorld.