Just got an e-mail I’m sharing below from Michael Reed Gach, PhD at Acupressure. com that contained several DIY routines that would be especially beneficial to put into practice during the current health situation when anything that supports conscious well-being is so important. The processes are simple, easy, and free….the trifecta of self-help tools, as far as I’m concerned. I felt better just watching the first two videos. Imagine what it will be like when I actually practicing the routines, plus finish watching video 3! 🙂
Hi Acupressure Friends,
I hope you’re focusing on keeping yourself healthy during this world-wide coronavirus health crisis by getting daily exercise, eating healthy food, less saturated fat, less sugar, good protein and more greens.
I have found great benefits from giving myself Ear Massages throughout the day. I’m leaving you a link to this instructional Ear Massage video to support you at this challenging time.
I’m also listing an Acupressure Immune Boosting Video at the end of this email for keeping your resistance strong. Please review it and share the Immune Boosting Video link with people in your community.
Explore Acupressure.comif you want to learn more Acupressure.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional/your inner knowing before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Yesterday I came across this recipe from Ross Bridgeford for what he calls his “most alkalizing smoothie.” And since I just happened to have all the ingredients, I decided to give it a try. It’s a great way to get lots of veggies and nutrients into your system in an easy to digest form….
This smoothie is my absolute go-to most powerfully alkaline ‘meal in a glass’. It is my #1 recommendation if you need to get the acidity out, remove inflammation, lose weight, get rid of fatigue or heal your digestion…
The combination of the powerfully alkaline greens, the healthy fats from the avocado, leaves, coconut and almonds and the incredibly-anti-inflammatory power from the turmeric and ginger…wow.
It tastes great, it takes 3 minutes to make (and 30 seconds clean up) and it will keep you going, wonderfully energized and mentally strong, clear and vital all through the day…
Core Green Alkaline Smoothie
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients:
1/2 avocado
1 cucumber
1/2 cup filtered water or more to taste
2 handfuls of spinach
2 handfuls of lettuce
1/2 bell pepper
1 tomato
1/2 inch ginger
1 cm turmeric
1 tsp coconut oil
Optional: Squeeze of fresh lemon, small handful of almonds (for extra omega 3)
Instructions:
Start by blending the avocado, cucumber, and water to form a liquid base, which makes it easier to blend everything else.
Next, add the almonds (if using), spinach, lettuce, bell pepper, tomato, ginger, and turmeric in that order. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you might need to grate the ginger and turmeric first.
Squeeze in a little lemon for zing, and serve.
You can sign up for Ross’ newsletter and get his acid/alkaline chart, additional recipes and more at LiveEnergized.com
PERSONAL NOTE: Of course the taste of this is going to vary somewhat depending on the type of lettuce, kind of bell pepper, and actual quantity/size of each ingredient used. I didn’t really measure anything and probably used more water than the recipe calls for, LOTS of lemon juice and I included the optional almonds, plus needed to add some crystal salt to bring it to life. It was still a little too bland for me, so I also added some black pepper, not only for taste, but to help absorb the turmeric, and some hot sauce to give it more kick. HA! Ended up drinking the whole 2 servings over a couple of hours. A great way to start off the morning and feel like you’re already ahead of the game as far as healthy nutrition!
It reminded me a little of my Green Energy Soup recipe, which is still my fave, because I’m such a mint lover and another great way to get lots of good stuff into you body. 🙂
p. s. I used a VitaMix and had no problem with liquefying everything quickly. Not sure how this would be using a regular blender. And my version didn’t turn out the bright green color of Ross’ picture, which reminds me of the green energy soup,…..definitely more “drab” looking. 🙂
And here’s the intro to the 9-part Human Longevity Project series that starts today……
In the coming days, you’ll be learning more about our project and our mission.
From the very start, our goal has been to challenge the status quo and change the paradigm of health care in our modern world.
As you know, we’re currently experiencing a health crisis, particularly in the Western World.
Autoimmune disease and other chronic diseases continue to rise.
So many people are feeling buried by things like depression, anxiety and fatigue.
Maybe you’ve experienced symptoms like these?
Perhaps you’re experiencing them now. These symptoms have become so common that many people have accepted them as normal. We can do better. YOU deserve better.
We embarked on a two-year journey to research why certain populations are living well into their 90s and 100s and doing so with great health, boundless energy, and profound joy. You are the reason we’ve created this documentary.
This link will give you 5 illustrations of 9 Acupressure points
and will also list the great benefits of using these points. Once you click the link, you will find the pdf document in your download folder.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained health care practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Here’s lots of good self-help information to have on hand from Michael Reed Gach, PhD for using acupressure points for a cold, flu, sore throat and MORE….
We’re well into the winter season when it is vital to protect yourself from the wind, cold and dampness. Boosting your immune system with Acupressure and keeping your energy flowing is an effective way to ward off many winter ills.
What you eat is also vital for staying healthy. Eating too many sweets and cold foods can make your body receptive to catching colds and sore throats.
Tip for Colds & Sore Throats: A tea made from fresh Ginger Root (available in produce markets, not the candy) can provide your body with the warmth to counteract colds and sore throats. Chop a small handful of ginger root and simmer it for 20 minutes or so. Use this ginger water to gargle with to relieve a sore throat. Sweeten with a little honey to drink as a medicinal tea for colds.
When a cold comes on your shoulders may ache. This is when Acupressure shoulder points, just above the tip of your shoulder blades can help. Firm pressure on TW 15 (shown below) is great for immune boosting, stress reduction, and can help to prevent a cold.
When you feel a cold brewing, place tennis balls on the points shown above. Apply pressure with the weight of your body, whether you’re sitting or lying down. Placing the balls on a soft pillow or on top of your bed can be helpful.
Breathe deeply as these points are pressed for 2 minutes or so. Let yourself deeply relax with your eyes closed for at least 5 minutes immediately afterward to gain the full benefits, and allow your body’s energy to balance.
Here’s more from Michael on using Acupressure for relieving not only colds, flu and a sore throat, but also headaches, neck pain, arthritis, mental stress and a number of other things….
Acupressure Points for
Colds and Flu
Colds are caused by viruses that thrive in your nose and throat when the temperature, acidity, and moisture suit them. When you are run down and your resistance is low, your ability to adapt to environmental changes weakens, making it easier to catch a cold, and the mucous membranes become a perfect breeding ground for viruses. Cold symptoms are the body’s attempt to protect itself from these intruders. When a virus enters your nose, for instance, the body secretes more mucus to flush it away.
Because acupressure stimulates your body to expel the virus more quickly, it may seem at first that your cold is worsening. But your body is simply progressing through the symptoms faster than usual. Although acupressure cannot cure a cold, working on certain points can help you get better quicker and increase your resistance to future colds.
Acupressure Points
for Seasonal Changes
Potent point B 36, called Bearing Support, is especially good for stimulating the body’s natural resistance to colds and flu. It’s located near the spine, off the tips of the shoulder blades. According to traditional Chinese medicine, wind and cold enter the pores of the skin at this point.1 The muscles in this upper back area tend to get tense just before a cold or flu takes hold.2
Recently, one of my best friends, a realtor, was suffering from a bad cold with a stuffy nose, a hacking cough, puffiness around his eyes, and a pallid complexion. He hadn’t slept well the previous two nights because of these discomforts and was very tired. After I briefly massaged his upper back, shoulders, neck, and chest, I showed him how to press the decongestion points underneath the base of his skull and on his face. I also told him to drink ginger tea at least twice a day. When I saw John the next day, he told me he had slept soundly and felt much more refreshed. His eyes looked much clearer, and already he was no longer coughing and blowing his nose.
Potent Points for Relieving Colds and Flu
Drilling Bamboo (B 2)
Location: In the indentations of the eye sockets, on either side of where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows.
Benefits: Relieves colds, sinus congestion, frontal headaches, and tired eyes.
Facial Beauty (St 3)
Location: At the bottom of the cheekbone, directly below the pupil.
Benefits: Relieves stuffy nose, head congestion, burning eyes, eye fatigue, and eye pressure.
Welcoming Perfume (LI 20)
Location: On either cheek, just outside each nostril.
Benefits: Relieves cold symptoms, fever, constipation, and elbow pain; strengthens the immune system.
Joining the Valley (Hoku) (LI 4)
Caution: This point is forbidden for pregnant women because its stimulation can cause premature contractions in the uterus.
Location: At the highest spot of the muscle on the back of the hand that protrudes when the thumb and index finger are close together.
Benefits: Relieves colds, flu, head congestion, constipation, and headaches.
Gates of Consciousness (GB 20)
Location: Below the base of the skull, in the hollows on both sides, two to three inches apart depending on the size of the head.
Benefits: Relieves headaches, head congestion, arthritis, neck pain, and irritability.
Wind Mansion (GV 16)
Location: In the center of the back of the head, in the large hollow under the base of the skull.
Benefits: Relieves head congestion, red eyes, mental stress, headaches, and stiff neck.
Third Eye Point (GV 24.5)
Location: Directly between the eyebrows, in the indentation where the bridge of the nose meets the center of your forehead.
Benefits: Relieves head congestion, stuffy nose, and headaches.
Elegant Mansion (K 27)
Location: In the hollow below the collarbone next to the breastbone.
Benefits: Relieves chest congestion, breathing difficulties, coughing, and sore throats.
Potent Point Exercises
You do not have to use all of these points. Using just one or two of them whenever you have a free hand can be effective.
Lie down on your back or sit comfortably.
Step 1
Press into B 2: Use your thumbs on the upper ridge of your eye socket to press into the slight hollow near the bridge of your nose for one minute. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, letting the weight of your head relax forward onto your thumbs.
Step 2
Press St 3 and LI 20: Place both of your middle fingers beside your nostrils and your index fingers next to them; gradually press up and underneath the cheekbones for one minute. You can easily teach this step to your child to help relieve nasal congestion.
Step 3
Press both LI 11: Bend your arm and place your thumb at the- end of the elbow crease on the outside of your forearm. Curve your fingers to press firmly into the elbow joint for one minute. Repeat on your opposite arm.
Step 4
Press LI 4 firmly: Spread your left thumb and index finger apart. Place your right thumb in the webbing on the back of your left hand and your fingertips on the palm directly behind your thumb. Firmly squeeze your thumb and index finger of your right hand together to press into the webbing. Angle the pressure toward the bone that connects with your left index finger, and hold for one minute. Then switch hands.
Step 5
Firmly press GB 20: Now close your eyes and place your thumbs underneath the base of your skull, two to three inches apart. Slowly tilt your head back and apply pressure gradually, holding the position for one minute to fully release these important cold-relief points.
Step 6
Firmly press GV 16: Place the tips of your middle fingers into the hollow in the center of the base of your skull. Keeping your fingers on the point, inhale as you tilt your head back and exhale as you relax your head forward. Continue to slowly rock your head back and forward, and breathe deeply while you hold this important point for relieving head congestion.
Step 7
Touch the GV 24.5: Bring your palms together and use your middle and index fingers to lightly touch the Third Eye Point located between your eyebrows. Breathe deeply as you hold this point for balancing your endocrine system.
Step 8
Firmly press K 27: Place your fingertips on the protrusions of your collarbone, then slide your fingers down and outward into the first indentation in between the bones. Press into this hollow as you breathe deeply and visualize the congestion clearing.
Potent Points for Relieving Coughing
A severe, repeated, or uncontrolled cough can be harmful and you should always consult a physician. Many illnesses such as influenza, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis can become serious if the condition continues unattended.
Sometimes, your physician will find it advisable to attempt to suppress a cough to prevent further irritation of the bronchial tubes. Cough medications may be used, but acupressure can be an effective adjunct therapy. During a coughing fit, many of the large muscle groups in the upper back area can go into a spasm. Specific points on the chest, throat, neck, and upper back benefit the respiratory system, relax your body, and relieve coughs.
Vital Diaphragm (B 38)
Location: Between the shoulder blade and the spine at the level of the heart.
Benefits: Relieves coughing, breathing difficulties, and respiratory problems. This calming point also helps balance the emotions.
Ding Chuan (Extra Point 17)
Location: To the side and a little above the vertebra that protrudes at the top of the spine when the head is tilted downward.
Benefits: Relieves throat problems, coughing, shoulder and neck pain, and thyroid imbalances.
Heavenly Pillar (13 10)
Location: One-half inch below the base of the skull on the ropy muscles one-half inch out from either side of the spine.
Benefits: Relieves sore throat, stress, burnout, overexertion, and heaviness in the head.
Heaven Rushing Out (CV 22)
Location: At the base of the throat in the large hollow directly below the Adam’s apple.
Location: In the hollow below the collarbone next to the breastbone.
Benefits: Relieves chest congestion, breathing difficulties, asthma, coughing, and anxiety.
(You do not have to use all of these points. Using just one or two of them whenever you have a cough can be effective.)
Potent Point Exercises
Although many of the following points can be held while you are sitting, it is preferable to lie down comfortably on your back.
Step 1
Hold both K 27 points: Place your fingertips on your chest and firmly press into the indentations directly below the protrusions of the collarbone. This is another point that you can easily teach a child.
Step 2
Use tennis balls on B 38: Place two small rubber balls or tennis balls together on a clean carpet. Lie down, placing the balls between your shoulder blades at the level of your heart. Close your eyes and take three long, deep breaths as you continue to press the K 27 points on your upper chest.
Step 3
Firmly press extra point 17: Slowly roll the tennis balls a few inches higher toward the base of your neck. If the tennis balls tend to slip, or you aren’t using them, Simply use both middle fingers to press this important acupressure point at the base of the neck.
Step 4
Hold both B 10 points and CV 22: Press B 10 on the upper neck with one hand, using the fingertips. Use your other hand to lightly hold CV 22, an inch below the base of the Adam’s apple, pressing lightly at a downward angle. Close your eyes and breathe deeply as you visualize healing energy soothing your throat.
For Sore Throats and Coughing
A small piece of fresh ginger can be one of the most natural and effective ways for soothing a sore throat. Simply place a very thin slice of fresh ginger on the back of your tongue. If your throat is sensitive and the ginger feels hot, use a smaller, thinner piece and place it farther back toward your throat. Keep the ginger in the back of your throat for ten minutes. Repeat with a fresh piece several times a day as needed. A quarter cup of chopped ginger can also be simmered in a few cups of water and used as a tea for soothing coughs and sore throats.
Check out Michael’s acupressure.com site for free articles and videos and information about his on-line trainings .
Also search the Self-help Health archives for more posts on preventing and treating colds, sinus congestion, sore throats and the flu. And check out this simple Jin Shin Jyutsu hold for alleviating a sore throat, boosting the immune system and balancing the whole side of your body all at the same time!
Salud!
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained health care practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Here’s something I heard about a number of months ago and was curious to try. I started by adding 2″ to the feet at the head of my bed and then went up to 3″ after awhile, with the plan being to get to at least 4″ inches. I think it did help with things, but found that the higher the bed got, the harder it was to actually get IN bed, since the bed was already fairly high. Plus, when I added more inches, there was actually the tendency for my body to slide down toward the foot of the bed, which felt weird. But then I don’t weigh that much, so that might not be an issue for other people. Anyway, I reverted back to the 2″ and think that even that little bit helps, so you may want to give this a try…..
Story at-a-glance
Raising the head of your bed 6 inches so that your you’re sleeping on a 5-degree incline may improve your blood circulation, metabolism, respiratory, neurological and immune function
Inclined bed therapy may also ease symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, glaucoma, migraines, multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, acid reflux, edema, varicose veins and more
In plants, the interplay between gravity and varying density of fluids is what causes the sap to circulate up and down in a perpetual loop. The same mechanism appears to apply to human biology as well, which is the basis for inclined bed therapy
Sleeping on an incline affects intracranial pressure. Research by a medical anthropologist showed people with migraines were able to eliminate their migraines within a short period of time by sleeping with their heads raised
Archeological evidence suggests some Egyptians slept on inclined beds, and the head on these beds was 6 inches higher than the foot end
By Dr. Mercola
Oftentimes the simplest strategies pay great dividends. Getting sensible sun exposure and grounding to the Earth are two examples. Sleeping on an incline is another. While few have heard of it, and sleeping on a horizontal surface is a well-established norm, raising the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches so that your you’re sleeping on a 5-degree incline may have a number of benefits, including:
Improving blood circulation
Boosting metabolism
Improving glymphatic drainage from the brain
Improving immune system function
Improving respiratory function
Easing symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, glaucoma, migraines, multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, acid reflux, edema, varicose veins and more
The History of Inclined Bed Therapy
Inclined bed therapy was developed two decades ago by Andrew K. Fletcher, a British mechanical engineer said to have “an avid interest in how things work.” He stumbled upon the theory by studying the circulatory system of plants. In trees, gravity pulls the denser sap from the top of the tree downward, which then forces the more diluted sap at the bottom to rise upward.
In other words, the interplay between gravity and the varying density of fluids is what causes the sap, which delivers nutrients within the tree, to circulate up and down in a perpetual loop.
He wondered if the same mechanism applied to the human body, and experimentation and further research convinced him that it does. In the video above, Fletcher performs a simple kitchen demonstration to show how circulation is caused by density changes in fluids. In private correspondence with Nexus Magazine writer Jenny Hawke, Fletcher explained:
“[C]irculation began long before the heart developed, and this primary circulation continues to assist the heart, providing we take the direction of gravity into account. It works on the principle that blood entering the capillary vessels in the lungs provides the water and carbon dioxide that we evaporate with each breath.
The blood therefore must become denser exiting the lungs, then passes through the heart and is injected back into the main artery, effectively adding denser blood to create a pulsatile flow predominantly down towards the kidneys… [T]he blood entering the venous return from the kidneys is always less dense than the arterial blood flowing to the kidneys. This was a Eureka moment of such magnitude it went off the scale for me and instantly gave birth to Inclined Bed Therapy.”
Proper Incline Position
Similar experimentation was used to determine the ideal incline, which he concluded was about 6 inches, or 5 degrees. In one experiment, varicose veins disappeared after four weeks of sleeping on a 6-inch incline, which he took as a sign that “a positive change in circulation” had been achieved. Interestingly, archeological evidence suggests some Egyptians slept on inclined beds, and a Boston Museum curator confirmed that the incline on one of these historical beds was in fact 6 inches.
Now, it’s important to note that sleeping on an incline is not the same as sleeping on an adjustable bed that allows you to raise the head while the lower portion remains horizontal. Fletcher stresses the importance of lying straight, but on an incline. You’re not looking to sleep in a sitting position where only your torso is lifted.
The alignment of your body is important, as you want your blood to circulate freely throughout your whole body and avoid stress on your hip joint. On his website, InclinedBedTherapy.com, Fletcher lists a number of methods for creating an inclined bed. For example, you can build your own wooden bed frame, or use leg risers or full-length foam wedges.
Inclined Bed Therapy for Diabetes
As you can see by the list above, people who have tried inclined bed therapy have reported improvements in a wide array of health problems. When you consider the importance of blood circulation for the healing and regeneration of your body, this isn’t entirely surprising. In her Nexus Magazine article, Hawke recounts a number of different tests and anecdotal evidence supporting the use of inclined bed therapy for conditions as varied as skin disorders and spinal cord injuries.
In a Micronesian study, inclined bed therapy was evaluated to see if it might benefit people with diabetes. In conclusion, the researchers stated that:
“[S]leeping on an inclined bed seems to help efficacy in reducing blood sugar levels with those who were dedicated in controlling their blood sugar levels. Inclined bed therapy may not be effective alone … [T]o be successful … it is recommended that diabetic individuals need to incorporate sleeping on inclined beds with medication, taking some alternative remedies and changing lifestyles by eating a proper diet and doing enough exercise …
Interestingly, all participants listed other problems including: back pain, edema, difficulty sleeping, frequent night urination, snoring, morning light-headedness and pain in joints. All participants claimed to have noticed improvement in all these problems.”
Acid Reflux? Consider Raising the Head of Your Bed
Acid reflux is another extremely common health problem that may be improved through inclined bed therapy. Another term used for this condition is gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Two of the most common causes of acid reflux are having insufficient amounts of stomach acid and/or having a hiatal hernia — a condition in which a portion of your stomach passes through an opening in your diaphragm, which can cause complications in your esophagus.
It can also lead to GERD, a condition in which acid is coming out of your stomach, where it’s supposed to be. There’s a valve between your stomach and your small intestine called the pyloric valve. When the acid in your stomach refluxes over that valve, it causes symptoms that are very similar to that of acid reflux, heartburn being one of the primary ones. Heartburn is a burning sensation that radiates up from your stomach to your chest and throat.
It occurs when food and stomach juices reflux up into your esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your throat to your stomach. It’s typically most bothersome at night, and tends to occur in connection with certain activities, such as eating a heavy meal, bending over or lifting a heavy object, and lying down, especially when laying on your back. While inclined bed therapy will not cure acid reflux, it may reduce the pain associated with lying down.
Success Stories
Among the success stories included in Hawke’s article is a man who, due to a spinal cord injury, had lost all control over his legs. After incorporating inclined bed therapy with his other treatments, he was eventually able to walk between parallel bars. Other success stories include a young girl with cerebral palsy was also able to stand up for the first time after she’d used inclined bed therapy for eight months, and Terri, a woman with multiple sclerosis, who eventually improved to the point that she no longer needed drug therapy.
Hawke writes, “In a 2015 radio interview, Terri reported that her neurologist had recently told her she would have no need for any further appointments as she was better. He had never seen anyone in this situation get better.” Interestingly, inclined bed therapy has even benefited people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In the case of the latter, the woman reported “instant relief” after the first night.
According to Fletcher, results seem to suggest sleeping on an incline helps boost both metabolism and immune function, which could help explain some of these success stories. Sleeping on an incline also affects intracranial pressure. This was the conclusion of research done by medical anthropologist Sydney Singer. Hawke writes:
“His research is based on a 10- to 30-degree elevation of the head, not the whole body, and some impressive results were found regarding the effects of inclined sleeping on intracranial pressure, in particular research into sleep positions as a possible cause of migraines.
‘To our amazement, we found that the majority of the migraineurs in our study experienced relief by this simple sleep position change! Many had no new migraines, after being migraine sufferers for 30 or more years! The results were very fast, within a few days. And there were very interesting side effects, too. Our volunteers woke up more alert. Morning sinus congestion was significantly reduced in most people. Some reported that they no longer had certain allergies.’”
Potential Brain Benefits
According to Singer, sleeping on an incline may also benefit other brain conditions, including ADHD and Alzheimer’s. Indeed, while not mentioned, it’s possible by altering the intracranial pressure you allow for improved glymphatic drainage. It was long believed that the brain was unable to clean itself out, as the lymphatic system does not include the brain.
More recent research has proven this to be incorrect, showing the brain actually has its own lymphatic system that gets into your brain by piggybacking on blood vessels. Amyloid-beta deposits and other toxins are cleaned out of your brain nightly during deep sleep. This waste-removal system is now known as the glymphatic system.
By pumping cerebral spinal fluid through your brain’s tissues, your glymphatic system flushes waste from your brain back into your circulatory system and onto your liver for elimination. Just about anything that hampers the efficient function of your glymphatic system will promote Alzheimer’s, by allowing waste to accumulate in your brain, and it stands to reason that improving this brain detoxification would help prevent Alzheimer’s and other neurological dysfunction as well.
Are You Ready to Try Sleeping on an Incline?
In addition to sleeping on my back with a pillow to support my neck (opposed to my entire head), as recommended by chiropractor and exercise physiologist Dr. Peter Martone, I also changed my bedframe to one that allowed me to elevate the head of my bed to achieve a 5-degree incline. While I have no health problems that would call for this, I find it helps improve my sleep.
When you first start out, you may want to ease into it by raising the head of your bed just 3 inches. Once you’re used to that, raise it to the recommended 6 inches. Going up to 8 inches, which is the maximum recommended elevation, can be tricky, as you’ll start sliding quite a bit. Also, be aware that in some cases you may experience muscle soreness and/or a stiff neck for the first week or two until your body has adjusted to the new position.
Fletcher also recommends drinking more water than usual, as the elevation will decrease fluid retention and enhance urination. This also means your body’s waste removal will be enhanced, so more water is needed to help flush out toxins. Overall, I believe inclined bed therapy can be of all-around benefit for your health and is well worth a try.
There are a number of sources for risers…. Amazon Home Solutions, Wal-mart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc. The cheapest I found were the CreativeWare™ brand I found on-line at Wal-mart. Be sure you get a style that works with whatever kind of feet your bed has, and I got clear risers, which are less noticeable, if they happen to be showing under the bedskirt.
Salud & sweet dreams!
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained health care practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
You know how it is when you have never heard of or seen something, and then once you do it seems to start popping up everywhere? Well, that’s the way it was with shungite a couple of years ago. This rare mineral is found in only ONE place on the whole planet, which is in Russia, and dates back 2 billion (that’s billion, with a “b”!) years. I find that in and of itself fascinating, but what really peaked my interest was shungites’s ability to help with a number of health conditions, as well as neutralize/off-set EMFs.
In fact, shungite offers wide ranging health benefits “stemming from its extremely unique molecular structure,” and is said to help with skin conditions, high blood pressure, allergies, inflammation and more. “It has unique physical and chemical properties due to its micro-structure (atomic structure, conductivity, and magnetic properties) and consists of unusually large, hollow, and stable carbon structures with a high oxidative and reductive capacity, which is where shungite derives its antioxidant properties.”
I found that information and more amazing facts about shungite in a great little booklet titled Shungite: The Electro-pollution Solution, written and offered as a free download by Valerie Burke, who creates jewelry and other objects made of shungite that help people in dealing with all the “radiation smog” that has become a part of daily life. You can go here to download the pdf , and here to check out the products she offers and also learn about making shungite water, which I started making about 2 months ago. There are also videos on YouTube about it.
Another option for getting shungite jewelry is Vibes Up, one of my favorite places for items that off-set EMFs, balance and energize the body, and so much more. I’ve written several posts about some of the VU products and use a number of them on a daily basis. After getting a “donut” pendant (which I wear everywhere, except in the shower) for myself and sweet little shungite sphere in a bowl of baby crystals for my computer desk, plus some elite/noble stones for water through Valerie’s Shungite Queen website, I got a couple of “chippy” bracelets from VU and wear those almost all the time. AND I just learned that Kaitlyn at VU has a couple of great deals going right now….one is a $99 Vibration Essentials 11 piece kit that’s valued at $462 AND a 70% off on jewelry special! Shungite is NOT inexpensive and often hard to find, since it’s such a rare mineral, so now would be a great time to get some for yourself and your loved ones.
Both Valerie and Kaitlyn are so big-hearted and devoted to giving you great customer service and quality products that you can’t go wrong at either site. And keep in mind that the holiday season is fast approaching (how did that happen?!) and the type of items they create would make not only unique, but also uplifting, health-promoting gifts for anyone on your list, especially those surrounded by technology, which is pretty much everyone these days. So download your free shungite report and then get a jump on your shopping at either or both of these sites. Personally, I love knowing my dollars are being spent to support businesses like these!
12/7/18 Update: Valerie has written an even more extensive and updated version of her information on shungite in this article she did for GreenMedInfo. Here’s an excerpt:
In repeated experiments, Martino has been able to measure the effects of shungite—and hundreds of other minerals—on human vital fields. She has developed a highly reliable, reproducible way to measure these energetic fluctuations. She has found that shungite, more than any other rock, is able to realign the chakras and optimize the vital field. Essentially, shungite transforms artificial EMFs into biologically compatible frequencies, thereby neutralizing their negative impact. In other words, it transforms harmful radiation—not by eliminating it but by changing its properties. This can happen whether the shungite is in direct contact with your body or just nearby.
In particular, shungite greatly increases or concentrates of the vital field in the first chakra, or “root chakra.” The density of our energy (density here is a good thing) is directly linked to the strength of our first chakra. When we feel weak or depleted our energy density is low, but when it’s high we experience greater resistance to external disturbances and a better capacity to recover from illness or emotional trauma. Martino writes much more about this in her book.
UPDATE 9/1/19: Vibes Up has created a version of their very popular, multi-purpose Earth Energy Mats that includes SHUNGITE, so now they are more powerful than ever. Check them out at Vibes Up now!
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained health care practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Turns out smudging has been proven to clear the air of more than just “bad vibes”……
(image: spiritscience.net)
Smudging has long been recognized as an effective way of removing negative energy and evil spirits, but does this spiritual practice have more to offer? New data reveals a reason that everyone, regardless of their spiritual beliefs, should give this ancient cleansing technique a try.
Despite the fact that many Americans view the practice of smudging your home as a ‘new age’ technique, it can be traced back thousands of years to the teachings of the Native Americans, used to cleanse their spirit. Also known as the ‘Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing’, practitioners would burn herbs in a special bowl, the smoke created believed to be the cleansing property. Today, dried herbs tied together known as smudge sticks make the process even easier.
Many view the practice as skeptical at best, questioning whether those who practice today genuinely see any benefit from their efforts, or whether this ‘spiritual shower’ is merely a placebo effect. After all, if we truly believe that negativity has been removed from our lives, focusing on the positive side of life would that not, in turn, evoke the law of attraction, our own positivity, in turn, attracting more? At the same time, if it’s working and bringing more positivity into the world, is it really a bad thing?
If you’ve been wavering on giving this technique a try in your own life, a new study published in the ‘Journal of Ethnopharmacology’ looked closely at the practice of studying and the potential physical impact it may have on our lives. The research team looked at the use of single and multi-ingredient herbal and non-herbal smudging remedies as they were administered across 50 different countries.
Surprisingly, they found the use of smoke as a delivery system was more common than they had previously believed, largely used to address pulmonary, neurological and dermatological concerns. This medicinal use of smoke, the team explained, showed great promise and should be explored by those practicing modern medicine as a potential drug delivery system for many of today’s modern remedies. Furthermore, the team found that smudging was an effective way to cleanse a room not only of negative energy but also of airborne bacteria, improving air quality!
In their research, the team revealed that a 1-hour treatment of the medicinal smoke, created by burning both wood and a ‘mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs’ was effective in removing over 94% of the airborne bacterial populations in the space. This meant that the smudging treatment was equally as effective to, or even more effective than modern antibacterial sprays without the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Adding to the promise, a month after the smudging was completed the bacteria was still undetectable in the space.
As we continue to better understand the impact that many of these pathogens have on our lives, our society pushes the use of these chemical concoctions to kill off as many of these harmful bacteria as we can. However, this data raises the question – are we unnecessarily introducing more chemicals into our lives. Did we have the answer all along? For those that believe in its effectiveness, and it’s hard not to given these facts, smudging may be the safer, all -natural approach to protecting ourselves and our homes!
And here’s a good article that goes into even more benefits of smudging, like stress reduction and allergy relief, plus has in-depth “how to” instructions for those who are new to the practice. It makes the process seem rather complicated and ritualistic, but just follow what feels right to you…..
More research and details on the benefits of smudging can be found in this article from GreenMedInfo.com.
FYI, you can find a variety of smudge packs and other natural remedies at discount prices at iHerb.com (use code CJG192 if you are a new customer and spend more than $40 and you will get $5 off your purchase). Plus, you can take advantage of their wonderful Trial Offer and Specials sections; shipping is free on orders of $20 or more, you earn loyalty rewards cash, AND you get an extra 5% off on orders over $60.
Sivana offers a number of smudge kits and related items, and for those who are looking for a smoke-less way to enhance the air quality in their environment,Vitacost.com, which is another one of my favorite on-line places to shops, carries Heritage Products Aura Smudge. Great discount prices, ever-expanding inventory, free shipping on $49 and up, and if you are a new customer and use the link on my website you will get a $10 off coupon with your first order of $25 or more. Woo-hoo!
Salud!
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Awhile back a friend turned me on to what I think is a great self-help resource. It’s Michael Reed Gach’s blog on acupressure points called, not surprisingly, Acupressure.com. He has all sorts of information about what points and protocols to use for various health issues, but the ones I was most interested in are St 3 and St 6, since sinus congestion and TMJ are two issues I’ve had over the years. I love that these points are easy to reach and the routines are easy to do, AND St 3 is also known as the facial beauty point. Double woo-hoo!
(by Michael R Gach) I’ve had excellent results opening the sinuses and relieving jaw problems, including my own TMJ, simply holding the following acupressure points for a couple minutes at a time.
You’ll have to persist by holding these points for a couple of minutes, several times daily, for a few weeks – to get the best results. There is a lot to learn about how to use these acupressure points and the many things they are good for. I hope you’ll continue reading, to discover the benefits of using these points.
Toothache and Eye Irritation or Pressure:The Facial Beauty Point(St 3) is located at the bottom of the cheekbone (maxilla) directly down from the pupil. This master facial acupressure point relieves a stuffy nose, nasal congestion, and the pressure or pain associated with sinus problems. I have also used this point successfully on a client for facial paralysis.
I use this St 3 point for tooth pain, eye ache, eye irritation, and swelling around your eyes. The St 3 Point also improves facial muscle tone and increases circulation.
St 6 is the acupressure point for relieving TMJ, jaw spasms, and bruxism or grinding your teeth, especially during your sleep. St 6 is located between the upper and lower jaw, on the (masseter) muscle that bulges when the back molars are clenched. Follow the directions in the video clip, by holding this point firmly for two minutes several times a day, for a few months to retrain your jaw muscles and to prevent these jaw problems.
Gach offers a pdf on points (including St 3) for not only relieving hay fever and sinus problems, but also good for Bells Palsey, headache, stress, burnout, neck pain and stiffness and more.
The pdf contains 5 illustrations of 9 points and their benefits; six of these points are on both sides of the body, totaling 15 points. You can download the info and illustrations to have for easy reference here:
By signing up, you’ll get 3 illustrated articles and be on the list to get 3 free Acupressure videos that introduce the course and its details, all without any obligation.
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts. Also check out my new website Evolution Made Easier and blog of the same name for more helpful information, tips, tools and resources.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Lemons and Himalayan salt are two great multi-purpose self-help health aids, so it’s no surprise that combining them has all sorts of extra benefits for the body. It’s pretty amazing that something as simple as this morning drink recipe can do so many good things for our health!
After you finish reading about all the benefits of drinking this tonic, check out the information I’ve included about the upcoming 8th Annual World Tapping Summit. It’s a great (and free) resource to take advantage of!
19 Balancing Benefits of This Two-Ingredient Morning Tonic
(by Stephen Seifert) Many of us have morning routines that are wonderful health practices — a morning meditation, a few yoga poses, a brisk walk around the neighborhood, or a delicious fruit-infused smoothie. Daily routines are vital to health and happiness, and this is especially true at the start of the day.How about a quick and simple glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt? This simple drink can boost your morning health and wellness regimen — and it’s so easy to make. There are a number of professional athletes and Olympians who start their morning with lemon and salt water, which may say something about its effectiveness.
A 10-ounce glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt in the morning can increase your immune function, decrease uric acid to fight inflammation, improve digestion, and balance your body. These benefits can be attributed to the vitamin C content of the lemon juice as well as the essential minerals contained in Himalayan salt. This simple morning drink promotes vitality, health, and overall wellness, and may even improve your sex drive!Let’s take a closer look at 19 of the balancing benefits of water, lemon, and salt, all in one cup.
Lemons are excellent for fighting inflammation. Lemons can help dissolve the uric acid in your joints, and also have been found to help build and repair tendons, ligaments, and bone. This anti-inflammatory property may be especially beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, according to an American College of Physicians study on osteoarthritis, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2000).
Aids in proper food and water absorption. A daily glass of lemon water with Himalayan salt may provide a better overall mineral balance, which promotes proper food and water absorption in your body, allowing essential nutrients to get where they need to be.
Balances your body’s acidity (pH). The alkalizing effects of lemon and natural salt are highly useful for managing your body’s delicate pH balance, which is crucial for optimal functioning of the body’s systems.
Boosts immune function. One lemon serves up 139 percent of your daily value (DV) for vitamin C. Squeezing one lemon into your morning is a natural alternative to that vitamin C supplement you may be taking.
It’s a detox for your cells. The all-natural Himalayan salt mixed with lemon juice and water helps to pull toxins from your cells, reducing cellular toxicity. This may reduce your risk for various chronic diseases, as well as make you feel generally awesome!
Reduces problematic cellulite. Natural salts like Himalayan salt have been used for centuries for skin care. Interestingly, most spa treatments for cellulitis contain some form of salt and/or citrus blend. A few daily gulps of lemon and salt water in the morning may firm up a few of those unsightly areas.
Clears up skin and adds a fresh glow. Using natural salt for skin problems, such as psoriasis and eczema, dates back to ancient Roman times. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ doctor, Galen from Pergamum, used sea salt for skin diseases, according to Science Tribune (1999).
Useful for allergy season. It has been suggested that the combination of lemon and salt, specifically mixed into warm water, acts as a natural antihistamine for allergies. It may be the perfect alternative to those pink pills that leave you feeling drowsy.
Paves the way for better sleep. The natural hormone-balancing properties of lemon and Himalayan salt can be more than useful when it comes to bedtime. Getting the proper amount of sleep is essential for physical health, mental health, productivity, and much more. This hormone-balancing beverage can make an effective nightcap.
Helps controls blood sugar. The fiber content of lemons helps to balance blood glucose levels, which is useful for type 2 diabetes patients and prediabetics alike, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2000).
Lemons may help detoxify your liver. Vitamin C is essential for producing glutathione, which plays a foundational role in detoxifying the liver. It also has antiseptic properties that are useful for liver function, as well.
Freshens breath! Lemon and Himalayan salt may not be the first things that come to mind when you think of fresh breath. However, the lemon and salt in this simple morning drink help kill the bad breath bacteria that build up while you’re sleeping.
May help you chill out. When you get stressed out, do not be so quick to reach for those prescription pills. You may be able to chill out and return to that state of Zen by boosting your vitamin C levels first thing in the morning.
Useful for reducing blood pressure. Lemons are not all about vitamin C and fiber. They also boast potassium, which is vital for flushing excessive sodium from the body.
Boost your libido! The vitamin C content and hormone-balancing properties of this morning beverage can help lift your mood. This might be all it takes to boost your libido, without the need for that little blue pill.
Gets you hydrated right out of the gate. Many people forget how important hydration is, especially after a seven or eight-hour sleep period with no water. Start your morning off right and get hydrated. The water, salt and zesty lemon will get your day off to the perfect start.
An antioxidant powerhouse vital for, well, everything! Lemon offers up a wealth of vitamins and minerals, while Himalayan salt boosts your mineral and trace mineral levels even more. The antioxidant and detoxifying properties of lemon saltwater pack a powerful, free radical knockout punch.
May improve your heart health. Lemons and real salt are both exceptional for increasing heart health on their own. However, when you combine the two into one vibrant morning drink, you get even more vital heart-thumping health benefits.
Natural salt supports electro-chemical reactions in the body, while negative ions assist in healthy heart rhythm. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is, “associated with lower endothelial dysfunction in men with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes,” according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006).
Promotes digestive health. A glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt before breakfast, or any meal, helps signal your liver to produce the essential bile needed to clean out harmful gut bacteria. The fiber content and natural salt will also promote digestion.
Are you ready to commit to this simple and health-promoting morning drink? I have been drinking warm lemon water with Himalayan salt every morning for months, and I absolutely love it. My energy levels are up, and I feel as cool as a cucumber throughout the day.
Want to join me? Just combine 10 ounces of filtered water with one whole lemon, squeezed, and half a teaspoon of Himalayan salt.
And here’s a free resource for you. If you are new to EFT (the Emotional Freedom Technique), now’s the time to find out about how easily this simple process can help you with all kinds of physical, mental and emotional issues.
At the 8th Annual Tapping World Summit, starting Feb. 22nd, you can spend ten days with world-class experts who are sharing their newest, cutting-edge information on a variety of important topics.
They’ve also included, once again, a daily tapping meditation, based on that day’s topics. These meditations are specifically designed to help you, in a short period of time, assimilate and process the content covered and do tapping to release your blocks.
One of the pre-summit presentations you can access right now includes an interview with Dr. Lissa Rankin. Here are just a few snippets of what you can expect from watching the video:
– At around 7 minutes you’ll hear about what she learned from studying over 3,500 cases of “spontaneous remission” and what the research both tells us and isn’t telling us about why people get sick or healthy.
– At around 8:40 you’ll learn about the 9 common characteristics that people with “spontaneous remission” have and why they’re critical to know for both people who are healthy or sick.
– At around 16 minutes Lissa shares about the only 2 modes that our nervous system can be in, and how in one of them, our bodies self repair mechanism literally shuts down! And the scary part is…most people tend to get stuck in this shut down mode (she’ll explain why and how you can get out of it).
– At about 19 minutes she shares why some of her supposedly “healthiest” clients (exercising, eating well, meditating, etc) were getting sick and the big “aha” moment she had about what was causing it all.
– At around 26 minutes Lissa will blow your mind be redefining what “placebo” actually is. She’ll share with you how most scientific studies are blowing off placebo and not digging deep enough into what is actually going on with the mind and body.
You can find out more details and sign up on my What’s New page.
Salud!
p.s. Be sure to subscribe to Self-help Health so you don’t miss any future posts, and tell your friends to do the same. Also check out my website’s To Your Health page and Evolution Made Easier blog for more helpful health tips, tools and information.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
I have been meaning to do a post on Jin Shin Jyutsu for over a year now…..ever since I first started studying and practicing this wonderfully simple, yet complex, Art of Learning To Know (Help) Yourself. I finally got around to doing it when I recently had the opportunity to be a guest writer for the SivanaSpirit.com blog.Here’s my article that they featured….
Jin Shin Jyutsu:The Simplicity of using hands to heal
About a year ago I was reading a blog post that happened to mention Jin Shin Jyutsu.
I wasn’t sure if I’d even heard of it before, but assumed it was something along the lines of Jujitsu or QiGong.
I had already studied and practiced more than my share of energy processes and healing modalities and wasn’t looking to get involved in something new, but still was curious to find out what Jin Shin Jyutsu actually was.
When I got an e-mail a week later saying there was a new Meet-Up group focused on Jin Shin Jyutsu forming in my area, I thought “Talk about synchronicity and serendipity!”
So I signed up to attend, with the thought of going just a time or two to satisfy my curiosity.
I Was Hooked From The Get-go!
Well, here it is more than a year later and I’m still learning and practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu, and no one is more surprised by this than me.
The fact is, I was hooked from the get-go and it’s my favorite energy process of anything I’ve come across so far.
It turns out Jin Shin Jyutsu, or JSJ as I now call it, originated in Japan like Jujitsu, but is NOT a form of martial arts.
Instead, it is a process that works to keep the physical body’s energy pathways clear and the energy balanced and flowing.
It works similar to acupuncture, but without needles, pressure or manipulation.
JSJ is empowering to use, and highly regenerative because it speeds up the body’s innate ability to heal and regenerate itself.
It boosts the immune system, relieves stress and pain, and works to restore and maintain energy levels.
It also helps balance and harmonize our thoughts and emotions, and strengthen our connection with Source energy and “higher” consciousness.
Wow, how cool is that?!
What’s Great About JSJ
What’s great about JSJ is it’s interesting and fun, and simple….yet complex.
You can start using it within minutes of learning some of the basics, but could also spend the rest of your life, if you’re so inclined, delving into the depths of all it has to offer.
I love the fact that many of the holds or processes (also referred to as “flows”) are very easy and quick to learn, so you can begin using them on yourself right away to improve all aspects of your health and well-being.
Plus, you don’t have to adhere to any particular system of thought, it doesn’t interfere with other modalities you may be practicing, and it doesn’t require any special equipment, physical pressure, or massage know-how.
You can use it anytime, anywhere, and it works through clothing, so you can remain fully clothed while doing it.
Jin Shin Jyutsu is all about keeping the body’s energy flowing and in balance…..it can help you feel more energized, but also assist you with falling asleep if/when that’s your goal.
Here in the West, JSJ is referred to as “The Art of Learning To Know (Help) Yourself,” and for me it has really lived up to that title.
By practicing JSJ I have not only learned energy processes that relax and rejuvenate my body better than anything else I’ve tried, but have also come to know (ah, there’s that word!) myself and appreciate my body and the innate power it holds more than ever before.
It’s really nice to realize that my physical body contains an inexhaustible supply of energy, and that just by helping insure that energy is nurtured and given a chance to move and flow, my health and whole life benefit in a variety of ways.
The Hands Have It
With Jin Shin Jyutsu your hands become these wonderful tools for “jumper-cabling” the energy circuits of the body, and just by knowing where and how to place your hands you can release tensions and energy blockages which are the causes of various symptoms and dis-ease.
When one or more of the energy pathways in the body become blocked, this damming effect can lead to discomfort or even pain.
If this energy stagnation goes unaddressed for too long, it ends up not only disrupting the local area of the body, but will continue and eventually dis-harmonize the entire path or paths of energy flow.
Fortunately, JSJ is an easy to use self-help tool for ensuring the pathways remain clear and the energy is free-flowing and harmonized. And you’re working with the body’s own inexhaustible supply of energy, so you’re not having to deal with, or pull in, outside energy.
Mary Burmeister, the woman responsible for bringing JSJ to the US from Japan, said that the only reason we really get tired is mismanagement of the boundless energy source our body contains. And that if we attuned to the body and did what we could through JSJ to insure that our energy is free-flowing and unobstructed, we would never get tired.
It’s as Simple as 1-2-3!
Learning to use some of the holds or flows in Jin Shin Jyutsu is as simple as 1-2-3.
Well, actually sometime it’s as simple as 1, because a key hold or hand position that can help with all sorts of things involves simply grasping/holding (“jumper-cabling”) the thumb of one hand with the other hand.
Talk about simple!
Did you know that by doing this one little thing you can help balance and harmonize the stomach and the spleen, which is the body’s source of “solar energy” and serves to energize all the other organs?!
Holding your thumb also opens up channels for you to receive nourishment on an inner and outer level, not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
And if you need help falling asleep at night….or getting back to sleep when you wake up too early….just grab your thumb.
This hold also helps dissipate worry, nervousness, stress and tension, so it’s a real godsend of a self-help tool for this day and age! Maybe this is why babies innately know to suck their thumbs to bring them a sense of security and peace.
The Benefit of Each Finger
I just mentioned some of the many benefits of holding your thumb(s), but the other digits are no slouches either!
You’ll probably be surprised to learn that our ten fingers are the keys to 144,000 energy functions, and by holding each finger or thumb for just a few minutes a day you help clean and regenerate over 14,000 functions of the body at a time!
What?! I find that totally amazing!
Hold each for 3 to 5 minutes daily and your whole body will experience a wonderful calming, rejuvenating, balancing and harmonizing effect- and it’s cumulative, so the more often you practice JSJ, the more benefit you receive.
The index finger has to do with functions of the muscular and digestive systems, the kidneys, and the bladder; it can help with teeth and gum issues, backaches, and addictions of any kind, as well as with reducing fear, frustration and mental confusion.
So if you need support with any of those issues, grab that finger and hold!
And the middle finger relates to the blood, liver and gall bladder, and feelings of anger, irritability, indecision or frustration. It can also help with eye/vision problems and relieve fatigue.
So hold this finger to work on any of these organs/areas of the body and particular mental and emotional stresses.
The ring finger relates to the lungs and respiratory system, as well as the large intestine, and holding this particular finger works to rejuvenate and bring balance to those parts of the body.
It can also be used for ringing in the ears, excess mucus, and to relieve feelings of sadness, grief, negativity, and being stuck or having trouble with letting go.
And last but not least, the little finger, or “pinky,” is connected with functions of the skeletal system, as well as the heart and small intestine, and can be used to address bone or nerve problems and heart conditions.
On a mental and emotional level, the little finger relates to trying too hard or overdoing, and can help with feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem.
Everyone Should Try It!
There’s actually a lot more to each finger and using Jin Shin Jyutsu than what I’ve mentioned here, and that’s one of the things I love about it.
You can learn just a few basics, like holding your fingers and thumbs, and gain a lot of benefit; at the same time, you could study and practice JSJ for years and always feel there is more to learn and understand.
I’m so enamored with Jin Shin Jyutsu that I think everyone should know about it and give it a try. And I look forward to sharing several more easy to learn JSJ processes in a future post, including my favorite flow that is sooo relaxing and works to balance all the energy in the body.
You can do it while lying comfortably in bed, and even fall asleep during the process and still have it be effective. HA! Maybe Jin Shin Jyutsu should be called the lazy (wo)man’s “art of learning to know (help) yourself.”
I mean really, how many things do you know of where you simply hold a finger…and can even fall asleep in the process, and are still helping everything from assuaging fear to expanding cosmic consciousness?!!
So if you’d like to know more about this gentle, yet profound, art and energy process, stay tuned for my next post on JSJ. I also recommend reading The Touch of Healing by Alice Burmeister and checking out Astrid Kauffman’s Flows For Life site.
FYI, if you haven’t heard of Sivana Spirit before, I highly recommend you check out their site. They carry some wonderful yoga, meditation and spiritually-inspired clothing, gifts and beautiful jewelry with healing properties. You can use the link on my “Resources” website page and get a discount on your first time purchase AND help support this blog in the process! Yea! Everybody wins. 🙂
And check out this related Self-help Health post for information on using Prime Mover, another great JSJ hold to know about!
Salud!
p.s. Be sure to give Self-help Health a follow so you don’t miss out on any future posts. Also check out theTo Your Healthpage at my websiteEvolution Made Easierand my otherblogfor more helpful information, tips, tools and resources.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
When I was young, way back in the Stone Age :-), we would visit my mother’s parents and I remember my grandfather always drinking a couple of raw eggs in the morning. At the time I thought he was just doing it to freak us grandkids out (he was a prankster), but now I realize he was really doing something very healthy. I’ve always heard that raw yolks are healthier than cooked ones, and that if you boil, poach or fry an egg , you should at least try to keep the yolk runny.
The thought of eating/drinking raw eggs still evokes my gag reflex, but after reading this article I think I will be fine whipping them up in my smoothie, so I’m going to give it a try. I certainly didn’t let the idea of eating raw egg deter me when snarfing down my share of raw cookie dough when growing up. 🙂 I also like that this article mentions how it can be unhealthy (and a waste of good nutrition) to always eat just the whites. I use to wonder if the people who eat just the whites as a weight loss measure knew they were foregoing the most nutritious part of an egg.
Anyway, read for yourself about the incredible, edible (raw) egg……
7 Reasons to Eat a Raw Egg Daily
I don’t know about you, but I remember when I was a kid and I loved to steal my mother’s raw cookie dough from the bowl (oops, the cat is out of the bag).
She would turn away for a minute and the theft was easy and swift. However, one time I was caught red-handed with a mouthful of her delicious chocolate chip dough and my fun came to a screeching halt.
She put some serious fear in me when she told me that eating raw cookie dough, which contained raw eggs, would make me very sick. When I confessed that I had been stealing the cookie dough for a very long time and hadn’t once felt sick, she said I had just gotten lucky. The next time, she promised, would bring me great anguish!Today, I don’t eat raw cookie dough because I now know better for different reasons; however, I do enjoy raw eggs… at least one egg a day, for that matter.
If the thought of consuming raw eggs makes your stomach queasy, you are not alone. It may be that you were raised like me, with a distrust of raw eggs, or perhaps the media — with all its talk of salmonella — has scared you away from enjoying this amazingly potent nutritional powerhouse. In fact, raw eggs, when consumed from the right source, are not only safe but also good for you!
Yes, raw eggs are safe
One caveat here, you have to get your raw eggs from a reliable source. I am not talking about the store-bought, mass-produced eggs that come from unhappy hens. I am referring to eggs from organic, cage-free or free-range hens.
Hens that are not cooped up indoors, with no air or light, fed crappy grain and not allowed any time in the great outdoors. These hens are sick, their living conditions are sick and subsequently their eggs are sick.
In reality, the risk of poisoning from salmonella from even store-bought eggs is unlikely. The paranoia over salmonella poisoning started in the mid to late 1980s during outbreaks of egg-associated outbreaks of salmonella in the northeastern United States. After dozens of people died from poisoning, hen house owners changed the way they managed hen houses and the risk was substantially decreased.
A study from the U.S.Department of Agriculture in 2002 noted that only 2.3 million of the some 69 billion eggs produced each year are actually contaminated with salmonella. That equates to 0.003% or 1 in every 30,000 eggs.
Keep in mind that most of the bad eggs come from chickens kept in very unhealthy conditions. If we were to look only at eggs from healthy chickens (organic and free-range), even fewer than one in 30,000 eggs would be contaminated.
In addition, what you might not know is that salmonella is a microorganism found all over the place and is actually more likely to proliferate on cooked food kept in the fridge. When infection does occur, it generally causes only minor gastric upset, unless it occurs in individuals with a compromised immune system, such as elderly persons who take or have taken a number of antibiotics. In a healthy person, salmonella poisoning is easily treated with potent *probiotics every half hour until the symptoms dissipate.
According to David McSwane, co-author of Essentials of Food Safety and Sanitation, “Salmonella, like a lot of food-borne bacteria, are what we think of as opportunistic organisms, in that they really don’t compete very well with a lot of other bacteria and microbes that are not only in nature, but also are in the human intestinal system.”
Why I consume raw eggs
So, hopefully I have now put your fears to rest and you are ready to learn more about why consuming one or two raw eggs daily is a good thing for your health. Here are just some of the reasons why I consume raw eggs daily.
Raw eggs minimize risk of allergies
Cooking eggs changes the composition of fats and proteins. The chemical shape of the egg protein is altered when exposed to heat and this can cause allergies. Interestingly enough, many people who stop eating cooked eggs and switch to raw eggs find that their egg allergies disappear.
Raw eggs are loaded with vitamin B12 and folate
Raw eggs are loaded with essential vitamins, such as vitamin B12. One egg contains 0.2 milligrams of riboflavin or vitamin B12, which is needed to help the body break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
In addition, B12 also keeps blood and nerve cells in good working order. Raw egg yolks are also rich in folate, which guards against anemia, especially in pregnant women. Eggs also contain choline, which has been found to help in memory prevention.
Raw eggs contain fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K
Fat-soluble vitamins are highly important in your body. Vitamins A, D and K work together with each other and with other essential minerals including magnesium, calcium and zinc. According to research, optimizing vitamin D levels can cut your risk of cancer in half.
Egg yolks contain antioxidants
Just two raw egg yolks contain almost twice the antioxidant properties found in an apple. This is due to the presence of two amino acids, tryptophan and tyrosine. In addition, yolks are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that protect from age-related macular degeneration — the most common cause of blindness.
Proteins and minerals
Eggs are an awesome source of protein. One egg contains about 6 grams of protein, which is needed for your body to repair cells and produce new ones. One egg yolk also has more than 66 mg of phosphorus and 22 mg of calcium. Each of our 37 trillion cells needs phosphorus to function.
Of course, everyone knows that we need calcium for our bones and teeth. A whole egg contains selenium, a mineral that is incorporated into proteins to make antioxidant enzymes (selenoproteins). In addition, small amounts of iron, zinc and copper are also found in eggs.
Egg yolks are rich in cholesterol
Wait a minute, you might say, “Isn’t cholesterol bad for us?” Cholesterol is a type of fat that is crucial to the body’s proper functioning. It is needed for the production of cell membranes, and also carries nutrients, such as CoQ10, beta carotene and vitamin E, which are essential to the mitochondria (energy center) of the cells. Cholesterol is also integral in cognitive function, as well as to support hormonal stability and the production of vitamin D.
Egg yolks contain biotin
Egg yolks contain one of the highest concentrations of biotin found in nature. So, contrary to what you might think, ditching the yolks and eating the whites is not the way to go. If you only consume raw egg whites, you will most definitely develop a biotin deficiency unless you take a biotin supplement. Biotin is needed for the formation of fatty acids and glucose. Both of these are used as fuels by the body and are critical for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids.
Two ways I eat my raw egg yolks
I am not going to suggest that you be like Rocky and drink your egg yolks on their own. There are, however, some clever ways to consume this nutrient powerhouse. I like to blend one egg with a little goat’s milk or an avocado along with a touch of raw honey.
You can also mix them in with your favorite smoothie. Mine is almond milk, a frozen banana, cocoa powder, pure vanilla, natural peanut butter and two egg yolks. Talk about a great way to start a busy day!
Tip: Before eating your eggs, wash them with soapy water. If there is any salmonella, it will most likely be on the shell from chicken feces. *Therefore, washing the egg reduces your chance of being infected.
— By Susan Patterson, Content Director at The Alternative Daily, a Certified Health Coach, Certified Metabolic Typing Advisor and Master Gardener.
*Personal Tip: You can soak an egg in structured water for a minute or two to neutralize any toxins/bacteria on the shell. Or if you have a BerryBreeze™ and leave the egg carton open a smidge in the fridge (ha, sounds like the start of a Dr. Seuss book) the ozone will neutralize any harmful stuff. I don’t know what I’d do without these two devices! So many uses and health benefits they provide! And I’m glad it’s much easier to find eggs from pastured, humanely-raised hens these days. The place I shop started carrying them about a year ago and now even offers two brands to choose from.
Also, Patterson mentions salmonella being easily treated with probiotics. She doesn’t say which particular strains to use, but I do know saccharomyces boulardii is known to treat food poisoning and I always keep a bottle in my bathroom drawer for dealing with such things.
Salud!
p.s. Be sure to give Self-help Health a follow so you don’t miss out on any future posts. Also check out theTo Your Healthpage at my websiteEvolution Made Easierand my otherblogfor more helpful information, tips, tools and resources.
Disclaimer: Please note that any information here is provided as a guideline only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your physician, nutritionist, trained healthcare practitioner, and/or inner guidance system. Always consult a professional before undertaking any change to your normal health routine.
Colds are caused by viruses that thrive in your nose and throat when the temperature, acidity, and moisture suit them. When you are run down and your resistance is low, your ability to adapt to environmental changes weakens, making it easier to catch a cold, and the mucous membranes become a perfect breeding ground for viruses. Cold symptoms are the body’s attempt to protect itself from these intruders. When a virus enters your nose, for instance, the body secretes more mucus to flush it away.
Useful for allergy season. It has been suggested that the combination of lemon and salt, specifically mixed into warm water, acts as a natural antihistamine for allergies. It may be the perfect alternative to those pink pills that leave you feeling drowsy.
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