Next time you have a headache, you may want to skip the pain relievers and try acupressure. It’s safe and can be surprisingly effective.

What Is Acupressure?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain and illness are viewed as an interruption in the flow of qi (energy). Acupressure and acupuncture aim to balance and restore the flow of qi through the body. Acupoints are places on the body where the flow of qi can be influenced (e.g. via needles, electrical stimulation, & pressure) to regulate bodily functions and relieve pain.

How to Perform Acupressure

To perform acupressure, use direct pressure to the indicated point with your finger or thumb. Press the point lightly, increasing slowly to a firm pressure. (Of course, if you’re working with a delicate area such as the face, use light pressure.)  Hold the point until you feel some relief, or up to a minute. Breathe deeply as you hold the point.

Acupressure Points for Headache Relief

Below are some acupressure points for headache relief. You can do all of them as a routine, or just experiment and find the ones that work best for you.

* The “Hoku point” (LI4) is excellent for headache relief. It is located on the back of the hand, in the webbing where the thumb and index finger meet.  Find the exact point by bringing your thumb and index finger together.  The muscle will bulge a little–that’s the spot.

Squeeze the point by putting your thumb on the point, and your index finger on the palm side of your hand.  Angle the pressure toward the bone that connects with the index finger. Hold for one minute and switch hands.

Do not use the Hoku Point if you are pregnant.

* Use your thumbs to firmly press the back of the neck underneath the base of your skull into the indentations on either side of the spine, two to three inches apart, depending on the size of your skull. Slowly tilt your head back and firmly press up underneath the skull. These are the GB20 points. This technique is one of my personal favorites for headache relief.

* Press the top of the feet, in the web between the big and second toes.  You can either use your hands for this, working both feet at the same time, or you can use the heel of the opposite foot to work one foot at a time.  This point is Lv3.

* With the palms of your hands together, let your head tilt downward and place your index and third fingers on the point directly between the eyebrows, where the bridge of the nose meets the forehead. (Or just use an index finger or thumb.)  This point is called GV24.5.

* Apply steady pressure to the top of head, where lines drawn to the top of the head from the ears and nose would intersect.  This is GV20.  Do not use this point if you have high blood pressure.

* Use your thumb and index finger to press the indentations on either side of the nose, where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows. This is B2.

* Use the middle and index fingers of both hands to gently press up underneath the cheekbones, directly below the center of the eye. This point is St3.

Many of these suggestions are taken from the book Acupressure’s Potent Points by Michael Reed Gach, which I highly recommend.

“Red Flag” Headaches: See Your Doctor Immediately

While you can safely treat most headaches yourself, some need medical attention. The following headache symptoms are signs of potentially serious, even life-threatening health problems. Please consult your medical doctor immediately if:

* you experience extremely intense head pain (i.e. it feels like the worst headache of your life)
* the headache comes on very suddenly and severely (like a “thunderclap”)
* your headache is accompanied by mental confusion
* your headache is accompanied by unusual symptoms such as passing out, loss of vision, or difficulty walking or speaking
* your headache is accompanied by a high fever (over 100 degrees F) and/or stiff neck
* you are over 50 and the headache is a new kind of headache for you
* your headache was preceded by head trauma.
* you have a family history of brain aneurysms

For many years, many unfortunate people around the world have suffered from migraine headaches which could suddenly attack and temporarily incapacitate the victims. They also realized the ugly facts that they are helpless towards any form of preventions before it comes or to stop it after it attacks.

The victims have most probably sought for professional help previously in search for a cure but not much improvement can be seen. It is not uncommon that the ‘migraine help’ these doctors offer is the pain killers prescribed for normal headaches. Read the rest of this entry »

What is pain? We have all likely felt pain at some time in our lives. Why do we feel pain? What causes it and why? Have you ever really thought about what pain actually is? Read the rest of this entry »

Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. Flu is contagious and if you’re around someone who coughs or sneezes, or simply touch any object already touched by someone contaminated with flu, you’re bound to contract the infection.

Flu symptoms are easy to detect though they may appear few days later. Flu spreads at the slightest contact and before you feel the symptoms on yourself, you might have passed it to others. Symptoms include – body aches, chills, dry cough, fever, headache, sore throat and stuffy nose.

To prevent the flu bug, keep in mind the following -
- Get a flu shot / vaccine.
- If there is flu epidemic in air, avoid crowded places like cinema halls, theatres, shopping centers, etc as virus spreads easily.
- Keep distance from people who sneeze and cough.
- Give up smoking and drinking alcohol as it can injure your respiratory tract and impair your resistance, making you more susceptible to flu.
- Wash your hands frequently in order to reduce your chance of infection.
- Reduce stress as stressed people are more prone to falling ill easily.
- Include low sweets diet and avoid fried foods.
- Avoid exposure to dust, chemicals as well as sudden and extreme temperature changes.

Since flu spreads at the slightest of contact, one should stay at home till fully recovered. It is best to rest in the bed as you will feel sick and tired to do anything else. If you are doing work despite being sick, you’re prone to more complications.

Liquids are important as you can get the much needed nutrients when you don’t feel like eating and it also keeps you from being dehydrated. Drink lots of liquids like water, soups, veg or non veg and other fluids like fruit juices. Beet and carrot juice, both are rich in nutrients. Fruit juice mixed with water in equal quantity and dash of sugar provides the necessary glucose.

By humidifying your room there will be less discomfort of a cough, sore throat or dry nasal passages. If you’re blowing your nose continuously, it will be sore and red. Lubricate your nostrils with petroleum jelly products to decrease the irritation. For tired achy muscles, ease away the pain with a warm compress. Soak your feet in hot water to alleviate any headache or nasal congestion.

Ensure that your room has plenty of fresh air supply all the times. Prevent chills by wearing warm, close fitting clothes. Ask someone to give you a back rub as it activates the immune system to fight the flu. During flu, one should eat lightly. Snack on fruits, cereals, boiled food, etc.

If a sore or scratchy throat accompanies the flu infection, get relief by gargling with salt water solution. It will wash out any secretions collected in your throat.

Take a warm tbsp of honey mixed with lemon at night to get quick relief.

Warm water mixed with lemon and honey is good to loosen phlegm.

Gargle daily with 1 drop of each of tea tree oil and lemon mixed in glass of warm water. Stir well and do not swallow.

Add 10-20 drops of either tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon or lavender oil to your hot water bath. This helps your immune system fight the viral infect and ease your symptoms.

Take 1 tbsp of lukewarm honey mixed with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon powder daily for 3-4 days. It strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.

Juices of apple, pear, cranberry, pomegranate and dark grapes are often recommended for combating flu as they have properties that work against congestion and runny nose.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.

Whether you like it or not, you are exposed to passive smoke either in your workplace or public areas. Passive smoke causes at least 46,000 deaths in the United States a year. No doubt, non smokers involuntarily subject themselves to the ill effects of passive smoke. You will treat passive smoke as hazardous to you and your loved ones once you read and digest the facts and dangers of passive smoke, the groups of people at risk, and ways to avoid the health risk of cigarette smoke. This article will change your attitude towards passive smoke and move you to protect the future of your family.

Passive smoke is also known as second hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke. A combination of sidestream and mainstream smoke make up passive smoke. When a smoker exhales the tobacco smoke, it is known as mainstream smoke. Sidestream smoke comes from the burning tip of the cigarette. Both of these smoke contain similar chemicals.

Both sidestream and mainstream smoke contain 4,000 harmful chemical of which 80 are known to be carcinogenic. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified second hand smoke as a Class A carcinogen. It is the most dangerous indoor pollutant. People spend most of their time at home. Imagine if your home is filled with smokers. It is like living next to the exhaust of a running car. As passive smokers, your health is affected adversely.

Exposure to second hand smoke can cause you to develop sicknesses. You can experience the immediate effects such as eye irritation, cough, headache, nausea, dizziness, and sore throat. On the long term, you may suffer from respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma. Let’s not forget heart and lung disease too. Your risk of developing various kinds of cancer increases as well. Children tend to get middle-ear infection. Passive smoke also put infants on greater risks of sudden infant death syndrome. Whereas, pregnant mothers are at increase risk of having low weight babies at birth. The fact is passive smoke can destroy your health.

There are certain people who encounter greater health risk. People who are more likely to experience the adverse effect of second hand smoke are pregnant women, newborns, children, and teenagers. People who are diagnosed with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory illnesses are also at danger. 

Passive smoke do not only affect certain people but everyone who happens to be in the same environment as a smoker.
Places such as public areas, work places, and your home where smoking is allowed can threaten a non smoker’s life. To protect your loved ones, you have to take certain measures.

Now that you are aware of the dangers of second hand smoke, it is time for you to do something for your family and loved ones. Start with your home. Make sure nobody smokes in the home. If somebody smokes, encourage them to quit smoking. Choose to go to public areas which have been assigned as smoke free zones. Separating non smoking areas from smoking areas will not help as tobacco can travel easily through air duct systems. Think of other creative ways to prevent your loved ones from absorbing this toxic pollution.

You don’t need to depend on scientific evidence before you decide passive smoke is dangerous. It clearly endangers anyone regardless of age. No one is free from the dangers of second hand smoke. Make sure you do all you can to protect your family.