Pressure points on feet provide relief from ‘serious’ conditions
What you might not know is that when pressure is applied to specific points on your feet, it can stimulate relief in parts of your body and promote your overall well-being.
Reflexology, the ancient practice of applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears to promote overall well-being, often encounters skepticism. It’s understandable – on the surface, the idea of influencing internal organs or alleviating pain through foot pressure may seem far-fetched.
And though you might be skeptical, a decades long study by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) confirms that foot reflexology “will be introduced” to “provide physical and psychological relief to patients with serious clinical conditions.”
“These healthcare methods can become a part of people’s lives and give them a more solid, comprehensive, and healthy sustainable life value,” NLM writes of the ancient therapeutic practice that was first documented as far back as 2330.
How it works
Reflexology operates on the principle that specific areas on the feet, hands, or ears are connected to other body parts. For example, a point on the sole of the foot might correspond to the heart or lungs, or the tip of your toe is believed to be a path to your sinuses.
By applying targeted pressure to these zones, practitioners stimulate nerve endings, improving blood circulation and energy flow.
The practice combines knowledge of anatomy and physiology with holistic wellness techniques, and many individuals report feeling deeply relaxed and rejuvenated after a session.
The Benefits of Reflexology
Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Reflexology helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress hormones and induces a state of deep relaxation. Regular sessions may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and promote better sleep.
Improved Circulation: By stimulating pressure points, reflexology enhances blood flow to targeted areas, which may help in delivering oxygen and nutrients more efficiently throughout the body.
Pain Management: Reflexology has been linked to relief from chronic pain conditions, such as migraines, back pain, and arthritis. It can serve as a complementary approach to traditional pain management methods.
Enhanced Nerve Function: Consistent practice may help improve the responsiveness of nerves and eliminate blockages in the pathways through which energy flows.
Detoxification and Immune Boosting: Reflexology supports the body’s natural detoxification processes by improving lymphatic drainage and enhancing the immune system’s functionality.
Reflexology is also believed to increase energy, eliminate toxins, treat sleep disorders and reduce depression.
DIY reflexology
If you want to try it out at home, here are some tips to guide your massage.
Make sure you’re seated in a comfortable chair where you can sit up straight without slouching. Cross one leg and rest that foot near the knee of your opposite leg. Put your foot in a position where you can easily massage it.
Next, review the acupressure foot chart and figure out the body part you are wanting to treat. For example, if your shoulder is hurting, find the corresponding spot on the chart for the foot you are working on.
Once you identify the spot on your heal, use tip of your thumb to press and deeply knead that area for at least two minutes. Then, do the same on your other foot with the opposite thumb.
Repeat this process for any other area on your body that you want to treat.
You can do this every day but as these pressure points will adapt to the stimulation, it’s recommended you work them on a rotation of 10 days with a four-day break.
Or you can always visit a reflexologist and leave your feet in the care of a professional!
Research shows body senses death is near – it starts in nose
Humans do not like to be in the dark about things, and perhaps that is why the idea of death scares so many people. However, research shows that while death remains largely a mystery, some of the things surrounding it are becoming more and more obvious.
Keep reading to learn more.
What cannot be explained by science is often referred to as a ‘sixth sense’ by people. And sometimes, scientific research comes out which ends up confirming what humans had long suspected with their sixth sense.
According to research, when a person dies, their body immediately starts to break down. During this, putrescine is emitted into the surroundings. Putrescine is a toxic and foul smell, and humans, at a subconscious level, can recognize this as a putrefying odor. And when the human brain recognizes this scent, it immediately responds to the death.
Researcher Arnaud Wisman from the University of Kent’s School of Psychology in Canterbury, UK, and Ilan Shira from the Department of Behavioral Sciences in Arkansas’ Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas, shared that much like animals, humans can also sense scents and respond accordingly. This is a major survival tactic developed across several species. So when humans come across putrescine, consciously or subconsciously, they respond to it.
The researchers conducted experiments that show that when humans are exposed to the putrescine scent, they move away similarly to animals who also run away in similar circumstances. “We do not know why we like (or dislike) someone’s smell, and we’re usually not aware of how scent influences our emotions, preferences, and attitudes,” Wisman and Shira stated.
“It is hard to think of a scent as frightening,” other researchers have claimed. But it is not untrue that scents make people more alert about their surroundings.
Sex pheromones, which are defined as odors produced by males or females, also have a reaction on human behavior, which usually brings a reaction in another human for the purpose of mating.
“Putrescine signals a different type of message than pheromones, but people’s responses to putrescine (avoidance and hostility) do seem indeed to be the opposite of responses to many sexual pheromones,” one researcher explained.
But unlike other scents, for this one, humans are not aware they are smelling it and their response is more likely subconscious. So it seems our nose can help us figure out if there is death or perhaps ‘danger’ nearby.
It is always so fascinating to learn about how humans work and how our subconscious might be reacting to things we might not even notice! Share this with others so they can also know about this fascinating discovery.
Tom Selleck says fatherhood is the “most important” role he has ever played
Yet whilst it’s impressive that he’s managed to retain the respect and love of the masses throughout the entirety of his career, arguably an even greater feat is that he’s kept his family life private over the years.
The Magnum P.I. actor has faced some serious challenges across the decades, but his golden rule has always been to put his family first.
It’s no surprise, then, that Selleck admitted, as per CBS Local in 2012, that fatherhood is the most important role he’s ever had to play.
Selleck and his wife, fellow actress Jillie Mack, welcomed their daughter Hannah Magaret to the world in 1988. For Selleck, it was a day that changed everything.
The actor even moved his family to a ranch in Ventura County, California, as he believed it would give them the best shot at raising Hannah out of the searing spotlight of Hollywood.
“I quit Magnum to have a family,” Selleck explained to People back in 2012.
“It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance, and this ranch has helped me do that.”
Fast forward to now and that’s a choice that certainly seems to have paid dividends.
Not only was Hannah given a safe, rural environment in which to grow up, but living on the ranch brought her closer to the animals that would shape her own career: horses.
The now 36-year-old forged a career as a world-class equestrian, winning laurels and fame in her own right along the way.
“As a kid [my parents] tried to raise me as normally as possible given my dad’s line of work,” she told The Epoch Times.
“Those horses have been a great way for me to have my own accomplishments outside of whatever my parents had done.” Hannah started horse-riding at the tender young age of 4 and there’s been no looking back since.”
Tom Selleck never fails to impress me, and I know I can’t be the only fan of his!
Share this article if you, too, think Tom Selleck is a good actor and, more importantly, a good man.
Sally Jessy Raphael claims Instagram won’t verify her account
The former talk show host took to Instagram claiming the social media company refused to verify her account despite her providing them proof of her identity.
“So, Instagram doesn’t want to give me my blue check – no matter what proof I send them,” the 89-year-old wrote alongside an image of a gigantic blue checkmark. “AND there’s a fake account called ‘realsallyjr’, and that’s NOT ME! Help me let Instagram know, so we can fix this.”
Raphael began hosting the The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, later titled Sally, in October 1983. She hosted the tabloid-style show until May 2002.
Her show was one of the first syndicated talk shows that involved audience participation. She helped paved the way for women in the business, including Oprah whose show premiered three years after Sally.
Over the course of 20 seasons, Raphael interviewed countless celebrities, though she always maintained that Audrey Hepburn was her favorite.
“I was so awestruck, I could hardly ask a question. Everything she did, I admired. Everything she had done in her life I found to be exemplary,” she told the DailyMail.
Throughout her career and even into her retirement, Raphael has maintained a signature look that makes her stand out in a crowd.
When filming began for The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, she realized she couldn’t see the teleprompter.
“When we started, I looked at the teleprompter and I said ”I can’t read that! I’m going blind!’ “
On her search for a new prescription, Raphael came across an ad for an eye test, glasses and a Pap smear. Despite the bizarre ad, the talk show host booked an appointment.
During the appointment she was told she would need a more expensive pair of glasses, but unfortunately they only color they had was red.
“You got it,” Raphael said.
Although she didn’t anticipate the trouble she’d face from the producers of her show.
“I had to fight to have the glasses. Producers tried to change them. Those shadowy figures objected to everything.”
She has since accumulated over 200 pairs of red glasses.
As of August 2, Raphael currently has less than 650 followers on Instagram, but even though her numbers might not match those of other talk show hosts, her fans are just as loud if not louder with their support.
“The Icon, the Legend of daytime TV, Ms. Sally Jessy Raphael needs her Blue Check Mark ? “
“That’s pretty crazy that someone as famous as you are is having trouble with being recognized. I’m trying to understand what the issue is though”
“We should flood your feed with blue hearts it’s so much better than a blue checkmark”
I remember watching Sally on TV! Do you? Let us know in the comments.