Tag: tired

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IT’S SLEEP SUNDAY – LET’S TALK ABOUT SLEEP AND REFLEXOLOGY…

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This week on ‘It’s Sleep Sunday’, I thought I would write on the reflexology points that can help you get to sleep.

Healthline has a list of 5 Pressure Points for sleep.

1. The spirit gate point is located at the crease on your outer wrist, below your pinkie finger.

  1. Feel for the small, hollow space in this area and apply gentle pressure in a circular or up-and-down movement.
  2. Continue for two to three minutes.
  3. Hold the left side of the point with gentle pressure for a few seconds, and then hold the right side.
  4. Repeat on the same area of your other wrist.

Stimulating this pressure point is associated with quieting your mind, which can help you fall asleep.

 

2. The three yin intersection point is located on your inner leg, just above your ankle.

  1. Locate the highest point on your ankle.
  2. Count four finger widths up your leg, above your ankle.
  3. Apply deep pressure slightly behind your biggest lower-leg bone (tibia), massaging with circular or up-and-down motions for four to five seconds.

In addition to helping with insomnia, simulating this pressure point can also help with pelvic disorders and menstrual cramps.

Don’t use this pressure point if you’re pregnant, as it’s also associated with inducing labour.

3. The bubbling spring point is located on the sole of your foot. It’s the small depression that appears just above the middle of your foot when you curl your toes inward.

  1. Lie on your back with your knees bent so you can reach your feet with your hands.
  2. Take one foot in your hand and curl your toes.
  3. Feel for the depression on the sole of your foot.
  4. Apply firm pressure and massage this point for a few minutes using a circular or up-and-down motion.

Stimulating this pressure point is believed to ground your energy and induce sleep.

4. The inner frontier gate point is found on your inner forearm between two tendons.

  1. Turn your hands over so that your palms are facing up.
  2. Take one hand and count three finger widths down from your wrist crease.
  3. Apply a steady downward pressure between the two tendons in this location.
  4. Use a circular or up-and-down motion to massage the area for four to five seconds.

In addition to helping you sleep, the inner frontier gate point is associated with soothing nausea, stomach pain, and headaches.

5. The wind pool point is located on the back of your neck. You can find it by feeling for the mastoid bone behind your ears and following the groove around to where your neck muscles attach to the skull.
  1. Clasp your hands together and gently open your palms with your fingers interlocked to create a cup shape with your hands.
  2. Use your thumbs to apply a deep and firm pressure toward your skull, using circular or up-and-down movements to massage this area for four to five seconds.
  3. Breathe deeply as you massage the area.

Stimulating this pressure point may help to reduce respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, which often interrupt sleep. It’s also associated with reducing stress and calming the mind.

 

 

 

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SOMNEX- THE FIRST DEDICATED SLEEP SHOW IN THE UK 12th-14th OCTOBER…

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SOMNEX’S the ‘Sleep Show’ is the first dedicated sleep show in the UK and takes place from the 12th-14th October, at The Old Truman Brewery, London (10am til 6pm). It is the only event dedicated to the sleep-health industry… where innovation and tech meet sleep!

As most chronic pain, fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers know, sleep deprivation is something we deal with on a regular basis so a show dedicated to the sleep-health industry is something I thought all my readers would be interested in.

At this show, you can get exclusive access to expert advice, innovative new products, specialist exhibitors, multiple interactive workshops and immersive classes – all designed to help you understand how to improve your sleep and give you and your family a fun day out!

There are talks by 6 amazing authors throughout the weekend! Listen to them talk about their book leading sleep authors from around the world and get the chance to meet these experts in person as each talk is followed by a meet and greet book signing.

You can also book a private one-to-one consultation with their expert sleep practitioners. Whether you suffer from poor sleep, insomnia, sleep apnoea or looking for advice on how to improve your children’s sleep – they have an expert who can help you.

Check out the latest in sleep innovation and find the perfect product that works for you! Demos take place every 20 minutes throughout the 2 days. Get a front row seat to the latest in sleep innovation! SOMNEX’s Demo Stage will showcase the full spectrum of sleep products and technology from around the world. Get first-hand insights into how the most innovative brands have designed and developed their newest creations because we’ve curated the best sleep products including everything from eyewear, wearables, apps, sleep aids, skincare and more.

Try one of their massage therapists or talk to their brands and beauty experts to get the best advice. Scientists agree that getting better sleep positively impacts your overall health and wellbeing including your skin and beauty. That’s why they have created a spa and beauty bar so you can experience innovative products and treatments designed to help you improve your sleep. Their specialists will also provide helpful advice and tips to make sure you not only feel rested but also look great!

Their story so far –

“As friends, we used to joke about the fact that one of us (Bansri) was a bad sleeper but in contrast the other (Anne) always slept like a dream. On a flight from Bavaria to London Anne read an inflight magazine outlining the multitude of new tech products available across the growing sleep sector.

Anne said to Bansri ‘we should do an event in this space’. Bansri, sceptical at first, started doing some research and a few months later (after a lot of coffees and glasses of wine!) … SOMNEX | The Sleep Show was born!

With a combined experience of over 40 years in the media and events industry, our passion and ambition has led us here.”

There’s lots to read on their website with some great links to the experts in case you cannot make this show.

 

 

Uncategorized

Non-surgical treatments for neck pain

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As you know I try very, very hard to control my back and neck pain but in particular I find the neck/thoracic pain very troublesome and debilitating.

I love making things with my fingers and decided I would knit some fun mug cozies for the family for Christmas to dress up the Christmas table. Now we are only talking about 45 stitches and a few inches long and I had them made in a night but if you had seen the state I was in afterwards, you would have thought I’d done ten rounds in the boxing ring.

I couldn’t even raise my arms without pain and the only thing that helped in the end was my electric head pad which I lay on in bed. I had an awful night but decided today that I would ring up the pain clinic tomorrow to request another epidural as I think I have slipped through the net it has been such a long time since they contacted me.

I then spent some time reading on the net and one of my favorite sites is spine-health which seems to have everything about spinal problems and I came across an article about non-surgical treatments for neck pain.

It said that with the help of the forum community of neck pain sufferers, they have managed to compile some suggestions that have worked for these people, who certainly know what it’s like to deal with neck pain on a daily basis.

Take a Swim – well when I read this as the first option I thought the rest would be what I already know but then when I read on a little I realized that maybe I could go swimming – not to swim but to float as they stated that forum members noted the therapeutic effects that swimming has on back pain and neck pain, specifically in reducing inflammation, providing quick pain relief and allowing for unrestricted movements.

Some of the ways to do this were simple things like getting the water level up to the neck and simply moving around squatting until the water reaches the chin, and then moving back and forth and to the right and to the left.

Another suggestion was to utilize a Water Pillow which is something I have never tried before. It said that the rejuvenating effects of water pillows allow patients to dictate the firmness of their pillow. Specifically, more water equals a firmer pillow; less water provides a softer pillow. So now I’m going to find out who sells them and give this a try.
For me even the greatest pillow has no chance against neck pain that interferes with my sleeping, so I would be delighted if I found something that would help.

Of course, various supplements were suggested with some that stimulate the hormone Melatonin (which is highest prior to bedtime) and allowed some to at least get some much-needed quality restorative sleep. I am afraid I have tried every single one in the health store and supermarket and just when I get excited that I think I am sleeping better I have a terrible night but I would never give up on this as there are so many more to try. My Doc will not give me sleeping tablets as I am on so much medication. I guess it would totally knock me out.

One thing they did suggest was to take Magnesium as many cases of neck pain are the result of muscle strains or sprains, speaking with a nutritionist about magnesium (an essential mineral that helps contract and relax muscles) so that may be worth learning more about as some forum members noted how taking magnesium helps with muscle tightness in the neck.

I knew that Acupuncture had to be on the list and as you know I have had very little help with this and had many many treatments which again seemed to work at first then nothing the next time. But it did say that some people find no benefit whatsoever so I don’t think I am on my own on that score.

But deep tissue massage which was mentioned is something that I find does help me but is only for a short time but as I find it very relaxing I try and have one a month but its not a cheap form of pain relief at the end of the day and often depends on the skills of the practitioner. Remedial massage was another one mentioned which I must admit I have not tried and as I have a spa day package given to me by my son on my birthday I think it will be something I could try. However I am always a bit skeptical that they may not know enough about the type of surgery I have had.

Holistic treatments like aromatherapy (during which essential oils are used for relaxation and mood improvement), meditative music, candlelight, etc. were also suggested but again that is something I use and do all the time – in fact I could not cope without my meditative music when I am lying awake in pain at night.

It then went onto say how limiting instances that often spur and exacerbate neck pain (like sitting at a computer for long periods of time, driving, heavy lifting, other activities that require heavy use of the arms) have helped achieve relief, but for me there is so little left that doesn’t bother it that my life would not be worth living if I stopped everything and I think i know how to pace myself after all these years.

One thing they did suggest which my Physio told me to do recently when I had a lot of numbness was to put ice on different areas of the body (between the thumb and index finger, on the bone 1.5-2 inches behind the ear, on the indent between the middle of the eyebrow) to help achieve relief from such symptoms. The main reason I have not tried this is just simply because I am a warm person and just the thought of something cold on me would put me off trying it, but apparently one creative forum member noted using a headband to secure the ice in these different spots and on the temple. And when his neck pain got really intense, he suggested slowly moving to and lying on the floor with a towel behind the neck.(Yuk !, how uncomfortable does that sound :??

Finally it suggest sharing experiences with other neck pain sufferers which may help spark other ideas for achieving desired pain relief and at least provide comfort that there are people out there who really do care but I know I have my blog friends who care so I don’t need to go to any forums for that help.

So, after taking it all into consideration I think I should try the swimming (I mean floating) in a pool, a water pillow, start taking Magnesium and try a remedial massage. Ice is something I really don’t think I could try unless it was very hot lol 🙂

Thanks for reading my blog friends :wave:

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