A thousands-year-old massage technique,acupressure boasts health benefitsthroughout the body, including supporting relaxation and improved shut-eye.
What Is Acupressure, Again?
“Each acupoint is believed to be responsible for a certain organ or process in the body.”
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it’s possible for you to experiment with this and find what works best for you."
The point is roughly there."
It’s located between the ball of your foot and your second or third toes in the same line.
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The most tender area is the best one to work with."
Yong Quan “is the first point on the kidney channel,” adds Singh.
So, if you’re pregnant, you should skip this pressure point for sleep.
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“Gentle pressure using one finger should be enough, but readers can go a bit firmer.”
Because this may feel more comfortable for some folks, especially those that have more tension in that spot.
If that’s the case, “more pressure may lead to deeper relaxation,” adds Dr. Hsu.
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Added bonus: Targeting San Yin Jiaohas been shownto decrease pain during labor.
“Less tension encourages further relaxation that’s beneficial for overall sleep quality.”
And that’s one of the reasons why the practice can be such an effective sleep aid.
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That relaxing quality of acupressure is an important reason why it’s so effective for sleep, says Singh.
“Studiesshow that acupressure can be aneffective tool when dealing with insomnia,” says Dr. Hsu.
Although, more research is needed.
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“Individuals with painexperience lower sleep quality.
People suffering from anxiety also deal withfrequent nighttime disturbances.
And since acupressure can potentially target these two issues, it may significantly improve one’s sleep quality.”
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For example, if you’re stressed, you might want to focus on the Yong Quan point.
