Self Relaxation Technique -- De-stress your tension now!

The word 'stress' is such a common term that we can hear it everywhere. In fact, everyone has a certain level of stress they have to deal with everyday. Stress from career, finance, relationship, study, and health etc. I would like to share with you a self relaxation technique or exercise that is beneficial to all of us. This exercise will relax your entire body and mind and is very easy to follow.

1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes
2. Take 3 slow, deep breaths
3. Clench your right fist and tighten your forearm and bicep
4. Technique - notice the tension in your arm as you keep your arm tense
5. Relax all the tension
6. Technique - feel the difference between your relaxed right arm and your left arm
7. Repeat the above with your left arm
8. Wrinkle your forehead as tight as possible and tense your facial muscles
9. Tightly close your eyes. Tense your cheeks and press your lips into an "O" shape
10. Relax and let go the tension
11. Technique - notice the tension in your cheeks, forehead, eyes, jaw, tongue and lips
12. Repeat the above with your throat, neck, shoulders, stomach, buttocks, thighs, calves, ankles and feet

Treat Eczema Itch with Acupuncture

Acupuncture at specific points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema.

German researchers from the Technical University of Munich had conducted the following clinical test: Thirty people with eczema were treated right after being exposed to an allergen such as dust mites or pollen. All patients went through three different test conditions. The first treatment condition was "point-specific" acupuncture targeted at areas designed to treat itchy skin (Quchi and Xuehai points). The second treatment condition was "placebo-point" acupuncture treatment where the points selected were not those used to treat itchy skin. The third test condition was no treatment following allergen exposure.

It turned out that the subjects all reported lower levels of itchiness after receiving the point-specific acupuncture compared to either placebo acupuncture or no treatment. Even more interesting, when they got a second exposure to the allergen after the point-specific acupuncture, their flare-ups were less severe.