Acupressure Healing

Stress Management

May 8, 2012June 21, 2024 Shakeel Ahmad Shah

What is Stress …. The Silent Killer? Stress is a state of mind that causes worry or emotional tension. Why Stress Happens? When ego is hurt (feedback, comments, criticism) When loose something which we feel important When a situation is not Acceptable to us When want to do/get something but are unable Stress is mostly due to Fear (of Future) Worry (about Past) And not so much —- due to Present Moment It is always due to the negative perception of Mind Different people feel different stress levels for the same situations Mind Rules the Body: Mind rules the Nervous system Nervous system rules Endocrine system Endocrine system rules rest of the body functions Manage your Mind to manage your whole body What Happens When Stressed? Psychology of Stress: Emotional impact Fear worry Depression Anger Sadness Physiology of Stress: Acidity Ulcers Heart ailments Blood Pressure Disorders Kidney Problems Diabetes Cancer Chain Reaction: Unmanaged Stress Impacts of Unmanaged Stress Brain Continues to operate in higher beta state (15 to 26 cycles per second of electrical impulses (EEG)) Blood Pressure remains high leading to Heart failure, paralysis Acidity, Ulcer and other digestive problems Diabetic disorders Kidney problems due to overload on removing toxins from the body Reduces immunity and makes body susceptible to diseases Stress and Mind induced effects on the body are more harmful than the external pollution Internal Toxins are far more harmful than external chemical/industrial pollution Managing Stress: Stimulants are not good Stimulants like Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, Coco etc. temporarily trigger higher activities Subsequently body craves for more & more stimulants Allopathic medicines directly add chemicals to the body and interfere with the internal chemical factories E.g. Taking Antacids for Acidity neutralizes the acid in the stomach. Then body thinks that the acid is not sufficient and starts producing more. E.g. Anti-depressants suppress the ability of brain cells to generate electric impulses Managing Stress: What is Good? Practice healthy lifestyle and food habits Folic Acid and Theanine (kind of Amino Acids found in Green Tea) helps to reduce stress. Theanine is sold in US as a dietary supplement. The Thiamine (Vitamin B) reduces stress and promotes clear thinking. Chew 5-10 seeds of Black Seeds (Kalonji) everyday. Some amount of stress is healthy it triggers and energizes the system Turn the Stress into a Positive Spiral Break the negative cycle at each point Chain Reaction: Managed Stress Managing Stress: Manage the Root Cause Manage Mind … The Root Cause Positive Thinking and Attitude Meditation, Yoga Stop worrying and start living Start recitation of Darood-e-Pak whenever feel stressed Build capability to face stressful situations and reduce the impact of stress at physiological level Say your prayers Always speak the truth Regular morning walk Managing Stress: Manage the Root Cause Larger view of life …. difficulties are part of life! The problems that you face, will either defeat you or develop you, depending on how you responded to them? We react foolishly, and dislike our problems, rather than pausing to consider, as to what benefits, they might bring. Allah (SWT) uses problems: To DIRECT you, to INSPECT you, to CORRECT you, to PROTECT you, and to PERFECT you Have multiple positive energy sources Games, Hobbies, Participation in positive activities Managing Stress: Dealing with Parents Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAAW) has cursed the people who found their parents in old age but they could not get paradise by serving them. Always talk gently to your parents even if they talk to you rubbishy, even never say …Oh!… to your parents in any situation. They need more love and attention from you as compared to your wife and children. Managing Stress: Dealing with Family Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: The best of you are those who treat the families the best. And I am the best amongst you to my family. Your wife & children love you much and also need your consideration. They can make mistakes in daily life but they need your lovely guidance. If you wrongly deal their mistakes, it will create stress for all family members including yourself. As a result of stressed environment, your next generation may become psycho case and they will repeat the same bad dealing with their next generation. People often get angry over unimportant and insignificant matters. Anger is a negative reaction, and if you wish to progress on the path of self-improvement or spiritual growth you should avoid it as much as possible. Managing Stress: Matters Out of Home In the outside world, you have to deal many people. Each person have its own psychological behavior and mindset. Some are senior and some are junior to you. They can do many things which you may not like. Your seniors can treat you badly, but deal such tough situations intelligently with cool mind. Your juniors may make many mistakes, cover their mistakes with kindness. You may face harsh positions from general public. Always treat them tactfully in cool and calm way. As a result of these practices, your life will become stress free and joyful. Managing Stress: All Happen for the Good Believe that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for your own good. All your past experiences actually happened to bring you to where you are today, and it is always for the good. These past experiences make you a better person. So, whatever challenges that you may face today, consider it happening to bring you to the next higher level. Managing Stress: Habits That Help Noticing the things that are causing stress Be calm in all situations Be focused in dealing with stressful issues Relaxing techniques (meditation) Gratitude (thankfulness) Be creative (positive creativity) Look at other less fortunate Manage anger in healthy manner Say Salaam to everyone you see, you know them or not. Daydreaming take yourself away on an imaginary holiday: Just close your eyes and picture somewhere you’ve been or somewhere you’ve dreamed of! Giggling laugh out your stress everyday Managing Stress: The Meditation Meditation is a

May 7, 2012June 20, 2024 Shakeel Ahmad Shah

What is Acupressure? Acupressure is a form of Chinese method of treatment. It uses the fingers or similar tools to press acupressure points on the body to stimulate the natural self healing abilities. The Chinese have been using acupressure for over 5,000 years. How Does Acupressure Work? Acupressure points are places on the skin that are especially sensitive to bio-electrical impulses in the body. The points are junctures of meridian pathways that carry energy called chi the Japanese call it ki. The scientists have also mapped out and proved the existence of these points using electrical devices. These points can be stimulated with pressure, needles, or heat to release endorphins that relive pain, as a result pain is blocked the blood and oxygen flow is increased causing muscles to relax and healing to accelerate. Types of Acupressure: There are many different types of acupressure, and each practitioner may draw from a variety of methods. One of the most popular is Shiatsu, a Japanese technique based on ancient Chinese principles. Practitioners of Zen Shiatsu use their whole bodies as leverage to apply strong pressure. Barefoot Shiatsu practitioners bring the feet into play, as well as the hands, to rub and press acupressure points. In the Chinese acupressure variation known as Tui Na, practitioners use their hands for massage like kneading motions. Reflexology is a type of acupressure that involves pressure points on the feet and sometimes the hands. Benefits of Acupressure Relieving pain Balancing the body Reduces tension Increases circulation Relaxing Easing back pain Certain types of headaches, including migraine. Post-operative pain and nausea has been found to respond to pressure point massage. Morning sickness, motion sickness, and other types of nausea. Improve overall vitality and well-being. The Acupressure Treatment During a treatment, which can last anywhere from 15 minutes to nearly an hour depending on the severity of the problem, an acupressure therapist may have you sit or lie on a massage table. The therapist will work on the specific acupoints that relate to your condition. Pressing a point behind your knee, for example, can help address low back pain or pressing a point on the top of the foot may help ease the pain of migraine. Press each point for 3-10 seconds (longer in some cases). The points may be pressed and released repeatedly. If the problem doesn’t respond after about 20 to 30 minutes of treatment, acupressure may not be effective for you for that particular ailment. After a treatment, you will probably feel looser and more relaxed. You may experience a slight achiness, but you shouldn’t be in pain. Within three to eight visits, you should know whether the treatment is working for your ailment. Stress management usually requires a series of about six regular (weekly or monthly) treatments. Self Acupressure The self Acupressure is a cost-effective treatment and no special equipment is required, all you need is a finger of your own! You can use fingertips, knuckles, or thumbs to press you can also buy items that press for you. It can be performed alone anywhere any time. Each area of the body requires a different amount of pressure. If it hurts a lot when you apply pressure on a point, then use lighter pressure. The calves, the face, and genital areas are sensitive. The back, buttocks, and shoulders, especially if the musculature is developed, usually need deeper, firmer pressure. Press for around 1-5 minutes on any points you are treating and give an equal time to the same point on each side of the body, as in fact you may experience discomfort on one side when the problem is actually on the other side. Use moderate pressure do not try to drill a hole in yourself but also just resting a finger on an acupoint won’t have much effect. If you can’t find or know exact point location for your disease, just press various points on your hands or on your body. Wherever the problem lies, you will feel slight pain by pressing it. Just press the point 1-5 minutes to treat the disease. Caution: See a qualified acutherapist first and discuss possible acupoints. Acupressure Points Acupressure Techniques: Pressing There are two ways that acupressure points are manipulated: pressing and reducing them. To press points, use something blunt. Usually the fingers are used to press, but I find that for many points the fingers may be a bit too thick, so you’d have to press quite long and firmly. Ideal would be something 3 to 4 mm thick, like a (preferably used) pencil eraser that’s on the other side of a pencil. Some points can be pressed using a fingernail. Pressing points for less than half a second can already have a distinguishable effect. Just trying out a point you could press it only briefly. To get a full effect pressure should be applied for at least half a minute, but preferably longer, 1-2 minutes should do. Acupressure Techniques: Reducing To reduce a point, turn a finger over it in counter-clockwise direction, also for one to two minutes. It’s a good idea not to get into the habit of doing the same points every day. Do them when you feel you need them, don’t overdo it. Notice what effects points have on you. If you’re weak (from age, disease or whatever), don’t reduce points more often then necessary and be sure to also additionally press these points for a few seconds. Do a point on both sides of the body. General Acupressure Points to Stay Fit By checking and activating the following eight points daily, one can stay healthy: > LI-4 Situated in web of the thumb and index finger. You can get this point at centre of mount which forms when you press your thumb close to index finger. > TW-5 Situated at four fingers from the wrist crease. > P-6 Situated at 3 fingers from wrist joint at centre. > St-36 Situated at 4 fingers from knee joint at centre. > Liv-3