Seasonal allergies occur when certain allergens become more common due to the time of the year. These allergens on their own are harmless, but for some people, they trigger an allergic reaction because the body's immune system mistakes them for a harmful substance. Common allergens are pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander. The often-told adage of prevention being better than cure might not be as applicable with allergens because of their microscopic nature. In certain situations, they might even be completely unavoidable. Stress can also aggravate allergy symptoms.
Reflexology is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that works by applying pressure to specific healing points in the body that are linked to certain vital organs. Stimulating these points allows healing energy to course throughout the body and promote the body's self-healing process. It can provide many health benefits such as improving blood circulation and metabolism, detoxification, and improving muscular, lymph and nerve function. Since reflexology can help reduce stress, it can also help mitigate the symptoms of allergies so they won't affect you as badly as they normally would. (Related: TCM trigger points to help relieve seasonal allergies.)
How to help treat seasonal allergies with reflexology
Applying pressure to specific healing points can help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal allergies. All you have to do is press and hold each area for five seconds with your thumb or index finger unless stated otherwise. Breathe easy with this list of reflexology points to bring you quick relief from seasonal allergies:
- Balls of the toes. Massage the balls of the toes or your sinuses to open up blocked sinus cavities.
- Center of the big toe. This is linked to your master gland which balances the hormones in all your other glands.
- Upper inner edge of the ball of the foot. This area is connected to your thymus gland and massaging it can help boost your immune system.
- Lower outer edge of the foot. Regulate your mucus production by stimulating your ileocecal valve.
- Center of the ball of the foot. Massaging this area stimulates your lungs, chest and bronchials to help relieve congestion.
- Under ball of the foot at the center. This is the solar plexus or diaphragm reflex point. Stimulating this area lowers your stress levels and helps induce relaxed breathing.
- Above the center of the foot. Near the inner edge above the center of each foot is the reflex point of the adrenal glands. Massage this area to help your body produce cortisol to decrease inflammation.
- Necks of each toe. These areas are connected to your sinus reflexes. Squeeze each neck one to three times a day, everyday.
- Webs of flesh between each toe. This is the upper lymphatic reflex point. Massage each web then gently squeeze them for around 25 seconds, one to three times a day, everyday.
- Back of the skull. This is called the Gallbladder 20 reflex point and it can be found at the back of the skull right at the part where your ear bone and neck join together.
- Between the thumb and the index finger. This reflex point is called the Large Intestine 4 and is useful for relieving sinus infections and swelling of the eyes and face.
If you want to learn more about reflexology and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine, you can read more articles by going to ChineseMedicine.news.
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