Simple Stress Relief Resets Brain Function
Using the index fingers, find two small knobs, usually about an inch above the midpoint of the eyebrows, known as the neurovascular reflex points. Rest fingers very lightly on these points until a pulse is felt. It may take several minutes. Be patient. Mentally review a current stressor using all the senses; see, feel, smell, hear and taste it.
Source: Dr. Frank King, president, King Bio Natural Medicine, Asheville, NC
This can be enjoyable and is an ideal partner activity.
Hum Often
Another Singer assertion is that simply humming “mmmmmmmmm” a couple of minutes a day can stimulate the thyroid and increase the production of thyroid hormones of those with an un- deractive thyroid. The butterfly-shaped gland wraps around the larynx, or voice box, which Singer contends is part of nature’s elegant design, meant to be stimulated by sound. The Cleveland Clinic reports that
10 percent of the U.S. population age 65 and over suffers from hypothy- roidism, with the rate in the general population between 1 and 2 percent. The condition is a special problem for women encountering perimenopause or menopause, when hormone levels can fluctuate wildly.
“The medical community has considered the effect of the thyroid on the voice but not the vibratory effect of vocalization on thyroid function,” says Singer. “It stands to reason that hum- ming, singing or quietly talking is preferred to the overstimulation of shouting or yelling.”
Adopt a Pet “Animals are among our best teachers,” says Dr. Carol Roberts, the author of Good Medi- cine: A Return to Common Sense, who teaches holistic care at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine. “Animal companions give us so much more than they ask for and live in a state of unconditional, open- hearted love.”
Roberts notes numerous stud-
ies that show the simple presence of a loving animal can lower our blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A CDC heart study, for example, showed subjects that had owned a cat at any time were 40 percent less likely to die of a heart attack. Japanese researchers from Azabu
University, in Kanagawa-ken, found that dog owners experienced a spike in oxytocin—a neurotransmitter that helps us cope with stress—by simply meeting their pet’s gaze. While people widely recognize that walking the dog is great exercise, other loving interactions with our pets support happiness and health, as well.
Exercise Artistic Skills Giving oneself artistic license is also healthy, advises Roberts. “Just bring a little beauty into your life, whether it’s choosing which clothing and accesso- ries to wear, arranging a vase of table flowers or dancing to favorite music. Just do something creative every day.” Energy therapists maintain that ex- posure to creative activities improves circulation to the brain and thyroid; on a psychological level, it also works to improve self-confidence and self- expression.
A recent study at the University of Colorado published in the journal
Palliative & Supportive Care confirmed that individual art therapy is useful in supporting cancer patients during chemotherapy. Fifty-one of the 54 partici- pants said it helped them to relax, talk about their situa- tion or explore and express emotions to their benefit. Roberts adds, “It’s even better
if you join a group engaged in a creative activity. I think people in general do better when we come together to create something beauti-
ful.” These experts’ prescriptions for
such simple lifestyle changes have shown how commonsense adjustments in everyday living can have profound, health-altering results, with only good after effects.
Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher. Among her many books is The Super Simple HCG Diet (Square One).nnect at
KathleenBarnes.com.
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bha k t i c l ini c . c om natural awakenings January 2013 17
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