Pressure Points That Can Help You Manage Stress and Boost Your Energy

The "You've been burning the candle at both ends, haven't you?" I asked after performing a muscle test as I put my hand on a pressure point.

"I had a few big nights with work Christmas parties. How do you know?" Graham queried, thinking that he was pretty good about keeping his problems to himself.

"The muscle tests I did indicate that you're exhausted," I replied. "The pressure point for the adrenal gland was active indicating that you are worn out. Have you heard of adrenaline, your get up and go chemical?"

"Yep."

"Well, adrenaline is produced by your adrenal gland. Your adrenal gland also helps with the production of your own natural anti-inflammatory hormones and other chemicals that help with your immunity.  The problem is that because you have been so stressed is that your adrenal gland has been so busy making adrenaline that it is worn out. As a result you can't produce the required amount of your anti inflammatory and immune boosting chemicals.

When you are like this you have a reduced capacity to handle different stresses. It is like you are walking around covered with gasoline. One spark and up you'll go. "

"What can I do?" Graham asked.

"Rest," I replied.

Like most overworked and overstressed people do, Graham scoffed immediately at the suggestion.

If you rest for a while when you are feeling stressed, it is easy for you to get back to normal.  But if you don't rest and you continue to burn the candle at both ends you run the risk of your body telling you to rest. And my 18 years of clinical experience has shown me that the most common way that your body tells you to slow down is by giving you a big injury or a big illness.

Most people under stress acknowledge that they need to rest but circumstances at work or at home can often lead us to believe that the opportunity to really rest is just not practical for the immediate future.  So in these situations is there anything is there anything else that you can do to help you manage the stress a bit better.

As a stop gap measure during times of stress you can rub the adrenal gland pressure points. To locate these points start from your belly button and go 1 inch outwards and 2 inches upward and rub.

It's not meant to be but when you're exhausted these points can become surprisingly sensitive and sore to touch. Rub them as often as you can and as hard as you can bear.

You may be wondering what this actually does for you?

In the 1930s Dr. Frank Chapman, osteopath discovered these pressure points he named "Chapman's reflexes" (1) that when rubbed, can effect the flushing of lymphatic vessels of particular glands and organs. These same pressure points were later found to be associated with particular muscles and meridians in Chinese acupuncture (2). Rubbing these points is a simple and convenient way to help drain and flush toxins away from fatigued and congested muscles, glands and organs, helping them to recover quicker.

It is certainly not a cure all but it is a practical and remarkably effective way that you can support your body during times of stress. More importantly rubbing these pressure points can be done during the busiest of days at work and at home.

References

1) Owens, C., An Endocrine Interpretation of Chapman's Reflexes, 2nd ed, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga Printing and Engraving, 1937.

2) Goodheart, G.J., Jr., Applied Kinesiology (Detroit: privately published, 1964).