[ Massage These 3 Points to Reduce Your High Blood Pressure.]

While high blood pressure is caused by a variety of things, its most common cause is hypertension. One of the most effective ways to treat it naturally is with Advanced Acupressure or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which aims to bring your body back into balance. Let's take a look:

How It Works

Qi (or Life Force Energy) is at the heart of Chinese reflexology and TCM. It's the energy of creation and it flows through our body, just as blood circulates through our arteries and veins.

Located within the body are 12 primary channels or pathways that enable 

Qi to flow. When Qi is flowing through the body as it should, we are in 

a state of balance - we feel energized, alive and healthy. But when 

Qi is disrupted, the disharmony in your body will manifest as a physical symptom over time. To get a better idea of how Qi works in the body, 

compare it to the flow of a river. If the river is flowing smoothly, 

then the ecosystem is in balance. If on the other hand the river is obstructed, sediment begins to accumulate, causing blockages both upstream and downstream. 

In the body, stress tends to be the culprit that constricts the flow of Qi, causing obstructed energy in some areas and limiting energy flow to others. However, applying pressure to specific points has been known to help reduce high blood pressure. These pressure points invariably involve those that treat disharmonies in kidney and liver meridians (energy channels that transport Qi throughout the body).

3 Reflexology and Acupressure Points for Hypertension

1. The Kidneys

N.B. As this point is located near an acupuncture point used for inducing 
labour, if pregnant, do not massage this area.

To alleviate symptoms associated with hypertension, massage the 
kidney point. 
Doing so will help boost your Qi within the kidney, strengthening and 
harmonizing it, thus supporting kidney function.

Where: Your kidney reflexology point is located on the soles of both feet. 

Imagine a horizontal line located halfway through your foot (line 3) and 

another at the bottom of the ball of your foot (line 2). Next, imagine 

a vertical line dividing your foot in half. This line intersects the horizontal 

lines 2 and 3.

How: Massage this point by pressing it with your thumb and rubbing it in an 
up and down motion for about 15 to 30 seconds. For added pressure, you may 
also use your knuckles. Repeat on the other foot, practicing this technique daily.

Tip: If skin irritation arises due to the friction of rubbing, stop massaging the 

point until the skin heals. Alternatively, you can also use a lubricant such as 

almond oil.

 2. The Liver

N.B. As this point is located near an acupuncture point used for inducing 

labour. If pregnant, do not massage this area.

In TCM, the liver point plays a key role in ensuring the smooth flow of Qi 

throughout the body. Emotions, such as anger and frustration, are associated 

with this organ and can thus negatively impact its ability to balance and smooth

the flow of Qi within the body.

Where: Located at the top of the foot, this point is found between 
the big 

toe and the second toe. To find its precise location with your thumb, 

trace the bones of the two toes until you feel the point at which they 

intersect. Then, slide your thumb about a thumb-width above this 

intersection 

and press into the 'webbing' between the bones.

How: Press and hold this point for about one minute on each foot. Besides 

smoothing the flow of Liver Qi in the body, it will also nourish the blood - 

the liver's primary function includes filtering the blood and breaking down 

toxins in the body.

3. The Heart

Stress and tension are often the biggest culprits that raise blood pressure 

and disrupt the natural flow of Qi in the body. When your body is stressed, 

one way to combat the feeling of tension is to locate and massage the heart 

point.

Where: Palm facing upwards, look at your wrist. At the base of your palm 

where your hand meets your wrist, you will see a crease in the skin. 

And while there are quite a few lines in this area, one will appear to be 

more prominent than the others. Once you've identified this crease, notice 

where the base of your ring and pinky finger meet and imagine a vertical 

line from this point reaching down toward your wrist crease.

How: Press on this point with your thumb and hold it down for about 

60 seconds on each wrist. Do so any time you feel stressed or upset to 

calm yourself down.

Source:-EMAIL

[ 8 Simple Home Medical Tests.]

Whether you're concerned that you may be suffering from some medical condition or other, or if you're simply looking for some reassurance that everything's all right, visiting your doctor may not always be the affordable and effective solution. In fact, there are many medical diagnostic kits available online or from pharmacies that you can easily use from the privacy of your home, such as tests for cholesterol, allergies, and many other conditions and diseases.

However, if you choose to purchase a test online, always make sure that you buy from a reputable company. If you can't find out much about the company or if their products tend to receive a lot of negative reviews, then those are a couple of sure signs that you should stay away and get your kit from elsewhere. It's also important to bear in mind that these tests aren't 100% foolproof, and while they can offer you a considerable amount of assurance, serious concerns or doubts should still always be addressed to a professional.

Here are 8 simple medical diagnostic tests you can perform at home:

 1. Allergies

If you've been wondering whether your itches and sniffles are the result of an allergy, then there are plenty of tests out there which are perfect for your needs. One of the best is ImmuneTech's MyAllergyTest, which has an FDA-confirmed 93% accuracy rating, and can detect the 10 most common allergens: dust mites, cats, milk, wheat, egg, mold, ragweed, cedar, bermuda grass, and timothy grass. Once you receive your kit, you simply need to prick your finger to collect a tiny blood sample, before mailing it to their laboratory. You'll then typically receive your results by post or email within a week.

2. Blood Pressure

If you suffer from high blood pressure, then tracking your situation at home is an easy method of making sure your medication is doing its job and that your numbers are accurate. One of our favorite is the Omron blood pressure monitor, which has been found to maintain precise and consistent readings. One of its most innovative features is that it allows you to store and monitor up to 200 readings for 2 persons. Most blood pressure monitors should be relatively straightforward to use, but if in doubt your doctor will be glad to help you out.

3. Cholesterol

Having too much cholesterol in your body can leave you prone to strokes and heart attacks, so keeping a close eye on it can never hurt. A good cholesterol home testing kit will be able to give you a reading in around 15 minutes, and may even allow you to determine your good cholesterol (HDL) level, which can help you work out your risk of Cardio Heart Disease (CHD). Apart from the kit, all you'll need are a couple of drops of blood from a finger prick. Some brands we'd recommend areCholestrak, First Check, and CardioChek.

4. Urinary Tract Infections

Apart from being extremely painful, urinary tract infections may also lead to nasty complications. Having knowledge about whether your discomfort is actually caused by a UTI or something else will allow you to receive the appropriate treatment much sooner. There are many tests available which only require you to urinate on a medically-treated strip, and which can give you results in just a couple of minutes. Some of the most highly-praised brands include AZO, Multistix, and Mission.

5. Thyroid

If you find that your thyroid hormones are out of balance, then this can unbalance quite a number of other chemical reactions that occur in your body. As a result you could eventually find yourself suffering from other undesirable conditions, such as heart disease and obesity. By means of a simple finger prick test, a home thyroid test kit can allow you to measure the amount of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) that there is in your body. After sending your sample to the lab, you'll receive your results in around ten days. One of the most reputable companies that offers this service is Home Health Testing.

6. Strep Throat

If you frequently suffer from strep throat, then a strep test kit fromRapid Response or Pro Advantage may be just what you need. Most test kits require you to swab your throat, agitate the swab in a test tube, and view your results on the test strip. A positive result means that you'll still have to visit your doctor to discuss treatment options. On the other hand, a negative result means that your sore throat may be the result of a virus instead, which may go away on its own or require additional treatment, depending on its severity.

7. Prothrombin (Blood Clotting)

A quantitative Prothrombin test will allow you to easily measure how long your blood takes to clot. Performing such a test is especially important if you make use of any blood-thinning medications, such as Warfarin or Coumadin, however they do usually require a doctor's prescription. Like many other tests, they require a drop or two of blood from your finger, which you must then insert into a test meter. This will measure the duration of the blood clotting process, as well as the strength of your blood's anticoagulant effects. A couple of recommended products are Roche CoaguChek XS and microINR.

8. Hepatitis C

The Hepatitis C infection can cause deadly liver disease if left untreated, so getting yourself checked is never really a bad idea. Many home-use tests can not only check whether the virus is currently inside your system, but can also let you know if it has ever been there in the past. A test kit typically comes with a lancet and some filter paper to absorb a couple of drops of blood. Once, you've collected your blood sample, you then need to send it off to the laboratory for analysis in a special container, after which you'll eventually receive your results. A positive result should immediately be followed up with a doctor's appointment to discuss treatment options. One of the most reliable test kits is theHome Access Hepatitis C Check kit.

Sources: everydayhealth, fda
Images: depositphotos, pixabay

[ Benefits of foods by colour.]

Did you know that foods can be divided into categories based on their colours and each category has a collective set of health benefits? this not only makes foods interesting, but also helps remember which food is good for which health aspect. 

Foods are broadly divided into six categories based on their colors.

White - these foods assist in immune support. Garlic, onions, white beans, potatoes, mushrooms and cauliflower fall under this category. While garlic & onions help reduce the risk of cancer in stomach, colon & rectum, white beans & potatoes help lower blood cholesterol levels. Mushrooms are known to provide the important nutrients and cauliflower contains antioxidants & is also beneficial for women who are pregnant.

1. Green -these foods assist in detoxification. Peas, spinach, green beans, capsicums, kiwi, and green tea are some green foods that we can consume. They are good for your health, provide the required nutrients and also assist in detox.
2. Yellow - these foods assist in beauty. Banana, yellow capsicum, squash, corn and bananas are some of the yellow foods that we eat. They are full of carotenoids and bioflavonoids which all help maintain our skin, bone and teeth health.
3. Orange - these foods assist in cancer prevention. Carrots, oranges, etc are some orange foods that we eat. They are good for the heart, protect our eyes and also boost our immune system.
4. Red - these foods support better heart health. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Red chillies, red capsicum, cherries and tomatoes, apples, etc are some red foods that we eat.
5. Purple - these foods assist in longevity. Few purple foods that we eat are onions, blackberries, grapes, etc. They fight ulcer, help kill cancer, prevent urinary tract infection and are good for the heart & the liver.                                                                                                                                  Source:-

   Dt. Vidhi Chawla

   PG Diploma

   Dietitian/Nutritionist

   delhi
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