Feeling nauseous, anxious or dehydrated? The cure is in your own hands
After stowing the passport and the traveler's checks, it’s straight to the airport pharmacy for most long-haul fliers for the pills, tonics and remedies used to alleviate aches and ills.
But there is another choice -- acupressure.
Acupressure is the practice of pressing or massaging certain points on the body said to stimulate self-curative abilities.
For each of the points descibed below, you may need to press or rub the point in 20-30 second intervals for up to 10 minutes before the effect is felt. You may also need to use it repeatedly throughout the day.
Play around with what works best for you.
Note: The author is not a medical doctor. For serious medical issues, always consult a qualified physician.
1. Motion sickness and nausea: Anti-vomiting point
Why splash out on a wrist band when your fingers do just as well?
ocate: Inside of the forearm, two thumb width above the wrist crease, between the two tendons. The point is actually located below surface level so pushing deep is more effective.
2. Neck and back pain: Back-movement point
Ever seen those wrist bands people wear for boat or car trips? Those are designed to press on this point to relieve motion sickness and nausea. This is also the number-one point I tell fellow travelers about.
Long days traveling, cheap hotel pillows and carrying a mammoth-sized backpack can cause neck, shoulder or lumbar pain. Rubbing this point eases these complaints.
For a stiff neck, rub in small circles while slowly turning the head one direction and then the other.
Locate: Make a loose fist and, looking at the pinky side, find the last crease (just below the biggest knuckle). Along that line at the intersection of the two slightly different shades of skin is the point.
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3. Sore throat and lightheadedness: Cold-relief point
Who needs Cold-FX?
Overnight flights, sudden climatic changes and air pollution can all increase a traveler’s susceptibility to the common cold.
Rubbing or pressing this point relieves symptoms associated with colds, including sore throat, cough, sneezing and body aches, plus lightheadedness.
Locate: Loosely interlock your thumbs at the webbing -- both palms facing down, keeping your wrists straight, extend your index finger to the skinny edge of your wrist.
Under the pad of your index finger in the prominent bone you’ll find a small depression -- that’s the point. Reverse which hand is on top to find the point on the other side.
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4. Headache, constipation and fever: Release point
Not for use by pregnant women.
Whether you feel a headache coming on from dehydration, too much drinking, or just the pains of traveling press this point to relieve headaches and general pain.
When all the unfamiliar food of Asia or the oftentimes poor diet of a traveler leaves you constipated, massage here. This point is also used to reduce fever.
Caution: This point can induce labor, so do not use on pregnant women.
Locate: Spread your index finger and thumb, then place the joint of your opposite thumb along the webbing and bend the thumb over. Just in front of the tip of your thumb is the point -- search around until you find the sore spot.
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5. Digestive issues: Stomach-solution point
Cure to a sore stomach? Your legs.
Exotic food, an unfamiliar environment and less-than-sanitary conditions can wreak havoc on normal digestion
Use this point for abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, as well as the oftentimes accompanying fatigue and weakness.
A harder massage may be required, but it should feel tender when you have found the right point.
Locate: It is on the outer shin just below the knee. Relax the leg straight, place your four fingers on your knee with the index finger against the knee cap.
Mark the horizontal level under the pinky finger. At that level, using the middle section of your middle finger, place the knuckle on the shin bone, where the second knuckle lands (going toward the outside of the leg) is the vertical line.
At the intersection is the point.
Read more: 8 acupoints for travelers | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/8-acupoints-travelers-355627#ixzz1cZuE0aWR
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