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Here’s What Happens When You Tap These Points On Your Body

By physically using your fingers to tap specific energy points in your body, you can alleviate emotional distress, ease pain, and possibly even lose weight. Tapping is an easy, self-help technique that you can do almost anywhere when you are having a moment of anxiety or minor pain to feel better fast.

The science behind tapping is twofold. The first is that you are basically performing acupressure on yourself. The second is that you are using a self-help psychology technique to express your problems.

What acupressure does for you

eft tap

Acupressure is an alternative medicine technique for healing by using the fingers to press on key points in the body, which stimulates the body to heal itself. Acupressure originated around 5,000 years ago in Asia and has been adopted by many Western clinicians who want to offer their patients non-traditional medical options.

The pressure and rhythm applied to the body in acupressure can vary from vigorous shiatsu massage to slow kneading of larger muscles. Tapping is usually used for the face and head since these are sensitive areas with many nerve endings. By tapping your body rhythmically, you are also activating a calming response in your body to reduce stress.

Energy meridians in the body

You activate energy centers under the skin by touching the skin’s surface. Energy gets blocked due to trauma that we have experienced. These can be from both physical and emotional traumas. Tapping activates the energy flow to eliminate the blockage and restore balance to your body.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, There are twelve energy meridians in the body. Tapping along these meridians releases energy that travels throughout your body. The energy flow is necessary for blood circulation and all essential bodily functions.

Self-talk to express feelings

An essential part of EFT therapy is expressing the feelings that are creating the blockage of energy. In addition to tapping, you are verbally stating what is bugging you. Getting it off your chest by saying it aloud can immediately release tension.

After saying what is causing you to be stressed, angry or depressed, you say something genuinely kind to yourself. You accept yourself in spite of the bad feelings that you are experiencing. Then, as you tap, you continue to express the inner conflicts that upset you.

Here are the steps for EFT:

tap

1. State the problem and tap your hand

You begin by saying what you are experiencing that is causing the distress. For example, you might be worried about the pressure of planning an upcoming party. You might say, “Although I am stressed out about planning the holiday party, I love and accept myself.”

While you state aloud your problem and self-love statement, use the fingers of one hand to repeatedly tap the outer fleshy edge of your opposite hand below your pinky finger. You can tap as many fingers as you feel comfortable with either hand. Repeat your statement aloud three times while tapping.

2. Your eyebrow

Tap the spot on the inner edge of your eyebrow where the hair begins to grow. Either side of your head is fine to tap. Do what feels comfortable. As you do this, speak honestly about how you feel. Following our party planning example, you might say, “I’m stressed because there is so much to do for this party.” Spend about 10 seconds tapping each of the next several points on your body.

3. The outer eye

Tap the outer eye corner on the bone below your outer eyebrow hair. This can be on either side of your head. Again, say how you feel, for example, “I’m worried I’ll forget something important.”

4. The bone under your eye

Tap your fingers under your eye on the bone and again speak honestly about your feelings. For example, “I am exhausted.” Keep tapping for 10 seconds.

5. Under your nose

Tap under your nose and above your lip. Express more feelings, for example, “I’m afraid people will judge me.”

6. Your chin

Tap below your bottom lip in the crease of your chin for ten seconds while again saying aloud your feelings. For example, “Will it be good enough?”

7. Your collarbone

Tap your fingers against your collarbone for 10 seconds on either side of your body. Say something else you are feeling, such as “There’s not enough time.”

8. Under your arm

Tap your fingers and speak your feelings about two inches down from your armpit. For example, “I’m so stressed out.”

9. The crown of your head

Tap your fingers one last time and again say your feelings about what is causing you stress. For example, “I feel so stressed.”

10. Take a deep breath in and exhale it out.

Jessica Ortner, author of The Tapping Solution for Weight Loss and Body Confidence, demonstrates the basics of tapping your upper body in this video. Her book focuses on the emotional side of weight gain and how this simple tapping technique can release us from overeating due to stress.

eft tap

Final Thoughts on Learning to Tap Your Way to Better Health

Although this technique may help your body release whatever is blocking your energy, it is a quick solution you can use today. You can also seek the help of a professional to help you with tapping as therapy. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) uses tapping as a form of psychological therapy. EFT is growing in popularity, and you can seek out a certified practitioner in EFT in your area here.

Here’s What Your Sleep Position Says About Your Relationship

Snuggling up to your partner at the end of a long day feels great, but it might also be a great way to build a lasting relationship. Sure, both of you need to get enough sleep. But how you share the bed with your other half could reflect how well you share in other areas of your relationship.

Sleeping with your partner is an intimate part of your relationship and you spend a good portion of your time together asleep. The nature of your relationship, whether good or bad, can be reflected by your sleeping positions.

Good sleep hygiene

We have a physical need for sleep to maintain good health and be able to function fully in our daily lives. Although scientists are still learning about the functions of sleep, they believe that sleep helps restore bodily systems, builds memories, and provides a release from stress experienced while awake.

Finding the right posture in bed can Be important for your overall level of comfort. No one wants to wake up with pain from a kink in their neck. Whether you sleep on your side, back, stomach or curled up, the position you’re in will affect your body differently.

Sleeping on your back may be the most comfortable if you’re dealing with neck or back pain. But if you’re prone to snoring, sleeping on your stomach may help open your airways a bit more. Some postures are also better for our appearance. For example, avoiding prolonged contact with your face with the pillow can reduce wrinkles.

Intimacy

The bed is where a lot of intimate activity takes place for couples. This makes it the stage for potential conflict due to miscommunication. One partner may interpret a signal by his lover to come to bed as a sign that they will have sex, while the other simply means that it is time to sleep.

Both partners need to have clear communication about signals for sex. Whether these are nonverbal cues like a deep passionate kiss or a verbal one like, “Honey, let’s go heat up the sheets,” both people need to know what is expected when they head to the bed.

Troubles in bed

Finding comfort for both partners can be a problem that makes couples resort to sleeping separately. Sleeping separately may not be the right solution, whether the disturbance is due to noise from snoring or conflict over the perfect sleeping temperature.

When partners cannot compromise on the environment they share in the bedroom, they are also likely to be experiencing conflict in other areas of the relationship. According to Dr. Laura Berman, sleeping apart means that couples miss opportunities to connect emotionally and intimately.

Solving sleeping problems

Dr. Berman suggests that it is worth solving sleep problems so that couples can reap the benefits that sleeping together provides. Couples who are able to sleep together sleep more soundly and may have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels may cause serious health problems and lower life expectancy overall.

What your unconscious mind is trying to tell you

Your unconscious mind is awake while the rest of you sleeps. It’s the part of your mind that brings you vivid dreams and works out problems that you had during your waking hours. It also regulates your body functions and controls involuntary movements during the night.

If you fought with your partner during the day, you might not be surprised to find yourself turning your back on them while you sleep. Your body’s posture will still reflect your anger earlier in the day.

Or perhaps you were at fault for something that upset your partner earlier. This might be reflected in your lying facing your partner while he turns his back to you. Your waking attitudes toward each other are reflected in your sleeping positions.

sleepHere’s what your sleep position says about your relationship:

1. Face to face

Partners are connected intimately, and may want to drift off to sleep while talking

2. Back to back

Separate sleepers who respect each other’s need to be independent. This could indicate a lack of intimacy.

3. Facing the same direction

Often called spooning, the person on the inside is regarded as being protected by the outer partner. This can mean that the “big spoon” is the dominant partner in the relationship. Often this is an indicator of intimacy and could also be a way to initiate sex.

4. Entwined limbs

Partners are comfortable being literally and emotionally entangled. They are an intimate, honest power couple.

moving in with your partnerChanging positions throughout the night

We all move in our sleep, so don’t worry about always staying in the same position with your partner. As we sleep, we rarely stay in one position. We may move two to four times an hour.

If you wake up and find that you are no longer in the position you were in when you fell asleep, it’s not a problem. According to a survey of 1000 couples, the happiest were those who had some physical contact with their partner. Try to focus on maintaining at least some physical contact with your partner and then drift back to sleep.

Finding a sleeping position that meets your needs and your partner’s needs will make both of you happier and well-rested. Compromising in your relationship can build lasting happiness for your future together.

10 Ways To Clean Your Lymphatic System

You might not know it, but your lymphatic system is one of the most overlooked parts of your anatomy. It works hard to remove bacteria and fight infection. Instead of ignoring this import part of your body, here are some tips to clean your lymphatic system and get your body functioning at it’s best.

What is Lymph, Exactly?

Of course, you know about your immune system. It’s producing white blood cells to keep you healthy when a virus, bacteria or foreign body enters yours. But we rarely hear about the lymphatic system. Lymph is a clear or whitish fluid in your lymphatic system, which is a major part of your immune system. You have more lymph in your body than you do blood.

Lymph nodes produce white blood cells and filter lymph fluid. You can sometimes feel the bean-shaped lymph nodes when they are swollen. You will feel them in your armpits and neck. When you are sick and your doctor is feeling around your throat, this swelling of the lymph nodes is part of what she is feeling for.

Why Your Lymphatic System Needs Cleansing

The most well-known disease of the lymphatic system is lymphoma. Certain risk factors can contribute to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some of these are genetic risks that are beyond our control but some are environmental exposures that we can avoid.

Helping your lymphatic system run optimally means that it is better able to fight disease. Since the lymphatic system is going to see anything foreign as something to be removed, avoiding overworking the system will make your lymph work better for you. Instead of working to remove chemicals that we ingest, it can remove disease instead.

Exposure to certain chemicals, infections and viruses, chronic immune system stimulation, and poor diet can all contribute to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Again, reducing the amount of stuff that your lymph system has to work to filter out can help it to be healthy to fight off major illnesses.

Here are 10 ways to clean the lymphatic system at home:

lymphatic-system

1. Eat clean

Cleaning your diet can also clean your lymph system. Since the system wants to remove anything that is not supposed to be there, avoiding processed foods helps it to run more efficiently. This includes avoiding chemicals, refined sugar, artificial flavorings, colors, additives, preservatives, etc.

2. Add water

Lymph fluid is mostly water, as is the human body. Dehydration only stresses the lymphatic system more and makes it less efficient. Drinking your full fluid intake as clean, clear water will help your lymphatic system flow well. Flush your system with a gallon of water per day.

3. Castor oil packs

Castor oil packs are used by applying castor oil to a piece of clean cotton fabric and placing them on the body in an area that needs cleansing. The area is wrapped in plastic and left in place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. You can read about how to make an effective and mess-free castor oil pack here. Most often the pack is applied to the abdomen for aiding the lymphatic system.

4. Get Bouncy

Rebounding, or trampoline jumping, for 10 to 30 minutes gets your lymph fluid moving. Moving the lymphatic fluid through the body gets it to the lymph nodes where it can be cleaned.

5. Practice Yoga

Yoga poses such as legs up the wall (lying with legs elevated), half shoulder stand (legs and chest elevated, arms supporting the back) and downward dog (body in a upside down V) all move blood and lymph toward the heart. This speeds up the rate of filtering and cleaning of the lymphatic fluid.

6. Relax in a Sauna

Sweating with sauna therapy is another way to increase circulation, sweat out toxins and improve lymphatic flow for cleaning.

7. Massage

Lymphatic drainage massage is used to manually flush and detoxify the body. Lymphatic massage also works to treat lymphedema, which is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the body after lymph nodes during surgery, often for breast cancer surgery.

8. Exercise

Getting the blood flowing through exercise also helps the lymphatic system to flow. Simply walking is a good way to raise your heart rate and pump lymphatic fluid to where it can be cleaned in the lymph nodes.

9. Deep breathing

Concentrating on deeply inhaling so that you can feel the contraction in your diaphragm. The change in pressure in your chest forces lymphatic fluid upward from the extremities, where it can then be filtered and cleaned.

10. Herbal Tea

Certain herbs are best for lymph cleansing and a relaxing herbal tea can do the trick. Mix calendula, cleavers and mullein in a tea to help remove lymphatic toxins.

Safely detoxifying your lymphatic system will allow it to perform optimally and give you the best possible immune health. This way, your body will be ready for battle the next time it faces any internal opponent.

What Does Your Life Path Number Reveal About You?

Numerology can tell us in-depth information about our unique life paths which will enable us to realize our purpose and live it on a daily basis. All numbers carry with them a certain vibration that affects everything from your perception of life to your personality to what kinds of clothes you like to wear.

Your life path number is no different. It can assist you in knowing your strengths and weaknesses and ultimately guide you to make choices in your life that align with your best interests.

Here’s how to calculate your life path number

If your birthday (the day life began outside the womb) lands on July 18, 1991; to calculate the life path number, you would add up all the digits until I end up with a single digit.

For example:

7 + 18 +1991 = 2,016

2 + 0 + 1 + 6 = 36

3 + 6 = 9

So, your life path number would be a 9. There will be more explanation as to what that means, along with all other life numbers, below.

Here’s What Your Life Path Number Reveals About You:

 

1. The Purposeful

1’s are the type of people who love coming up with new inventions and ways of doing things, and ideas just seem to come to them effortlessly. However, they like to do things their way, and they can have trouble tolerating other people’s lifestyles and decisions.

Well-Known 1’s: Tom Hanks, Hulk Hogan, and Wynona Judd

2. The Helper

2’s might identify with the term “empath” because they often put other’s needs above their own, and care deeply about the well-being of others. They can’t stand isolation, and probably have a tight-knit circle of friends to keep them company. While they might not warm up to others easily, their shyness melts away when they find friends who really understand them.

Well-Known 2’s: President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Mozart, and Whoopi Goldberg

3. The Spiritual

Also known as the life of the party, 3’s love any chance to have the spotlight on them and enjoy the attention from others. They have a certain charm about them, and they know how to carry a conversation. They often talk more than they listen, though, and can seem a bit insensitive at times, although they can. Finally, they have a big heart but are frequently misunderstood.

Well-Known 3’s: Melanie Griffith and Jodi Foster

4. The Balanced

4’s have been known to stick to balanced routines, and rarely step outside their comfort zone or adopt new principles of living. They often have conservative values, and believe in the idea of hard work to earn their place on this Earth. 4’s enjoy time spent in nature, and tend to shy away from modern entertainment. Their weakness is that they can sometimes be stubborn and closed off to new ideas.

Well-Known 4’s: Oprah Winfrey, Neil Diamond, and Arnold Schwarzenegger

5. The Fighter

They don’t like anyone telling them what to do, and steer clear of anything encouraged by the mainstream. They have a fierce independence about them, and have a hard time understanding modern society. 5’s are drawn to the arts, as creative expression serves as an outlet for them. They may have been called “problem children” in the past due to their adamant opposition to authority and rules.

6. The Optimist

An eternal optimist, the romantic lives with their head in the clouds, dreaming of a perfect world and wanting to offer a positive contribution somehow. They sometimes focus too much on what they can’t change, though, and the state of affairs in the world can bring them down if they don’t divert their attention. Moreover, they have a close relationship with their family, and make a very loyal friend or partner.

They might consider becoming a teacher to share their wisdom about the world and help them feel like they’re making an impact on society.

Well-Known 6’s: Albert Einstein, Christopher Columbus, and Meryl Streep

7. The Realist

A natural-born intellectual, 7’s are highly analytical and logical. They make decisions based on their thoughts, not emotions. These folks love doing research and learning about exciting new topics. They might seem cold and unfeeling to others, but they just don’t wear their heart on their sleeve. However, they still care underneath the surface.

Well-Known 7’s: William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, and Michael Jackson

8. The Leader

Always wanting to accomplish more, go one step further, and reach a higher rung on the ladder, 8’s are definitely Type A people. They have great ambition and willpower, and don’t like leaving a job unfinished. They like to tackle big challenges and solve problems, and would do well in a leadership role. However, they need to take heed not to let their power go to their head.

Well-Known 8’s: Barbara Streisand, Picasso, and Aretha Franklin

9. The Entertainer

Very gregarious and sociable, 9’s love to make people laugh and show them a good time. They make friends easily, and have an irresistible charm about them. They would do well as a comedian or some sort of performer, as they enjoy entertaining others.

Well-Known 9’s: Jimmy Carter, Elvis Presley, and Harrison Ford

Let us know your number and please share with your friends to find out their life number!

How To Detox From A Junk Food Addiction

Junk food has infiltrated our homes, schools and offices. We can’t run an errand without standing next to a counter full of candy, we can’t buy a coffee without being tempted with biscotti and pastries, and we can’t walk down the hallway without the temptation of a vending machine or a colleague’s birthday treats.

So why does junk food have so much power over us? Because it’s designed to. The sugar, salt, fat and all of the other ingredients of junk food are designed to make us want more. In fact, sugar has been proven to be eight times more addictive than cocaine. Yes, eight! We don’t stand a chance, and it’s no wonder we can’t say no.

Many experts believe the sugar and chemicals used in processed foods are at the heart of the obesity epidemic and the root of many diseases. Knowing this, makes paying attention to what we eat more important than ever. We have to stop thinking of nutrition as a way of fueling our bodies for right now and start thinking of how we can fuel it for long-term health and well-being.

So, how exactly do we kick our junk-food addiction? You have to make the choice to do it and then take action. It sounds simple, but like most change, it can be a challenge.

Here Are 6 Ways to Detox From a Junk-Food Addiction

1. Allow For Three Days

Realize that an addiction to junk-food will likely result in withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The first three days are going to be tough as our bodies work to get rid of the toxins and realize we are not giving into the addiction anymore.

We can do anything for three days, right? Do these things to help get through it:

  • Remove as much temptation from your daily routine as possible during the first few days
  • Drink more water than usual and add lemon when possible
  • Take frequent walks outside
  • Have nuts, veggies and other easy snacks on hand
  • Don’t starve yourself, just choose better options

2. Stick to Three

Keeping on the three theme, apparently three is the magic number. A study out of Cornell University found that we prefer multi-colored food on our plate. The recommendation is to choose three different types of food in three different colors when creating your meals.

3. Read Labels

The longer the ingredient list usually means the more processed it is. Food companies are required to list the ingredients in order of the amount in the product, with the ingredient with highest amount being listed first. Try to stay away from foods that have sugar, white flour and unfamiliar ingredients near the top of the list. The best way to tackle the grocery store is to spend time on the outside aisles, the produce section, and the organic aisles.

4. Learn Your Triggers

Everyone has certain triggers that lead to making poor choices. It might be a certain kind of food, a certain time of day, or a specific activity. Knowing what it is that triggers us can help us avoid it by eliminating foods, keeping busy during specific times, or avoiding the activities that trigger the desire for junk food.

5. Change Things Up

Our routines may be a big reason we reach for junk food instead of healthier, more nutritious options. Much like our triggers, changing our routine can play an important role in helping us to detox from a junk food addiction.

Create a morning routine where you pack lunch and snacks, create an afternoon routine of taking a walk when your energy is low, and create a nighttime routine that supports your desire to eat healthily. Include your nutrition goals when establishing routines, and they’ll be more likely to stick.

6. Take it One Day at a Time

Detoxing from anything is hard work, and we have to be forgiving of ourselves. Oftentimes we are so hard on ourselves and set unrealistic expectations, that we set ourselves up for failure. Take it one day at a time and let every day be a new day. If you fall off the wagon, don’t wait to get back on – just get back on. You are trying to create a lifestyle change, and there is no perfect. Just try to do better tomorrow than you did today.

It might be easy to walk away from the vending machine and reach for some grapes instead. And then again, it might be really hard. Choosing better nutritional options is easier than ever, but it’s still a challenge unless you have the intention and motivation to make it happen. Even though it can be hard at times, the benefits are immeasurable and definitely worth the effort.

What Does Your Birth Month Zodiac Reveal About You?

While you have probably heard that zodiac signs can reveal a lot about a person’s personality and characteristics, did you know that the month you were born can also tell many things about you?

Your birth month can offer insight into your overall demeanor. You can also discover how other people see you and understand more deeply your feelings toward life in general. These astrological descriptions base character traits on the alignment and placement of the stars during your birth month.

Read on to see what your birth month zodiac reveals about you:

birth month

January

People born in January have a strong work ethic, and will not hesitate to voice their opinions. They can portray a headstrong attitude. In other words, they don’t take well to people telling them what to do. They make good leaders because of their persistence and drive to succeed, but listening to others is not a strong point. If you were born in January, you have a natural ability to teach other people. What is more, others tend to listen to you with a willingness to learn.

February

If you were born in February, you probably have a strong creative streak. Likely, you enjoy working on new projects. You love getting into intellectual discussions and avoid conversation with others who seem shallow. You have probably been called a free spirit more than once or twice. Living within the confines of society’s rigid rules is not your favorite choice. You love to travel. Adventure and exploration excite you and make you feel alive. You operate best in the company of other dreamers. February-born free-spirits make loyal, honest friends and partners.

March

People born in March tend toward creativity and imagination, but they can also be introspective and quiet. They live inside their own heads a lot, creating masterpieces within their minds. They turn to the arts for expressing themselves and enjoy quiet time alone. If you were born in March, you have a kind, gentle demeanor toward others, yet tend to hide many aspects of yourself from them. You crave peaceful, serene environments, and avoid noisy, crowded places when you can.

April

Those born in April crave attention and love every second they can spend in the spotlight. They don’t take orders well, instead preferring to do things their way and lead others. April-born individuals seek new adventures and seek out ways to experience an adrenaline rush. They act first and think later, living life day to day, seeing where it takes them. Although sometimes known to be loud and obnoxious, they speak their minds and have no problem telling other people how they feel.

May

People born in the month of May tend to be fickle, wanting one thing today, and something totally different tomorrow. Those of this zodiac sign express themselves well and love talking to people from all walks of life. They tend to have an active social life and don’t like to spend a lot of time alone. If you were born in May, you probably love stimulating, intelligent conversations, yet need an equal amount of fun and excitement. You may get bored easily, and seek new ways to entertain yourself.

June

If you were born in June, you are sensitive and caring toward other people and their feelings. You can be shy and soft-spoken, but people admire that about you. A creative spirit helps you think far into the future about what you can create. You spend time considering how you can bring your ideas into the world. Though you don’t always express your feeling, you have a whole world living inside you, and you hope to figure out how to realize your many dreams.

zodiac

July

People born in July have many of the same traits as those born in June, except they are often more spontaneous and extroverted. They live for adventures, and love to have a good time. Outwardly, they appear confident and cheerful, but inside, they harbor a lot of dark secrets. If you were born in July, you might tend to hide your pain from others. You have lots of energy, and people love to hang out with you because of this.

August

Those born under the August zodiac are natural leaders, not afraid to stand on their own with their opinions. They can be bossy and opinionated, but they have big hearts. If you were born in August, you might tend to overthink matters and find difficulty considering other approaches. People born in August do well in careers that involve critical thinking and analysis because they see life in a logical manner. They find it challenging to express their emotions, so understanding the deeper side of them can seem difficult at times.

September

People born in this zodiac sign have high expectations of others and can tend to get disappointed easily. They have a stubborn streak and hold grudges if you get on their bad side. If you were born in September, you are probably a perfectionist, holding yourself and others to high ideals. You are likely sensual, creative, and kind, always wanting to help others when you can.

October

People born in October crave balance and stability in everything they do and have a positive outlook on life. They don’t like confrontation and avoid it whenever possible. If born in October, you likely have an active social life and love your friends to death. You’re charming and talkative. Though you love being around people, you’re fiercely independent as well.

November

People born in the November zodiac are very secretive, and often hide their true feelings from others. They don’t like others telling them what to do, and tend to carve their own path in life. November-born people don’t have too many fears and will jump into a situation headfirst, no matter the consequences. They don’t let anything in life stop them, and have a headstrong, passionate approach to life.

December

December babies are very adventurous, generous people. They can let their pride get in the way sometimes, and tend to have a short fuse with people. They like to be on-the-go, and can’t stand to sit still too long. If you were born in December, you might be feisty and like entertaining people. Your free-spirited attitude perfectly balances your more conservative side.

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