The Chinese are well known for treating health problems using Acupuncture techniques and many Western medical professionals have come to recognize it's benefits.
The principle is to stimulate a pressure point in the body that is directly related to, but often remote from, the source of discomfort.
These acupuncture points can also be stimulated by other means than inserting fine needles.
Finger pressure on acupuncture points is known as Acupressure and one of these trigger points that relates to eye function is located on the hand.
Before starting remove your glasses or contact lenses and make yourself comfortable.
Exercise 1.
Massaging your temples can help you to relax and lessen eyestrain.
By using the tips of your index or second finger gently rotate the depression on either side of your forehead on a level with your eyebrows.
Do this for a minute or two changing from a clockwise to an anti clockwise motion from time to time.
You can do this easy exercise as often as you feel like, particularly if you want to feel less tense.
Exercise 2.
This is an easy one, which you will probably already know.
Using the first two fingers and thumb of either hand just gently pinch and rub the bony bridge of your nose. Great for tension and headaches.
Exercise 3.
Just below the cheekbone and under the outside corner of each eye is an important massage area.
Any fingertip (or two) will do to stimulate this location.
Simply rotate both sides at the same time using gentle pressure. You can feel an effect on your eyes if you try smiling at the same time.
Exercise 4.
Find the upper part of your eyeball immediately below the eye socket where you will notice a very small gap.
Using the ball of your thumbs press gently upwards on both sides and at the same time with your fingers draw down the skin of your forehead from round about the hairline.
We not going to make any comment about wrinkling but this is another area of muscle and nerves in the eye area that can benefit from relaxing massaging.
Exercise 5.
Close your eyes and lightly pass your fingertips back and forth over the top and bottom lids. This stroking has a calming and relaxing effect.
Exercise 6.
Open the right hand palm down and thumb extended, place the thumb of your left hand over the skin between the thumb and forefinger with the left fingers below the palm of the right hand.
Try to locate a point about 2-3 inches (5 - 7 cms) in by pinching with your left thumb and forefinger underneath that feels a little painful.
After stimulating this point a few times reverse hands.
This exercise can be repeated several times a day.
