Tweak This Daily Habit to Fight Stress
Water — it does a body good. But it’s not just about drinking the stuff. You can use your shower or tub time to boost your health in some fascinating ways, says Vicky Vlachonis, authorThe Body Doesn’t Lie.
As an osteopath and pain expert, Vicky pays close attention to how health is impacted by a convergence of factors in our lives — emotions, food, exercise, relationships. She believes that by unwinding some of the negative forces —such as stress — we can significantly improve our wellness and happiness.
And since water has long been associated with purification and emotional release (think of the ablution practices common in many religions), it makes sense that spending a little extra times splashing around would make you feel good.
Here are two ideas for turning your daily bathing rituals into de-stressing opportunities:
Hot & Cold Rinsing
“Alternating hot and cold water stimulates your blood vessels to expand and contract, boosting your circulation,” says Vicky. “The changing temperature, along with the pressure of the water, triggers the same effect in your lymphatic system, which has no pump.”
Studies have shown that regular hot-cold bathing tones the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, ultimately decreasing levels of stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines (cell-signaling molecules).
How to do it: At the end of your shower, turn the water as hot as you can stand it, making sure to hit every part of your head and body. Then, turn the water as cold as it gets (“Don’t worry: No matter how cold the water is, it won’t hurt you,” assures Vicky.) Instinctively, your lungs will expand to take in a deep breath in reaction to the temperature shock, increasing your oxygen supply, explains Vicky. Keep the cold on as long as you can and then switch it back to hot. Do three to five full cycles of hot and cold rinsing (aim for making each interval about 30 seconds in length). Then finish with a bracing cold drench.
Salt & Pepper Baths
This bath helps relieve pain and inflammation in your muscles and also has a healing effect on your mind.
According to Vicky, a 10-minute bath after work or late in the day can press the reset button. She cites a research review article in the journal of Current Directions in Psychological Science that found that washing your hands or taking a shower can help you release feelings of doubt and regret.
How to do it: Draw a bath as hot as you can stand it. Add two cups of Epsom salts and three to five drops of aromatherapy black pepper oil. Although there isn’t a lot of hard science to back it up, many athletes and health practitioners swear by the power of the salts (magnesium sulfate) to help with bloating, stiffness, and soreness. Regardless, submerging your body in warm water loosens your muscles. The aroma of the black pepper oil will both comfort and energize you with its warm, stimulating properties.
Vicky suggests holding yourself to a short bath because “you’ll be more likely to do it more often,” she says. And that will help you reap the cumulative benefits of taking some well-deserved time out. – Yahoo health
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
