Practitioners of reflexology, which is a discipline in Chinese medicine believe that exerting a bit of pressure in a certain way to pressure points in the body, which are supposedly extra sensitive can help to ease pain, improve health, and restore balance in the body.
Now, an acupuncturist Eileen Li, from the US has revealed that just by pressing down on the spot between your nose and upper lip, you can "stimulate alertness” and feel more awake, The Sun reports.
The study of how one part of the body is connected to another is known as reflexology.
Meaning, you may have to massage a different location of your body such as your hand to treat a different area, such as your head. Therefore, you will be able to ease your pain when you reach the right pressure points, an earlier feature in Healthline informs.
Eileen reportedly said that the magic spot, which the expert calls DU26, can also help remove congestion from the sinuses, reduce back pain or help wake up someone else.
The medicine guru explains in her Instagram video that acupuncture point DU26 has traditionally been used to help people gain consciousness and to avert fainting in people.
"Save this tip because you never know when you're going to need it,” she states.
If you have long nails, Eileen recommends hitting the spot by using a knuckle or by placing a pen on that area.
"Once you find the point you want to dig in and hold it there for 20 seconds," she said.
She adds, "Your eyes might water and your sinuses might open up but you'll definitely feel awake."
Eileen's video on how to stay awake and be more alert has about 1.2 million views with hundreds of people commenting about how her tip has helped them.
While one user wrote, "This was perfect timing, I had major back pain from wrapping presents today… I tried it and about halfway in I felt the pain went away - thank you," another said, "It definitely opened my nasal cavities!"
Additionally, a previous report in WebMD informs that according to a study, it was found that when pressure is applied to acupressure stimulation points it can increase alertness in those who must sit in a classroom all day.
Researchers found that students who attended all-day lecture classes and who practiced a regimen of self-acupressure focused on stimulation points were less sleepy.
Speaking about the same, researcher Richard E. Harris, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan Health System's Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center is quoted as saying, "Our finding suggests that acupressure can change alertness in people who are in classroom settings for a full day -- which could be very good news for students who have trouble staying alert at school.”
However, having said that Harris explains, “The idea that acupressure can have effects on human alertness needs more study, including research that can examine the scope of influence acupressure can have on alertness and fatigue."
AN ASIAN writer has explained how his new book makes Britain’s imperial past “accessible, engaging and thought-provoking” for a younger audience.
Award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera’s new book, Journeys of Empire, explores empire through 10 journeys he described as being “extraordinary”. Sanghera said his book, published last month by Puffin UK, is “a way of helping children understand how Britain’s biggest story still shapes the world today.”
“We’re not taught this history very well,” he told Eastern Eye.
“The empire is morally complex – sometimes we were good, sometimes bad – so, how do you even begin talking about it? It’s also contentious. There are millions of us whose families were colonised, and millions whose families were the colonisers.”
Teachers cannot teach what they themselves were never taught, Sanghera pointed out.
“There are multiple layers to why British people are so bad at talking about this history. It touches on race, misogyny and geopolitics. It’s easier just not to talk about it.”
And , the cover of his book
Following the success of his bestselling children’s title Stolen History, Sanghera’s this latest work continues Sanghera’s mission to write for readers aged nine and above. With a focus on human experiences, Sanghera said he wanted show that history is not just a list of dates or conquests – it’s a tapestry of stories that connect people.
Born in Wolverhampton to Punjabi immigrant parents, he began school unable to speak English. Later he graduated with first-class honours in English language and literature from Christ’s College, Cambridge.
He has since built a career as a writer and journalist.
His memoir, The Boy with the Topknot, and his novel, Marriage Material, were both shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. Empireland, Sanghera’s exploration of Britain’s colonial legacy, was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non- Fiction, named a Book of the Year at the 2022 National Book Awards, and inspired the Channel 4 documentary series Empire State of Mind.
His first children’s book, Stolen History, introduced young readers to the complex and often overlooked realities of empire. With Journeys of Empire, Sanghera aims to go further. “When I finally learned about the British empire, it changed how I saw myself, how I saw Britain, and how I saw India,” he said.
“It seemed obvious that you’d want to give this gift to young people – because your 40s is a bit late to be learning all this.”
Sanghera said the 10 journeys in the book take readers across continents and centuries, revealing both the ambition and the brutality of empire.
“The British empire covered a quarter of the world’s surface and a large portion of its population. It was seven times the size of the Roman empire,” he said.
Aiming to ensure diversity in both perspective and geography, Sanghera said he chose stories from various countries and different phases of the 400-year history.
Alongside India and Mahatma Gandhi, readers will learn about Guyana’s indentured labour system, Gertrude Bell’s adventures in Iraq, and the British invasion of Tibet led by Francis Younghusband.
“I wanted to highlight areas often left out of mainstream narratives,” the writer said. The stories are written with an accessible and honest tone, and with humour.
“Violence is a tricky area,” Sanghera said. “You can’t go into graphic detail, but you also shouldn’t whitewash it. The violence and racism of colonialism were intrinsic. “I tried to strike a balance - acknowledging the brutality without overwhelming young readers.”
Writing for children isn’t much different from writing for adults, Sanghera said.
“You still need engaging stories and to hold attention. The main thing is to avoid big words that might put them off.”
He pointed out how storytelling can counter the allure of digital screens.
“Kids are addicted to screens, and reading rates are falling globally. That’s disastrous for mental health, intellectual development, and politics,” he said.
“When you get news from screens, you’re in an echo chamber – you’re not being challenged or taught to think in a nuanced way.”
Sanghera’s hope is that stories of Journeys of Empire – from pirates to princes and explorers to rebels – will draw in young readers to a world of curiosity and reflection. He said, “The British empire is a complex story. Even the ‘good guys’ had flaws. That’s what makes it worth understanding.”
At the heart of his book is a message about complexity and contradiction. “The empire involved slavery and the abolition of slavery. It caused environmental destruction and inspired environmentalism. We live in a world that struggles with nuance, but that’s what makes us human,” Sanghera said.
“My hope is that readers – kids and adults – learn that opposite things can be true at the same time.”
After six years of writing about empire, Sanghera said he’s ready for a change. His next book will focus on the late pop star George Michael, due out in June next year.
“I thought George Michael would be a nice break from empire. But then I learned that his father came from Cyprus - which was under British rule. The reason he left Cyprus was because of the British. So, even George Michael’s story connects back to empire. You can’t escape it, wherever you go.”
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