Many people don’t realize that they can cure a lot of their health problems simply by having their feet massaged. There are a number of pressure points in the feet that correspond to various parts of the body, and rubbing them in a certain way will help to ease other symptoms throughout the body.

This is known as the science of foot reflexology, and it is being used by people all over the world to treat a variety of health issues. Here are a few of the benefits you’ll receive when you try reflexology to boost your own health.

1. You’ll enjoy some much-needed relaxation

Foot reflexology helps patients to relax, and it is good for fighting stress. Just think about how relaxing a nice foot massage feels after a long, hard day at work, especially if you have been working on your feet all day.

A foot massage is going to release blockages in your system, and help reignite your energy so you no longer feel stressed or fatigued. It only takes 5-10 minutes to get an awesome foot massage, and using warm oil will help to boost the effects of the massage. You can easily make your own massage oils using essential oils that can help you to relax even better.

2. You’ll get better sleep

Again, a foot rub at night is a great thing. It is going to help you relax, and it will promote a better and healthier sleep than you would normally have when you don’t have a foot massage. It will also help you get to sleep faster. You will increase blood circulation and relax your nerves, which, again, will lead to a better sleep.

The part of the foot that should be massaged to promote better sleep is near the large plantar pad of the big toe. Each of the big toes should be massaged for a minimum of one minute, followed by massaging the bottoms of the feet for an additional 10 minutes.

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3. You’ll get rid of aches and pains

There are a number of aches and pains that can easily be treated with foot reflexology. It can even help to treat gout, which is an extremely painful form of arthritis, as well as headaches, migraines, neck pain, and back pain.

Massaging the toes and the toe joints will help to ease neck pain, and you only need to do it for five minutes. Massaging your ankle can get rid of pain and swelling in the ankle, while also combatting headaches and migraines. Rubbing the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon will help to relive lower back pain and thigh pain, and massaging the arch will help to relieve upper back pain.

Again, there are many massage oils that you can make yourself, and loads of essential oils that can help to ease a lot of your aches and pains.

4. You’ll improve your circulation and have more energy

If you work at a job where you sit all day, it is going to affect your blood circulation. It is also going to drain your energy, even though you are not exerting a lot of physical energy. Even wearing the wrong shoes can affect the blood circulation in your feet, but you can improve it with just 10 minutes of foot massage every day. This will carry oxygen to the cells in your body, which will improve your overall health and give you more energy. Of course, you should also be wearing shoes that are comfortable and not too constricting. A foot massage will not only give you better circulation and more energy, it will also help to keep you from getting varicose veins.

Featured photo credit: Khánh Hmoong via flickr.com

Sleeping is one of the most important things we do every night.

Getting the right amount of sleep has an untold number of health benefits and not getting enough sleep is a serious problem in many countries around the world.

So you should have heard of the many benefits of getting adequate sleep, but did you know that you can get additional benefits by sleeping naked?

Here are some benefits of sleeping in the nude:

1. It is easier.

When you don’t have to worry about sleeping in clothes, things start to get easier. You don’t have to buy pajamas, which can save you money. You have less clothes to wash and less clothes to put away. You may have to clean your bed sheets more often, but not nearly as often as you’d have to wash your pajamas when you run out.

2. It forces you to be ready to go more often.

Some people get off of work, change into their pajamas, and use this as an excuse to stay home the rest of the evening. This can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, which has been attributed to things like weight gain.^[1] When you keep your regular clothes on, you tend to go out more often and that’s a good thing.

3. It can make you feel happier and more free.

Just imagine the feeling of laying in bed naked. You’re free of your pants and underwear. Women, you’re not wearing a constrictive bra. It’s just you sandwiched between two cool sheets. The feeling just makes you want to smile and it makes you feel more free. Everyone can use that kind of good feeling every now and then, and it may even help you be happier as a person.

4. Skin-on-skin contact is the best.

If you’re married, or living with your significant other, sleeping naked gives a greater chance of skin-on-skin contact, especially when it comes to cuddling. This kind of contact can also lead to a more active sex life. All of this releases copious amounts of oxytocin, which is the neurotransmitter that helps you feel those good feelings about your significant other.^[2]

5. It could lead to better sleep.

Let’s revisit the scenario I described above. There are no drawstrings or clothes getting tangled in sheets. You don’t have to worry about shirts getting twisted. All of these distractions go away when you sleep naked and it may help you get better, deeper sleep. You don’t need science to tell you that better, deeper sleep only helps you be healthier.

6. It can help your skin.

For once your body gets to breathe. Your private parts, armpits, and feet are generally restricted all day and are often covered by multiple layers, even in the summer time. Give those parts a chance to air out and breathe. This can lower the risk of skin diseases, like athlete’s foot, that result from wet, restricted skin.^[3]

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7. It helps you regulate your cortisol.

Cortisol is a very strange chemical in the body but it can do a lot of damage. When you sleep naked, it helps keep your body temperature at the optimal ranges so your body can better create cortisol. If you sleep overheated your cortisol levels tend to stay high, even after you wake up. This can lead to increased anxiety, cravings for bad food, weight gain, and more terrible things.^[4] Sleep naked so you can keep your body temperature down and sleep well so your body can properly produce and regulate cortisol.

8. It balances your melatonin and growth hormone.

Continuing along that same vein, keeping your sleeping environment below 70 degrees (F) every night can help your body regulate its melatonin and growth hormone levels. These chemicals help the body do things like prevent aging and are essential to good health. When you sleep in clothes, your body heats up and prevents effective use of these hormones. In other words, sleeping with clothes on makes you grow old faster.

9. It can keep your sex organs happier.

For men, the cooler sleeping conditions allows your testes to remain at a cooler temperature. This helps keep your sperm healthy and your reproductive systems functioning as normal. For women, the cooler and more airy sleeping conditions can actually help prevent yeast infections. Yeast grows better in warm, moist conditions.^[5] When it’s cooler and dryer, the growth of yeast is prevented.

10. Sleeping in the summer is more bearable.

Summertime is a tricky time to get good sleep. If you don’t have air conditioning, then you may find your bedroom a bit stuffy at night.

Shedding those bedtime clothes can help the bedroom feel more comfortable. You may even be able to turn the A/C off on those cooler nights, which can save you a few bucks on your electricity bill.

Don’t wake up drenched in sweat again because your thermostat is downstairs and the hot air expands up to your bedroom where the thermostat can’t read the warm temperatures.

Sleep well with your naked body!

With these tips in mind, it’s time to start taking off your clothes at night!

Of course, there are times where clothes are preferable. If you are ill or it’s cold outside, then you should sleep with clothes on to help you stay warm and prevent further illness. Otherwise, go commando!

If you’re looking for more tips to sleep well and get up feeling energetic, I recommend you to check out this guide:

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