"Where Did You Get That?" 😱

Let’s kick off this week’s newsletter with a funny story, shall we?

I’ve been trying to use my facial cups more lately, but I guess I’ve been doing so when my husband’s not around.

So he didn’t know what they were, having never seen them before.

Last week he noticed one of the cups on the dresser in my boys’ room as he was tucking them into bed.

“Where did you get that?” he asked them.

My middle son replied, “Mommy’s bathroom.”

Oh no… my husband said he thought to himself. This isn’t good.

My husband is familiar with menstrual cups and a cervical cap called the FemCap.

Facial cups, though? Nah.

We had a good little laugh over that. Now he knows. And I want you to know about them too. Here’s an Instagram account I like to follow:

Knee Pain? If It’s Osteoarthritis, Acupressure to the Rescue, According to New Research

In a study published just last week² exploring the benefits of self-administered acupressure (SAA) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain, researchers found encouraging results that could offer new hope for those suffering from this common ailment.

Conducted among individuals over 50 in Hong Kong from September 2019 to May 2022, the study involved 314 participants who were taught SAA techniques in two training sessions, complemented by a brief knee health education program. Over 12 weeks, participants practiced acupressure twice daily and were compared to a control group that received only the educational component. The effectiveness of this approach was measured using various health indices and pain scores.

The outcomes were promising, with the SAA group experiencing a significantly greater reduction in pain according to the numerical rating scale, and an improvement in their overall quality of life as indicated by the SF-6D utility scores, compared to those who received only education.

Although no significant differences were found in other physical performance tests, the study demonstrated that self-administered acupressure is not only effective but also cost-efficient, with a high probability of being a worthwhile investment for the relief of knee OA pain. This suggests that SAA, coupled with basic health education, could be a valuable tool for managing knee pain in older adults, enhancing mobility and improving life quality without the need for expensive treatments.

New Study Suggests Acupressure and Reflexology Reduce Fatigue in Leukemia Patients

A new study³ published in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing reveals that reflexology and acupressure may significantly alleviate fatigue among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Fatigue affects up to 91% of CLL patients and can severely impact daily life and social interactions. This study explored these two nonpharmacological approaches, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, as potential remedies to improve patients' quality of life. Researchers conducted the trial at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia, Iran, enrolling 102 CLL patients who were divided into three groups: two receiving either reflexology or acupressure, and one control group. Over four weeks, the treatments, which involved specific techniques and target points like the SP6 on the inner lower leg, showed a notable reduction in fatigue levels compared to the control group, whose fatigue levels remained unchanged.

The findings underscore the effectiveness of these alternative therapies in managing CLL-associated fatigue. Patients in the acupressure and reflexology groups experienced significant improvements in their fatigue scores, demonstrating these treatments can be powerful additions to conventional cancer care. This study not only confirms the potential benefits of reflexology and acupressure for fatigue management but also highlights the need for healthcare providers to integrate these complementary therapies into broader care plans for CLL patients. By doing so, they can address the complex nature of fatigue and significantly enhance patient well-being and engagement in daily activities.

A My Ear Seeds Review (Love to See It!)

@relaxationnathealing on Instagram (another holistic health and wellness account worth your follow) has been raving about the My Ear Seeds kits I sell.

She wrote last Saturday:

I appreciate the awesome review! And I’m giving 50% off My Ear Seeds Kits to subscribers of this newsletter with promo code PRESSURE (enter it at checkout).

Ever Wonder Whether So-Called Essential Oil “Benefits” Have Scientific Backing?

Have you been skeptical of claims made by essential oil distributors?

If so, same.

“There’s an oil for that” (translation of “that”: everything) has long been a tip-of-the-tongue, fast-reflex response for people who are trying to sell essential oils through MLMs.

Disclosure: I’ve been a Young Living distributor (I think they’re called Brand Partners now? Not sure) since 2012. But I’ve shied away from sharing about the products because I didn’t want another voice out there adding to their reputation of being snake oil. I wanted to know — and tell others — about their legitimacy.

So I’ve been diving into Google Scholar, like I tend to do for all things acupuncture, acupressure, and other areas of health and wellness. And yeah, I’ve been seeing some cool stuff, backed by studies.

The latest review by Sattayakhom et al. (2023)¹ explores a decade of research from 2012 to 2022. Drawing on around seventy studies, this comprehensive analysis reveals that essential oils not only offer relief from stress, anxiety, and pain but also enhance cognitive functions and promote autonomic balance.

Several essential oils are shown to influence neurotransmitter receptor levels and encourage neurite outgrowth, suggesting developmental benefits. The review also covers the physiological and pathophysiological effects of essential oils, including improvements in arousal, cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and even consumer behavior related to eating patterns.

Additionally, essential oils have been found effective in managing conditions like depression, sleep disorders, and overall quality of life. This promising data supports the increased use of essential oils in functional foods, beverages, and alternative therapies, offering a natural way to boost neurological health and well-being.

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And as always, if you’re interested in ear acupressure seeds, use code PRESSURE for 50% off at myearseeds.com.

Sources:

¹ Sattayakhom, A., Wichit, S., & Koomhin, P. (2023). The effects of essential oils on the nervous system: a scoping review. Molecules, 28(9), 3771

² Yeung, W., Chen, S., Cheung, D. S. T., et al. (2024). Self-Administered Acupressure for Probable Knee Osteoarthritis in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 7(4), Article e245830. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.5830

³ Parizad, N., Hassanpour, A., Goli, R., Khalkhali, H., & Nozad, A. (2024). Comparing the impact of acupressure and reflexology on fatigue in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients: A randomized controlled trial with three arms. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102573