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It used to be said that sleep accounts for one-third of our lives, but that's an old saying. The average sleep duration for Japanese people continues to decrease year by year, and some people try to make up for it by "catching up on sleep" on weekends. Due to shift work, long commutes, short sleep hours due to hard work, and an increase in night owl lifestyles, sleep quality is also declining. We are constantly accompanied by sleep deprivation and sleep disorders.
Furthermore, in today's smartphone-centric digital society, we are exposed to blue light 24/7, which disrupts our internal clock and makes it difficult to fall asleep and wake up.
If you don't get enough sleep, you can somehow manage by making time for it. However, a decline in sleep quality is not so easily remedied. Many people are likely troubled by problems such as "shallow sleep and inability to sleep soundly until morning," "feeling tired even after sleeping," and "not feeling satisfied with a deep sleep."
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "e-Health Net," "Sleep disorders are one of the most common symptoms in many mental illnesses. (Omission) In depression, insomnia often appears prior to other symptoms..." It describes the connection between sleep disorders and depression. It's crucial to prioritize improving sleep quality rather than dismissing insomnia as trivial!
Reflexology that approaches the nervous system by pressing acupoints on the "face" close to the brain
Therefore, to address modern people's sleep problems, we recommend self-care using "Dien Chan Facial Reflexology."
Dien Chan, meaning "facial diagnosis," is a facial reflexology developed by Vietnamese acupuncturist Bui Quoc Chau based on over 40 years of clinical experience.
When it comes to reflexology, stimulating reflex zones on the soles of the feet is well-known in Japan, but the face also has reflex zones just like the feet. The face is close to the brain, with over 600 acupoints and many reflex zones, allowing it to stimulate the brain and quickly activate the nervous system network.
Therefore, it also approaches the autonomic nervous system, which is deeply connected to sleep, as well as emotions such as depression and sadness, and sensations such as pain. From our experience of incorporating Dien Chan Facial Reflexology into self-care, it can be said that it is particularly suitable for insomnia. (Unlike acupoints in Oriental medicine, Dien Chan acupoints are very numerous, close to 600, and effectively stimulate the brain).
Many people have reported being able to sleep soundly by simply pressing acupoints on their face. Since it doesn't cost money or time, why not give it a try if you suffer from insomnia?
Easy to do before bed! What is Dien Chan Facial Reflexology?
Despite its profound theory, the Dien Chan treatment is very simple. It's a technique suitable for self-care, as it only involves pressing acupoints related to sleep, the autonomic nervous system, and brain areas like the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland with a stick.
A stylus pen for smartphones or tablets is suitable for pressing acupoints. The pen tip's ideal thinness accurately targets acupoints, providing a pleasantly stimulating pressure. Cotton swabs or the handle of a makeup brush can also be used for acupressure.
Once you have a stick ready, try slowly pressing each of the acupoints on your entire forehead shown in the photo below for about 15 seconds. When you press, the stick will gently sink in, and you'll feel a pleasantly painful pressure, which indicates an acupoint.
Acupoints good for insomnia are concentrated above the eyebrows and on the forehead. Press the acupoints (A) on the glabella and the bulge of the chin, which are in the center of the face, for 20 seconds each to calm your mind. Next, press the acupoints (B) around the eyebrows for 15 seconds each (pressing both sides simultaneously is not recommended). Finally, press the acupoint (C) in the middle of the forehead, on the extension line of the outer edge of the pupil, to finish.
Dien Chan acupressure is most effective when done in a relaxed state before sleep, avoiding during or within one hour before/after bathing. If you have time, doing it about three times a day will accelerate the effects.
