The practice of working on pressure points to relieve stress comes from ancient Chinese traditions that suggest the body is made of thousands of energy meridians that are woven throughout. The premise is on the concept of disease being a result of some blockage of energy that needs to be released. Working on these pressure points can help to relieve stress, help the body relax, and clear any energy blockages that are believed to cause disease.

Below are five pressure points and techniques to help relieve stress, help you to relax and help provide immediate pain relief:

Sea of Tranquility Point

Located in the center of your chest, right on the breast bone, the Sea of Tranquility Pressure Point is the heart-energy center of the body that many acupressure specialists believe is where you carry your emotional energy. It helps to balance the negative and the positive energy in the body. You can find it by putting four finger widths above the breast bone base and applying gentle pressure in an up and down rubbing motion. You can also lace the fingers together and put them over this area. It shows that you are guarding your heart and is especially helpful if you are working on boundaries.

Karate Chop Pressure Point

Located at the fleshy part on the outside of your hands, the Karate Chop Pressure Point can be isolated by holding the base of your thumb or pinky for about 4 minutes and breathing. Doing this helps to relieve feeling nauseated. If you often struggle with an upset stomach due to anxiety, you can try Havasu Ashwagandha gummies, which help relieve stress and anxiety and help you to relax and unwind. You can also try putting pressure on the inside of the wrist which is a variation called the Inner Gate which is putting pressure on the inside of the wrist for about 2-3 minutes.

Gates of Consciousness Point

Right where the headline meets the neckline, at the bottom of the head right above your shoulders, is the Gates of Consciousness point. Hold this point for about 2-3 minutes. If that’s difficult to do, take two tennis balls and put them in a sock then lie back on them while you are on the chair or lying flat. Doing this helps to relieve anxiety- and headache-related tension and helps you get to sleep faster.

The Third Eye Point

This pressure point can be found between your two eyebrows where your third eye is where the bridge of your forehead meets the nose. Applying firm pressure here helps to relieve headaches especially due to sinus buildup and pressure.

The Great Surge Point

This point is at the bottom of your foot about 2-3 finger widths below the intersection of your big toe and second toe. Applying pressure to this point for about 20 seconds about 4-5 times can help to reduce anxiety and stress along with reducing the pain, bloating and pressure of menstrual cramps. You can also massage this area for brief 15 second intervals until you feel some relief from your pain and stress.

Using these pressure points, you will notice a reduction in your stress levels and in the amount of tension you feel yourself carrying around.

In addition to pressure points, Havasu Nutrition’s Ashwagandha supplement is a time-honored way to help combat stress. Ashwagandha is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers to its unique root smell and its ability to increase human strength. The all-natural product helps your body manage stress, which leads to better sleep, a more positive outlook, and a welcome boost for many body and brain functions.