Chinese Eye Exercises - 5 Effective Ways to Reduce Eye Strain

For centuries the Chinese have been world renown for their holistic brand of medicine. Their Eastern approach to medicine addresses the underlying causes of our health problems with an emphasis on improving overall health. Whether we are talking about message techniques, herbal medicine or acupressure, they have also developed specific eye exercises that reduce eye strain. At a time when the use of technology has skyrocketed, placing added stress and strain on our eyes, these stress relieving techniques can be highly beneficial in alleviating vision problems. Here are 5 Chinese eye exercises that show you how to prevent eye strain.

1. Chinese Eye Message: to perform this technique, place your 2 middle fingers against your temples and then proceed to message that area for a period of two minutes. Vary the nature of the message. For example, start with a circular message that is performed in a clockwise motion then, change the message to a counter-clockwise direction. Make sure that the message is gentle and be sensitive to yourself. Here are some additional ways to reduce eye strain:

2. Chinese Acupressure Mix: with this technique you'll need to apply a gentle message to the bony area below the lower eye sockets. Using both index fingers, gently stimulate that area in a circular motion. Be very careful not to apply too much pressure as this area is very sensitive. Begin by messaging the lower eye lids then, perform the same circular message to the bony area right above your upper eyelids. Then, locate the area around the bridge of your nose, and using your thumb, and your first two fingers, message the bridge of your nose. Perform this technique for a couple minutes.

3. Chinese Facial Exercise: if you are suffering from strained eyes try this technique. Close your eyes. Find the exact area where your eyeball adjoins the upper part of your eye socket. Then, using both thumbs, gently stimulate that area. Locate the area where your hairline meets your forehead and lightly stroke that area with your finger tips. Repeat 1 set for 10 repetitions.

4. Occipital Message: press your thumbs behind your ears and message that region in an up and down motion. Then, Locate the Occipital region: This is the area where the bottom of the skull meets the top of your neck. Message that entire region for a few minutes.

5. Chinese Acupuncture Message: using your right thumb, press it into the point between your left thumb and your forefinger, approximately 2 inches in. Repeat 1 set for 10 repetitions.

The following messages and acupressure techniques offer a wide range of benefits. In Addition to relieving eye strain, such exercises increase circulation to the eyes; one of the critical factors that contribute to eye health. They also result in an improvement of your natural vision.

Here are a few important points to bear in mind when performing these techniques: For maximum benefits, do these routines at least twice daily. Always message or apply acupressure points to both eyes, temples or spots behind the head. When you have completed the routine, practice a relaxation technique that involves focusing on a distant object 10 feet away for 10 minutes. This helps to relax the eyes and relieve any additional tension in the eye muscles.

Chinese eye exercises in the form of message, acupressure and acupuncture offer a series of benefits to eye health. They relieve stress and tension in the eyes promoting better eye Health. Ultimately, they are a branch of Chinese medicine that address the underlying causes of our vision problems instead of just dealing with the symptoms alone. The emphasis is on a comprehensive approach to eye care that in the final analysis; promotes our overall eye health.

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Are Chinese Women the New "Trophy Wives"?

It is a fact. Everywhere you look, more and more rich foreign guys are marrying Chinese women, especially in places with a dense Chinese population, like in the US. In cities like Los Angeles and New York it is common to see Chinese women shopping in expensive brand stores with their mixed children. So, what is it that got these guys ignoring all the skinny busty blondes and pursuing Chinese girls?

There are probably multiple answers to this question, but one that seems to come up over and over again is the fact that Chinese women tend to care more for their families. In these uncertain days, when every year seems to bring about a new financial crisis, more and more western women are investing time in their careers, while putting their families a little aside. Western men, in the other hand, have been watching helplessly as their women slowly take over their role as being the sole financial support of the household. The truth still remains: men enjoy having a wife to look after them, to look after the children and to keep things running around the house. Knowing that they have a wife that depends on them, gives them a feeling of dominance, which just makes them feel a little bit more like a man.

The last decade has brought about the rise of women to power. Never before have so many women attended universities and occupied important governmental and corporate positions. Western women love to boast the fact that they are financially independent, because to them it is almost like coming out from years of reclusion and finally being able to see the sunlight. Its like showing off the prize for winning a long and strenuous battle. What women didn´t really count on all these years, is that you may be able to change the way society thinks, but you can´t change the laws of nature.

It is a fact that women love to feel secure. When looking for a partner, most women will even put financial security ahead of many other aspects and this is something that they do even unconsciously. Even those women who have a thriving career and are completely financially secure, will not allow themselves to marry or even fall in love with a man who earns less than them or who has an inferior education. Not to mention the old saying that women love guys with expensive cars and pockets full of money. It´s not about the steel shaped structure in form of an expensive car they love so much. It´s not about the greenish colored rectangular piece of paper with dollar signs printed on it. For women, it´s all about the sense of security and confidence, which these objects are able to bring them.

In this scenario, where the figure of the male provider is coming to an end, Chinese women have come to fill a gap. Most adult Chinese women today were raised by very traditional parents, who taught them the importance of being a good wife and taking care of her husband. Being a good wife is an important part of Chinese culture and most Chinese women are willing to make great sacrifices for their families and for their marriage. Tradition will heavily influence even Chinese women who have a higher education and are very well capable of leading a financially secure life of her own. For wealthy western men, who already possess everything, but a caring wife, it is the perfect match.

Another reason why more and more wealthy guys are showing off their Chinese wives, is the simple fact that Asian women possess a "quiet" beauty, which does not require them to spend hours in the gym or getting thousands of facials done. They also seem to age much less than white women, which gives an older man the feeling of being with a much younger girl without having to deal with all the age difference related issues. Wrapping it all up, Chinese women are becoming popular, because they are easier to please and are not ashamed of being (or feeling) dependent on their husbands or boyfriends.

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The Meaning of Chopsticks in Chinese Food Culture

I remember that, when I was little, there were lots of riddles for kids. My grandma used to ask me time to time one of them in particular: 'There are two equally tall brothers, they have good brotherhood, and are always together, but whenever they walk, it is like they are wrestling all the time. Guess what they are?' A pair of chopsticks! Even today, I still think this is the best description of chopsticks.

Chopsticks are definitely the symbol of Chinese food culture. On the dining table, almost everything is picked up and brought to mouth by using chopsticks (apart from soup). From picking up the rice from the bowl, every piece of food on the plate, to picking the small tiny bones from the fish or eating half meter long noodles, or even cutting off some piece into half; all can be done by chopsticks. So the traditional way of laying the table is always having a pair of chopsticks along with a spoon placed next to the rice bowl, no knives, and definitely no forks.

Chopsticks are normally made of wood, bamboo or silver, or even gold. The price can greatly vary because of the quality of the wood. Some chopsticks with good quality wood like achiote and very fine details can be very pricey.

Gold chopsticks were used by the 'emperors' or 'royals' to distinguish their unique position, but silver chopsticks were more common. It is said that using silver chopsticks was the best way to check if the food was poisoned, as there would be a mark shown on the silver chopsticks if there was poison in the food. Not surprisingly, all those emperors needed to take pre-cautions.

Furthermore, silver chopsticks are probably the most 'healthy' ones, as the wood ones can be rotten after washing many times, and become not hygienic.

Chinese chopsticks have normally a kind of rectangular shape, and are longer and thicker, comparing to Japanese ones, for example. This is because of the traditional metaphor of 'round sky and square ground', so the tip of the chopsticks is always in 'round' shape, while the other end is square. However, nowadays, the slim and all round shape chopsticks are also very popular.

At one time, 'chopstick culture' was very popular again. I mean, the design of the chopsticks. On the upper part of the chopsticks, there are some pictures or words, normally are from famous influential traditional Chinese paintings or poems. These are very interesting to look at. So people can get some 'cultural education' while eating.

As for how to use chopsticks, there is no secret. We normally start using chopsticks at very early age, then you would develop your own habit to hold them. Different people, however, would hold chopsticks differently.

One of the most common ways of doing it is to first hold the pair of chopsticks upright, make them stand at same level, (you can hold them against on the table surface if it helps); and use the ring finger to support, index finger to hold the other side, while middle finger helps to make the movement more mobile. It is really a matter of practice.

Saying that it is a cultural thing, it is not only because of its usage on the table, there are also many phrases or stories symbolized by chopsticks. For example, the story of 'united strength', I think most of us have heard of that one.

There was a dad who had three sons, who always fought against each other. One day, at the dad's dying bed, the dad asked the sons to hold a bunch of chopsticks in their hands, and said, 'now try to break one chopstick', the sons did easily, then the dad said, 'now try to break a bunch of chopsticks in your hands', the sons found it was very difficult to do so, almost impossible. The dad looked at the sons; they understood that only unity is strength. The following story is dad died peacefully, and the sons made a great future by working together.

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