This blog is no longer updated. Please go to FlowsForLife.com for the latest information on Jin Shin Jyutsu with Astrid.

Natural Pain Relief Hold

I know the title of this post might sound rather far fetched to some, especially if you are new to the Universal Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. But I and thousands of people around the world can testify that placing your hands on specific energy sites on the body can, and does, bring Natural Pain Relief. Read more...on FlowsForLife.com

Q&A: Are there self help holds for viral infections?

Answer: A viral infection is what causes a cold or flu, and more serious illnesses like mononucleosis (kissing disease or glandular fever), hepatitis, and even AIDS. Just a note on the difference between viral and bacterial infections.

A virus is smaller than a bacterium and needs a living host to stay alive and reproduce, while bacteria can survive on inanimate objects like door handles and counter tops, which then become contaminated.

Usually the form of treatment for bacterial infections is to prescribe antibiotics (although, the overuse of antibiotics has caused problems because bacteria become resistant to them and then they don't work, but that is another story). Bacteria can gain entry into the body via food and water, cuts and contaminated objects.

A virus usually involves the respiratory system, i.e. entry via nose, mouth and throat. But this is something that not everyone knows - also through the eyes!

The most important way to prevent viral infections or reduce their impact is to ensure that we have a strong and healthy immune system. The immune system is one of the most wonderful systems of our body. Eating a varied, healthy diet, as well as drinking water regularly, is good common sense. Getting enough rest and sleep, and exercising moderately also helps manage stress levels (a 30 minute walk every day if you can is good practice). Laugh a lot as well! Laughter and happiness boost your immune system.

In terms of self help holds, there are several things we can do to stimulate the immune system. Below are three of my favourite exercises:

1. The Immune Boosting Hold: For the right flow, place the left hand over the right shoulder and right hand on right groin. Do for 20 minutes minimum. For the left flow, place the right hand over the left shoulder and left hand on left groin. My experience with this is that if I have a sore throat (beginnings of a cold) and I do this hold I can get rid of the sore throat in minutes and the cold will not materialize! See the immune boosting hold diagram

2. General Revitalising Exercise: This is a very powerful sequence of holds which help stimulate the immune system, helps the digestive system, helps regulate our temperature, regenerates and calms. Do it for at least 20 minutes (every day) and you'll feel the difference. Revitalising Flow

3. Check out the Main Central Source of Life exercise. Very powerful for helping everything.

And of course, it makes sense that if you don't feel well and symptoms persist that you seek medical advice!

Latest Jin Shin Jyutsu on Flows For Life

Thanks for following this blog! I will keep posting here once in a while, but if you want the latest I post about Jin Shin Jyutsu, please go to www.flowsforlife.com. There you can also sign up for the newsletter!

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help: Attitudes

The thumb and the fingers form the foundation of Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help.

Just by holding the thumb and the fingers every day one at a time for a few minutes, is a good way to regenerate all our 144,000 energy functions.

Moreover, the effects over time are cumulative, so the more you hold your fingers, the quicker you’ll notice the benefit.

Each thumb and finger is related to an emotion or as we call them in Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ATTITUDE. There are five atttitudes that form the basis, the starting point as it were, of every dis-ease and disharmony:

Worry, Fear (that’s the biggest one at the moment!), Anger, Grief and Pretense (trying to – the one to hold for the Heart). The hold for Depression and Fatigue is the center of the palm.

Simply hold a finger for a few minutes, or when you’re watching television, waiting for a bus or whatever, to harmonise each attitude.

See the links to these older posts:

Self Help for Worry (and insomnia)

Self Help for Anxiety (and Fear and Panic)

Self Help for Anger (and High or Low Blood Pressure)

Self Help for Grief

Self Help for Heart (attack)

Self Help for Depression (and Fatigue)

For the latest posts about Jin Shin Jyutsu self help please go to : www.flowsforlife.com

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self help for Anxiety and Fear

Anxiety and FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) are a big part of our lives. Managing our anxieties and fears goes a long way to managing stress in our lives and in our bodies.

A very simple way to manage anxiety is to hold the index finger. Not only does it calm anxieties and nervousness, but it helps the following:

* Teeth and gums
* Backaches
* Digestion, constipation
* Self criticism, shyness
* Muscle tension
* Kidney and bladder energy
* the stress of standing for many hours
* anything to do with the element of water (colour blue)

For latest posts please go to www.flowsforlife.com

Self Help for Sweaty Feet and Hands

In Jin Shin Jyutsu, the index finger is related to the kidney and bladder, as well as the muscle function and most importantly, the element of water.

So holding the index finger can ease the discomfort of a full bladder (too much water) and at the same time lubricate dry eyes (too little water).

The body is very clever at doing these balancing acts given a bit of help. So also with too much, or too little moisture in the hands and feet.

If you suffer from clammy hands and sweaty feet, then hold the index finger (either one) regularly throughout the day. This will also help teary eyes. Let me know if it works for you!

For the latest Jin Shin Jyutsu self help go to www.flowsforlife.com

Self Help for Stiff Neck and Shoulder Pain

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help Holds

A stiff neck and shoulder pain are, well, a pain in the neck!

Luckily, we all have an energy pathway that crosses the shoulders and hips, travelling up and down the arms into the middle fingers and also travelling up and down the legs doing kind of a loop de loop all over the body. This energy also goes round the head and around the chest.

This little gem of a Jin Shin Jyutsu self help hold does many things

Read more on FLOWS FOR LIFE

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help for the Heart

I am experiencing many people with heart projects at this time and the headline of this post is my take on ‘Be still my beating heart’ – the phrase from Shakepeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Diana Cooper, one of my favourite lightworkers, says of this time: ‘Many people are having heart problems right now. Higher vibrations are coming through and our physical bodies are not catching up quickly enough.’

This really does make sense to me on one level. The good news is that Jin Shin Jyutsu helps increase your vibration by working with your energies, and there is much you can do to calm your beating heart:

Hildegard of Bingen is my favourite mystic healer from the 12th century. She was able to ‘see’ (with intuitive vision) the effects of food, drink and more on the body. So here follows some of her advice for the heart:

Gemstone JASPER: It is the pacemaker for the suffering heart, especially in cases of arrythmic episodes, heart pain, fluttering or violent rheumatic attacks. Press the cool jasper firmly over the heart, directly on the skin and take it away after a few minutes when it’s hot. After it cools, put it on again and repeat the process three to five times or as often as necessary.

Hildegard’s Parsley-honeywine heart tonic – helps strengthen and protect the heart: Take 8 to 10 parsley leaves with stems. Boil in one quart of natural red wine or white wine with two tablespoons of wine vinegar for five minutes. Add three quarters cup honey and heat up again for five minutes. Skim off foam, strain and rebottle the wine. It doesn’t matter if you use red or white wine but it should be natural wine without additives. ‘Take one to three tablespoons daily and all gripping, shooting heart pain will disappear’.

Hildegard says: ‘Whoever has heart pain and is weak in the heart should instantly eat enough Galangal and he or she will be well again’. Galangal, a root, is similar in appearance to ginger. Galangal has bioflavonoids, essential oils, and hot tasting ingredients that have spasmolytic and carminative (cleansing) and pain killing properties.

As for Self help holds – there are many for the heart. But let’s start with a few simple ones:

For heart discomforts: Place your right fingers in your left armpit with fingers facing upwards towards your arm. Place the back of your left wrist on your forehead. Reverse hands for the other side.

For heart palpitations: Place your right hand over your left shoulder (like a coat hanger) and place your left fingers on the base of your left thumb (make a loose fist). This is also the hold to balance acidity in the body.

For rapid heart beat and general heart: Hold the little finger. With your right hand, grab your left little finger. Reverse the hands for the other side.

To see more posts please go to www.flowsforlife.com

Jin Shin Jyutsu for Mononucleosis

Question: Hi Astrid! I have used your site many times. Thank you. I have Alice’s book but borrowed it out I would like to know if there is a hold for mono. My daughter has very infected tonsills and can barely swallow. Saw the doc yesterday....read more Q&A: Any Jin Shin Jyutsu Holds for Mono?

Jin Shin Jyutsu: Self Help Holds on Flows for Life

I started this blog in October 2007 and it is wonderful to get your feedback and comments - I have created a new look, and improved website / blog which I have called Flows for Life. I mainly talk about Self help holds with Jin Shin Jyutsu, but expanding into other things as well that I have found very interesting, like Donna Eden's Energy Medicine, the Dr Schüssler Tissue Salts, Nutrition....read more on Flows For Life

Jin Shin Jyutsu Question and Answer

Hard to believe that we're in March already and this is only my first post for 2010! Even though I haven't been writing for a little while, it's been wonderful to receive lots of emails with questions. It's kept me busy and I love getting them, as well as your feedback - so keep 'em coming!

I've had many Jin Shin Jyutsu experiences in the last month or so which I will be sharing with you shortly - I was even asked if I was a doctor while I was helping someone with severe muscle spasms (remember, it's as easy as holding the backs of the knees!).

If I have sent you an email in reply to a question with some exercises, please let me know how you're getting on - Have FUN

Self help: Talking about Back Pain

Been sitting in front of the computer too long - haven't been stretching - or conversely, have you been running lots, climbing lots? Suddenly the back hurts. I mean, really hurts. And it's a very specific point, yet there's lots of sore spots. Dig your fingers into the buttock and the back and try to find the source of the pain - very difficult. The buttock hurts, the spine hurts, the sacrum hurts.

So you go off to the doctor and the doctor recommends pain killers, x-rays, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, or whatever. They prod you, they jump on you, they x-ray you, they have NO idea what is causing this pain.

Okay. So have you ever heard of Piriformis Syndrome? The piriformis is a relatively small muscle in the buttock that can cause HAVOC. When I studied Anatomy and Physiology as part of my Aromatherapy course, the first thing that our professor told us about when we covered the back was this muscle: the piriformis. It's such a beautiful name, but boy, when it is not happy it really is NOT happy.

This comes from www.spine-health.com:
'The piriformis is a muscle located deep in the hip that runs in close proximity to the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome is used to describe when the piriformis muscle becomes tight and/or inflamed; which may cause irritation of the sciatic nerve. This irritation leads to sciatica-like pain, tingling and numbness that run from the lower back, to the rear and sometimes down the leg and into the foot.'

So what is the cure? Stretching exercises (there are internet sites that will give you some exercises but anything to stretch out the leg and buttock will help alleviate the symptoms). Rest is actually not the best thing - exercise and movement will help.

In terms of Jin Shin Jyutsu holds. I find that holding the 'hot spot' pain areas with one hand and holding the outside of the ankle with the other hand helps to 'melt' the pain. Might take a bit of time but keep at it, and it will eventually ease. Along with the stretching exercises, you should feel the pain and discomfort easing within 24 hours....

Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help Hold for Pain

Whether it's a light pain or a very intense pain, there is a special energy that takes care of the pain no matter where it is in the body. By placing the right fingers on the inside of the heel and the left fingers on the outside of the heel (just under the ankle bone) alleviates any kind of pain, from a pain in the toe to pain after surgery. I have seen it! It works -

Someone wrote me recently telling me about the miraculous effect of the 'Pain Hold':
'....Because of the blocked veins she now has a deep wound in the right big toe. The nurse had been poking around in it because some bone is exposed. My friend was in great pain, and I applied the hold on the heel. After a while when we were talking her face lit up. 'It is gone she wispered. The pain is gone!'

What a great story - Here is a link to an older post about Self Help for Pain Relief

Q&A: How Long Do I Hold My Fingers For?

Question: Hello i am a user of Jinshin holds i would like to know how long one should hold the fingers and how many times in day. thanks for your reply to my query

Answer: The more you hold your fingers the more of a cumulative 'cleaning' and regenerative effect there is. Hold your thumb or fingers whenever your hands are free - while watching a movie, while waiting for a bus etc. For instance, you will definitely notice the effects of holding a finger or one of your thumbs for an hour if you close your eyes and sit or lie quietly.... I like to do this with the thumb - it becomes quite a powerful meditation.

Or you could hold each finger for five minutes each - that's 50 minutes - what you could do is put on a chill out cd and change the finger when the track changes, then you don't have to watch the clock. If you feel particularly relaxed or fall asleep, don't worry! It just means that your body is going through a deep harmonisation - there are no 'shoulds' - Just go with the flow!

Jin Shin Jyutsu Blog Questions & Answers

If you have a Jin Shin Jyutsu question, please send it directly to me at flows@flowsforlife.com

When you email me your question, I do ask PLEASE that you tell me whether you've attended any Jin Shin Jyutsu classes or self-help workshops and what books or Jin Shin Jyutsu material you have. This is mainly so that I can tailor the answer individually.

And don't worry if you are new to this ancient art - you need nothing more than just your hands and the knowledge of where to put them to alleviate pain, manage fatigue, boost the immune system and deal with the myriad other day-to-day discomforts and complaints such as headaches, cramps, muscle tension, etc.

I look forward to hearing from you.

In the case that you have had a reply from me, thank you if you have sent me your feedback! It is nice to hear how the different holds work for you -

Self Help for YOUR NERVES

Some days are just thrown at us to test us. Some days one just feels overwhelmed. There is so much going on and the mind just can't keep up with all the thoughts, worries, anxieties, and nags. However! DO NOT DESPAIR. There is a way to get out of your head and take back control of your runaway mind and life!

Read More for Self Help For Your Nerves 

T Harv Ecker: TAME the MIND, TAME the FEAR

Jin Shin Jyutsu: Self Help for ANXIETY, DEPRESSION and More...

Worry, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Anger, Grief and other emotions are draining and exhausting. You can help ease these uncomfortable feelings YOURSELF by holding your thumb, or another finger. The effect is cumulative, so the more you hold a finger the more you will notice the effects.

Have a look at the links to these older posts:

Self Help for Worry (and insomnia)

Self Help for Anxiety (and Fear and Panic)

Self Help for Depression (and Fatigue)

Self Help for Anger (and High or Low Blood Pressure)

Self Help for Grief

Self Help for Heart (attack)

'I've experienced many horrible things in my life, and some of them actually happened...' - Mark Twain

Comment: JSJ Hold brings PAIN RELIEF

This comment is a follow-up on the previously posted Q&A about a self help hold for piles / hemorrhoids:

'Hi Astrid - Tried the hold you suggested (outside of the knees) and am happy to say that he (my husband) had tremendous pain relief thru the night. Thanks again for a wonderful site. Kind regards.'

See Self Help for Piles and Pain Relief

Q&A: Self Help for Piles

Question: Hi Astrid, I'm very excited to have stumbled onto your website which is very interesting to me. I have a question though. My husband has had an operation to remove piles / hemorrhoids but pus still seems to be flowing out. I have tried your fast healing wound hold with my right hand over the left to remove all pus but as soon as I do this my hands get so hot and tingly. Am I doing this correctly as the pus does come out, and is there any other hold I could use. Thanks for a wonderful and informative web blog. - IW

Answer: Thanks for your comments and your question! What you are already doing is great - The Emergency Hold is removing the pus, and the pus is part of the healing process. The reason why your hands feel hot and tingly is because the hold is working! If you haven't done a lot of this energy work before, then your energy is starting to also move and clear and that is what you are experiencing, apart from developing your natural healing power.

Self Help Hold for Piles
There is a hold that is particularly useful for hemorrhoids. Now that the piles have been removed the energy needs to be corrected, otherwise, the wounds will take longer to heal and they might form again. You can do this hold for your husband and he can also do it for himself if he is able to find a comfortable position.

This particular energy site is on the outside of the knees. If he does the exercise, he can place the left fingers on the left outside of the knee, and the right fingers on the right outside of the knee. If you do this exercise for him, then the easiest way is for him to lie face up on a bed or couch, you stand at his feet and place your left fingers on the outside of his right knee, and your right fingers on the outside of his left knee.

See this link to the older post: Self Help for Piles

I say in that post to curl the fingers under the ligament but since the energy sites are not points and more like spheres there is quite a large area that you can work with - either on the outside of the knee or by hooking your fingers under. - your hands will tell you when you've hit the bullseye! They'll go all hot and tingly :D

Other Helpful Holds
The last step of the Main Central Vertical (hold pubic bone and coccyx) would be particularly helpful to clear the energy through the hip area. The whole Main Central Vertical exercise as self help will be really useful as well.

Q&A: Burning sensation when I do Jin Shin Jyutsu exercises

Question: First of all, thank you for sharing the Jin Shin Jyutsu information on your blog. I have been getting burning sensentions (heat) on my hands and feet when doing some of the holds - I would like to know if this is normal or does this mean anything? The second issue is when I do the Main Central holds, I get very uncomfortable and exausted and do not feel like continuing with the holds - Is there anything I can do to fix this. RN

Answer: Hot / cold hands and feet are a reaction to the energy starting to move through blocks - its a really good sign. As is the exhaustion you feel when doing the exercises. When you begin to do Jin Shin Jyutsu you start releasing years of stuff and this release creates the exhaustion which should go after a while - if you feel uncomfortable at any point when you are doing an exercise I suggest two things: move on to the next hold and if there is no relief then stop the exercise for a few hours or a couple of days and then do it again from where you left off - do a few minutes at a time.

Most importantly, experiment and listen to what your body is telling you. You will notice a change in time. I remember the first Jin Shin Jyutsu class I went to. By day four I had released so much stuff that all I could do was lie on a couch and hope that the information would go in through the pores of my skin! So I feel these are all good signs that the exercises are working - just take it easy and monitor the changes that you experience.

Revista DSalud: La Verdad Sobre La GRIPE A

La Revista Discovery DSalud en España ha publicado un extenso reportaje en una de las últimas ediciones titulado La Verdad Sobre La Gripe A. Está ahora colgada en la Página web - el link está añadido a mis favoritos en este Blog de Jin Shin Jyutsu.

Pulse en La Verdad Sobre La Gripe A

No Right and Wrong, Just Left and Right

Last Sunday I had a lovely Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment from a friend. We were working our way back through the depths from four to one (more on the different depths of energy in another post). At one point she had her right hand on my right SEL 2 and her left hand on my left SEL 4. And boy, did I fly!

It was a lovely sensation....until she moved her hands because she realised that she was in the 'wrong' position!!! When she 'corrected' that position, my back went into a spasm of pain. It was incredible. I asked her please to stop and to go back to the 'incorrect' position.

The point I'm trying to make here is that we get so caught up in how things 'should' be, and what is seemingly 'right' and 'wrong'.

My interpretation of the situation, specifically my friend having such a wonderful effect with that 'incorrect' position is that 1. she intuitively 'heard' what my body was asking her for and followed that before her 'brain' could get in the way and 2. that hold was probably part of another flow (although I have yet to find it, anyone have any ideas?).

It had the most profoundly soothing effect on me - on the whole spine and my hip area. In fact, I think I'll go and give myself another session right now...

Jin Shin Jyutsu for Headache and Migraine

I was reminded in the last few days how I found Jin Shin Jyutsu in the first place: through the debilitating migraines that I used to suffer. Last week I was sitting in front of the computer and PRESTO! started getting the tell tale zig zag signs in front of my eyes.

I immediately closed my eyes and held the base of the thumb - that didn't do too much, so I went to the outside of my heels (just under the ankles) and held the left one with the left hand, and the right one with the right hand. That started 'opening' up this zig zag lightning bolt...then I went back to the base of the thumb (held the left one with the right fingers). Then I also held the back of the head - I dug my fingers in where it was sore and held for a while until there was a strong pulse. Then I went back to the outside of the heels.

Within 20 minutes it was all gone, and I went back to the computer. Isn't it great to be able to manage pain so quickly and easily? The body knows how.

Do you have a similar Jin Shin Jyutsu story you would like to share? Just send me an email: jsjholds@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you.

See also older post on this blog Self help for Headache and Migraine