The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-02-09
Home Health
Club |
By DAVID Il. REEDER. Pa. D.. n. D.
La Pore. Lad.


slee5iessness IS. to those who suf-
fer from it, c:1a of the most distressing
of inaladies, and constantly receive let
tiers from such people. have just been
reading a long chapter upon that dread
disease. The writer advocates the n.y.
dropathic method of cure, and his suS-
gestiors are scientific and sensible
When used by a nurse in the case OF
bedridden patient, they are the most
practical l have ever examined. But
the majority of persons affected are not
invalids-in fact, they seem to enjoy
perfect health in every way except
tired feeling caused by loss of sleep.
Many people can readily hypnotic
themselves, but with some, the more
they try to concentrate or compose the
mind, the fCe her they get from sleep.
Drugs longest the blood, and thus stupe-
fly the brain; condition Of coma re;
sembling sleep ensues, but the person IS
rot refreshed nor rested as by natural
Sleep Where insomnia is caused by
over-activity of the brain, 1t is only
necessary to draw the blood away from
the head to some other portion OF the
body and if this is accomplished in nat
ural and legitimate manner, the result
is beneficial, and the sleep which ensues
accomplishes the work for which it was
designed For brain workers this re-
suit may be easily and naturally accom-
plished by a simple, quiet method Of ex-
ercise after going to bed.
The first requisite Is plenty Of pure.
fresh air, and not too much bed clothing
Before or after retiring practice deep
breathing for 10 or Is minutes, inhalins
as well as exhaling all of the air pos
sible. If that is done after retiring
the pillow should be removed so that
the body lies on a level. After. feeling
sure that the blood has been thorough
~ oxygenized, direct the mind to each
portion of the body as it is exercised, and
think Of that only.
First, with both hands, thoroughly
massage the back of the head and neck,
moving the flesh deeply in all directions,
and then rotate the head from side 20
side as far as possible, while it is raised
slightly from the bed. After this has
pillow may be replaced and the mind
should be directed to the muscles of the
back, and they should be tensed and re-
laxed-that is. made hard and firm, as
if for a lift or hard muscular effort, and
then relaxed. Every muscle of the body
may, in this manner, be brought under
the direction of the active will and ex-
ercised at pleasure. This process should
be continued downward until the feet
are reached, when they should be
stretched as far as possible from the
head downward. at the same time press
ing upward with the top of the head and
downward with the hands.
Relax and push down with only the
right foot, making the toe describe cir
Gle as widely as possible, while holding
the leg rigid. Repeat "a times, and
then make the same experiment with the
left foot.
Flex the right knee, bringing it as far
and as strongly upward as possible
While in this position tense and relax
the muscles of the leg from hip to toes
"a times Repeat with left leg.
Now direct the thoughts to the arms,
and place them at full length by the side
Again repeat the tensing and relaxing
exercise ten times, and then flex the arm
until the hand is just over the branchial
plexus, which is a point between the
shoulders and the center of the chest.
Hold the hand little above the chest.
so that it does not touch the body, then
tense and relax ten times
Lie upon the right side, and you will
ceased the work Care should be used
that the mind remains fixed upon the
exercise, for if it gets back 20 the brain
work which caused the trouble, it is IL
able to undo your work and remain
awake in spite of you, but this is not
likely
These exercises will have a tendency
to promote the general health, and will
greatly strengthen the muscles. Only one
difficulty will be hard to overcome in
these exercises, and that is to relax
the head and neck after the rotation of
the former from right to left Allow
the head to rest easily and calmly upon
the pillow, and allow no strain to be
manifest in the neck. Relax the Jaws.
also, as they are generally set hard to-
gether during sleeplessness, and relaxed
during sleep.
Eat no meat or other muscle making
food for supper; fruit, rice, milk, toast,
or other light articles are best A glass
of very hot milk just before retiring is
an excellent thing, as it soothes the
nerves and strengthens the entire body.
1t should not be boiled, but heated to
the boiling point, and then slipped slowly
with teaspoon.
CLUB NOTES.
Garretsville.-Dr. David H. Reeder.
Laporte, Ind.-Dear Sir: Being a con-
slant reader of this paper, and much in
terested in your home health discourses,
wish to address you on behalf of my
wife. She is troubled with her back. 1t
gives out very suddenly. and she cannot
straighten up. The pain seems to be