Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-01-26
II 50 g..
Home Health
| Club |,
By DAVID .. RSHpeL Ih.1..MA
IA Forte. Ind.

Sleeplessness Is, TO those who suf-
fer from It, one Of the most distressing
Of maladies, and constantly receive let
ters from such people. Ihave just been
reading long chapter upon that dread
disease. The writer advocates the n.y.
dropathic method OF cure, and his sug-
Kestions are scientific and sensible
When used by a nurse In the case OF a
bedridden patient. they are the most
practical I have ever examined But
the majority Of persons affected are not
invalids-in fact, they seem to enjoy
perfect health In every way except q
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 fe&hsr they get from sleep.
Drugs congest the blood, and'thus stupe-
fy the brain; q condition of coma re-
sembling sleep ensues, but the person Is
not 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 1t was
designed. For brain workers this re-
suit may be easily and naturally accom-
pnshed by 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 IL minutes. inhaling
as we'll 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 level. After feeling
sure that the blood has been thorough
ly 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 to
side as far as possible, while 1t Is raised
slightly from the bed. After this has
been done about two dozen times, the
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 Ia. made hard and firm, as
II 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.
Fiex the right knee, bringing II 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 fiex the arm
until the hand IL Just over the branchial
plexus, which is point between the
shoulders and the center Of the chest.
Hold the hand little above the chest.
DO that 1t does not touch the body, then
tense and relax ten times.
Lie upon the right side, and you will
be asleep, almost as soon as you have
ceased the work. Care should be used
that the mind remains fixed upon the
exercise, for IL 1t gets back to the brain
work which caused the trouble, 1t is II
able to undo your work and remain
awake in spite Of you, but this is not
likely,
These exercises win have tendency
20 promote the general health, and will
greatly strengthen the muscles. Only one
difsculty 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 bard TO-