If the melatonin hasn’t been working, one sleep expert says this Japanese trick could be the next best thing. “You’re putting your hands up in the air. You’re putting your feet up. Your feet ideally should be flat to the floor,” sleep therapist Amanda Jewson told CTV Your Morning on Wednesday. “Gently move them ... for about one to two minutes. Slowly place the arms to the side. You could do this in bed if your bed is a flat surface, or you’re on the floor,” she added. “And then you move straight to bed and voila, you go to sleep.” The viral social media trick dates back to 1927 and is backed up by actual science, Jewson added. She referenced a 1999 study on the heating of extremities which showed that when heat is directed to hands and feet, it draws away from the body core, which in turn cools down. “When your core is cooler, that’s like a green light to fall asleep,” she said. While the study explains the science behind the move, it doesn’t reference the move itself, she added. Jewson did have another trick up her sleeve: a breathing technique she said not only helps with sleep but also mental health. “We’re going to start off by clenching. We’ll start at the base of our body. We’re going to clench our feet muscles for five seconds. We’re going to breathe in,” she said. “And then we move progressively up” and repeat the same with every limb. This breathing technique helps release muscle tension, “which makes it hard to sleep,” she said. “And that excess oxygen tells your brain to relax, which is great for the revved up nervous system.” Difference between science and a viral hack Don’t believe every tip you see on social media, Jewson cautioned. She advised watching out for language like “ancient”, “things your doctor won’t tell you” and “science can’t explain it.” “If your doctor’s not telling you about it, it’s probably because it’s unsafe or it doesn’t work,” she said. “If science hasn’t figured it out, you don’t want to be trying it. You don’t want to be the guinea pig.” Watch the full interview with Amanda Jewson at the top of the article.
