People who do brain training with me know that one of the things I like to say is that neurofeedback doesn’t happen in a vacuum.  The other things you do between sessions have an impact on how well neurofeedback goes, for better or worse.  Getting time in nature, eating clean food, sleeping enough, moving your body in healthy ways, minimizing the toxic relationships and situations in your life, and seeing health-care providers all contribute to well-being.

Sometimes, though, especially when folks are just getting started with training, they will ask me about other, simple things they can be doing to create calm in their bodies.  One technique I sometimes tell them about is a form of acupressure at a site called Shen Men.  It’s simple, free, and beneficial.

Shen Men is a point located on the inside, top of the ear.  At the very top, pointing toward the front of your head, there is a small, sideways-shaped V that creates a shadowy dent.  Shen Men is the inside, bottom part of the V.  The photo below shows an acupuncture needle pointing to the correct spot, or you can search online for videos of how to locate Shen Men.

Simply by applying pressure to this point on both ears for a few minutes, acupressure and acupuncture specialists say you are likely to feel calmer, less stress, and less crummy after a difficult day.  And, despite the image, you don’t need to use a needle to get results (nor should you. Go to a licensed acupuncturist or someone certified in auricular acupuncture if you want to use needles.).  Depending upon the shape of your ear, the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip are both easy options. There are inexpensive probes available for this purpose if you want to get fancy, too.

If working the Shen Men point intrigues you, give it a try and see what how it works.  As long as you apply gentle pressure using a tool that won’t damage your skin (and a tool you don’t do stupid things with, like shove in an ear canal), it can do no harm.  I know a few minutes of acupressure at Shen Men relaxes me!