Is Sleeping Nerve Point Massage Effective in Preventing Microsleep? Neurology Doctor Reveals the Facts
Sleep nerve point massage, is it really effective in preventing microsleep? (Photo: Getty Images/Group4 Studio)
- The threat of microsleep is a scourge for travelers who drive long distances. It is said that massaging the sleeping nerve point between the thumb and index finger can overcome drowsiness. Is it really effective?
Neurology doctor from Mayapada Hospital Tangerang, Dr Paulina Thiomas Ulita, SpS, said that so far there is no medical explanation for this. Even if it is considered effective in some people, it may not have a direct effect.
"In neurology, it's not related," explained Dr. Paulina in a recent conversation
According to Dr. Paulina, massage at certain points may stimulate pain which helps divert drowsiness. With a little pain, alertness will temporarily increase so that drowsiness can be postponed.
However, Dr Paulina does not recommend relying on this effect. If you feel tired and sleepy, there is no other way except to stop and rest to recover.
"If the pain is continuous, and in the same place, maybe after a while there will be tolerance to the pain, so you will also feel sleepy," he explained.