Just clap your hands a few seconds a day for health

There is an art to therapeutic clapping, which involves placing your palms together, spreading the fingers out and clapping just hard enough to get an audible sound, while keeping the rhythm steady. — Photos: REVATHI MURUGAPPAN

If you’re an early riser, you would have seen exercise groups clapping their hands in front and at the back of their bodies as they go about their daily walks in the park.

Often, I’ve heard a cacophony of claps while hiking in the neighbourhood forest, and always assumed this was to make someone’s presence felt and chase away “predators” such as iguanas, birds and monkeys.

Curious, one day I asked a smiley, gap-toothed uncle why he and his buddies were clapping.

“My sifu (master teacher) taught me this – it does wonders to promote blood circulation.

“I’ve even managed to reduce my high blood pressure and weaned off some medications.

“And it keeps me happy! You must try it,” he chimed, while clapping in front of my face.

Clapping has been used for communication, celebration and healing purposes in different cultures, with variations in speed and rhythm conveying different emotions and messages.

Now, I only clap my hands when I’m applauding a performance at the theatre, singing a birthday song or trying to shoo away a stray cat that likes to sit majestically on our porch (he doesn’t budge).

However, clapping hands is believed to provide a lot of health benefits that most of us aren’t aware of.

Activating pressure points

The act works like acupressure or acupuncture, and helps the energy (qi in tai chi or prana in yoga) move through the body so that the brain can make new connections.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body has more than 300 pressure points, and 28 of these are located in the palm of the hand.

These points are linked to various organs and systems within the body.

Therefore, stimulation of such points is believed to alleviate symptoms of multiple conditions, such as headaches, high blood pressure, mental health problems, neck pain, stress, digestive issues, etc.

When you clap, you are activating these points, which contain nerves and blood vessel endings, thus eliminating energy blockages and helping to heal yourself.

A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science states that clapping is especially beneficial in children as it improves brain function and contributes to better handwriting, reduced spelling mistakes and improved concentration.

Whenever we see a baby, don’t we always clap to make them clap along and laugh?

Yes, it also releases endorphins, the happy hormone.

The study says: “Clapping helps immunity by boosting white cells, which are essential for fighting germs, and therefore, reduces the occurrence of frequent infections.

“Regular clapping is also shown to have benefits on improved bone health in cases of arthritis and associated pains.

“For the back, be it middle or low back pains, there is an immense benefit from clapping.

“Strange as it may seem, the severity of the pain can be reduced significantly.”

However, note that the manner of (therapeutic) clapping is not the same as clapping softly.

There’s an art to it.

You have to place your palms together, spread the fingers out and clap (like the top photo) so that all parts of the fingers and palms can get a massage.

Don’t clap to the point of pain though – apply the right pressure to get an audible sound and keep the rhythm steady.

All you need is a minute or two a day (set a timer or count up to 200), no more.

Once you’re done, you’ll feel a buzz or vibration (qi or prana has been generated).

You should then place your palms on the body part that needs healing.

For example, if you have knee pain, place the hands on the knees until the buzz stops.

You can also place your hand on someone else who needs healing – the energy and warmth transmitted is extremely comforting.

Staying disease-free

Arun Rishi, an Indian industrialist has done extensive research on the topic, has his own method of clapping.

“You only need to clap for 15 seconds a day to keep diseases at bay,” he says.

Rishi claims he’s the only person in the world who has not used toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, soap, shampoo or cosmetics since 1979, and thus far, has never taken any medicines because he has not fallen ill – all due to daily clapping.

He also stays away from artificial cold drinks, liquor, coffee, tea and cigarettes.

The 70-something-year-old runs a unique trust in the name of Aayushyamaan Bhav (Live Long), which aims to “take humanity back to the nature” and “convert this world into heaven”, among others.

His method goes like this:

• Spread your left hand out, then use your right index finger and clap the left palm four times with some pressure.
• Add your third finger in and clap four times.
• Add your ring finger in (so that there are three fingers now) and clap four times.
• Add your pinky in and clap four times.
• Clap with both hands vigorously (you should have seven or eight seconds left at this point), increasing the speed until you reach 15 seconds.

That’s it!

Rishi also says to use your hands to rub the soles of each foot for 15 seconds, ideally before bathing.

In total, clapping the hands and rubbing the feet should take you 45 seconds.

Give it a try and see if it works.

Revathi Murugappan is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance to express herself artistically and nourish her soul. For more information, email [e-mail]. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.