I have a strange question to ask.

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I was researching various techniques for reducing stress and I came across the following weird article.
The Weirdest Stress Reducer Ever (That Totally Works)

So I was trying to figure out if there was some truth in the article or if it was just B.S.

In one portion of the article it says, "Put your thumb in your mouth and blow on it. Blocking your air passage with your thumb then exhaling activates your vagus nerve, which is spread throughout your body. Research shows that stimulating your vagus nerve can decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, making you feel more relaxed."

I tried this and sensed nothing.

In another portion of the article it says, "Just blow cool air on your thumb. Dr. Arun Ghosh, a doctor from Spire Liverpool Hospital, explains that cooling off your thumb can help reduce stress quickly because the thumb has its own pulse. Much like you try to calm your heart rate after exercise, calming the pulse in your thumb may be able to help you feel more relaxed overall. (Even better, just the act of taking deep breaths to blow cool air can cause you to slow your heart rate and ease your tension.) So, take a deep breath for seven seconds, hold it for three seconds, blow on your thumb for seven seconds, and then repeat."

I tried this technique. I could detect something especially when I was able to control the volume of my breath so that I could feel cooling but the effect is very minor, if at all. My problem is that I am not in a state of stress at the moment. So I am not a good test subject.

So if you feel any stress at the moment, could you try this technique and let me know whether it is true or just B.S. and report back.

^ I've heard of this before, and it does work a bit.

Try pressing your forefinger and middle finger on your lips, leaving a small gap to breathe through (kind of mimicking a smoking action of taking a drag)
Draw in a breath, then remove your fingers and breathe out.
This is the most effective and quick stress relief for me.

I wonder if it is linked in some way to some babies and toddlers who suck their thumbs when they want to sleep? My sister did it a lot when she was small.

Maybe I'll try it next time I feel a bit stressed, and let you know bid it works.

I find two things help me reduce stress in a relatively short time:

1) progressive relaxation (you systematically tense then relax muscles, working from the toes upward, one part of the body at a time, do this laying on your back, eyes closed and no distractions).

2) listening to specific sounds and blocking out all else, totally focused concentration. I choose to listen to birdsong, as this area where I live is blessed with many species of songbirds). Even if other noise is present in the background, I focus only on the birdsong, with my eyes closed, laying down as relaxed as possible, for at least 20 minutes, though sometimes I fall asleep before the 20 minute mark due to the relaxing effect of focused listening.

I haven't tried the technique you describe. I tend to store tension in my shoulders and upper back, and just focused concentration on relaxing that area can work for me if I don't have time to work through my entire body. Relaxing the body tends to relax the mind. I used to have a relaxation tape which was also marvellous, but after thousands of playings it wore out.

Sticking my thumb in my mouth would NOT be calming. I would first have to wash my thumb thoroughly and then it still wouldn't relax me. I wouldn't stick my unwashed thumb in my mouth unless I had no choice.

It's a bit of a stressful time for me at the moment so I tried it. I found it does seem to relax me a little, but I don't really like it as I've got a bit of OCD and had to wash my hands after I'd done it.

I was looking through an autistic website and I stumbled upon something that I will describe as Mirror Therapy.

Using visual stimulation aids such as a mirror can help a child with autism to modify behavior and possibly improve communication skills. Visual perception is being able to make sense of what’s around us and reacting in an appropriate manner. These focal points improve mood, visual tracking, and concentration. Mirror therapy is advantageous when performing speech, feeding, and communication activities.

I haven't heard of this before. I suspect that it might be used on preverbal autistics. Anyone have experience with this. Does it help?

A ~pro MMA fighter acquaintance of mine told me that when you have the shakes from adrenaline pumping, you blow on your thumb as it somehow short circuits your nervous system and stops the tremors. This is a technique taught in high level martial arts.. so, there's got to be some truth to all of this.

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No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

I looked into this subject a little more over Thanksgiving weekend.
There are several pros that blow on their fingers before a critical shot. They include golfers and, tennis players. I believe even some snipers and safecrackers do this also.

Now I am not sure that you could cool your thumb or fingers sufficiently with your breath to create much of a reaction (relieve stress). But this type of reaction can be important if the stress is so great that it triggers a total meltdown.

A stressful situation sets off a chain of events. Your body releases adrenaline, a hormone that temporarily causes your breathing and heart rate to speed up and your blood pressure to rise. And in an Aspie that extreme stress can lead to a meltdown.

There is an approach that doctors use to force the heart rate down. It is called the Vagal Maneuver. One of the techniques they use is called Cold Stimulus to the Face. This technique involves emerging a patient’s face in ice-cold water. Alternative methods include placing an icepack on the face or a washcloth soaked in ice water. The cold stimuli to the face should last about 10 seconds. This creates a physiological response similar to a person being submerged in cold water (Diver’s Reflex).

So if you are having a panic attack, one where you become nonverbal, it might be possible to bring your heart rate down sufficiently "to give you your voice back" by running cold water on your hands for a few minutes. (I don't think people normally carry a bucket of ice water around in anticipation for a panic attack but sometimes a sink may be handy)