On then one hand, our bodies are big, mysterious vessels carrying all our various parts and doing things we sometimes find confusing or irritating. On the other hand, our bodies are pretty straightforward and understandable if we know how to take care of or adjust them. That's why it's always useful to have some weird body hacks up your proverbial sleeve — they both celebrate our bodies' mysteriousness while also explaining how it works. And they make your life a tiny bit easier, too. Everybody wins!
You're probably wondering what a body hack is. Luckily, I've got one ready that will explain pretty much everything you need to know: The poop button. As Bustle's Julie Sprankles recently explained, the poop button is a spot on your stomach about three finger lengths below your bellybutton. Acupuncturists call this spot the Conception Vessel 6 (CV6) or the "Sea of Energy"; when stimulated, it makes you poop. The CV6 also is used by acupuncturists to address issues with infertility, impotence, and sterility, just in case you need to get multiple things done in one sitting. By using nothing but your own body parts, you've hacked the system and gotten your poop to do something it might not have previously been doing. Such an exciting time to be alive!
If this excited you as much as it excites me, check out these five other body hacks that can make you a wizard of your own body and mind.
1. Stop A Brain Freeze
Eat too much ice cream too fast? Simply push your tongue up flat against the top of your mouth for warmth. The soft palate at the back of your mouth, which causes brain freezes when cold food touches it, will warm up and your brain freeze will disappear.
2. Stop Crying
If you're watching cute baby videos at work and can't help but tear up at how freaking adorable they are, look up at the ceiling and hold your breath before exhaling slowly. If this doesn't work, pinch the bridge of your nose which obstructs the flow of tears from the tear ducts.
3. Alleviate Pre-Test Anxiety
Feeling nervous about a big exam? According to Cracked, studies show that if you write your emotions down on a piece of paper beforehand, your test score will be higher than if you don't. Go figure.
4. Fix A Toothache
If you have a toothache, you can apparently cure it by rubbing ice on the webbed area between your thumb and your index finger.
5. Reduce The Pain Of A Stubbed Toe
Apparently, swearing aggressively like a sailor right after stubbing your toe or banging your elbow against something has been shown to reduce the pain significantly.
