Sunny Health

Chinese New Year is often a stressful affair that lasts a few weeks, especially if you're in charge of hosting! And sadly, there's no break for most after the "holidays" as work, household chores, caregiving responsibilities etc carry on as per normal.

If you didn't manage to sneak a vacation out of the long weekend, you're probably looking forward to some efficient form of relaxation to soothe those tired muscles.

Then perhaps you might take interest in something called Otonamaki. which literally means "adult wrapping". This is a Japanese therapeutic method that's meant to resolve posture and muscle stiffness problems often attributed to stress and long hours at the desk job.

In Otonamaki, you curl yourself up in a fetal position and are bundled up in a white breathable cloth. Each process lasts about 20 minutes.This therapy takes inspiration from babies being bundled up in cloth in a similar fashion, meant to stimulate their physical development.

The therapy is getting pretty popular in Japan and people who tried it claim they have found their bodies to become more flexible, a sign that the stiff muscles have loosened up. But medical professionals do not consider it a legitimate physiotherapy method; some caution against muscle strains and spinal problems if one stays in the same position for too long i.e. more than 30 minutes.

Personally I can think of several things that can go wrong, ranging from a sudden fire that causes me to be left as a helpless sacrifice to the flames, to a treatment turned revenge-murder by the helper who secretly bears a grudge against me. Perhaps my brain is in need of relaxation too.

In any case, if you're intrigued by this therapy, and can't fly to Japan to try it, here is a video that shows you how it's done.


Yes, you do need an assistant, someone that you can entrust your life to and who clearly knows what they are doing, someone that doesn't secretly wish to murder you.

For those who can't get a helping hand, or prefer something more conventional, stay tuned for the next update. In the meantime, take care of yourself, get sufficient rest and drink lots of water, stay zen, and focus on enjoying the reunion with the people you care about, because this is the only thing that deserves your full attention.

Wishing everyone a prosperous year of the Rooster!

Researchers sure love to mess with us. They used to say that happiness is the key to longevity and a great life. Now a bunch of researchers and psychologists are suggesting you could do better with the opposite. Citing high achievers from Mozart to Jeff Bezos (Amazon's CEO) to Hollywood celebrity Hugh Grant, this BBC article pointed out that these high fliers may have their difficult personalities to thank. Indeed, people often associate geniuses with eccentric tempers. Yet on the other hand, achievers like Hugh Jackman and Barack Obama are known to be perfectly nice and mild-mannered. Even accomplished chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsey, who acts like the chef from hell on American reality television cooking competition Hell's Kitchen, is known to be perfectly nice and friendly off-cameras. So which is which? Of course, aside from these examples, studies have also been done on people to prove the point.

First off, it would be interesting to explore the factors and arguments that have led to this conclusion. Pessimistic people tend to be less reckless and more careful because they imagine the worst situations. This means they are more likely to adopt healthier living habits, drive carefully, choose marriage partners more carefully and so forth, which would lead to a higher quality of life in the long run. 

On the other hand, optimistic people may be more likely to indulge in risky behaviour like drunk driving, unprotected sex, unhealthy food, and they are more likely to marry someone whom they fall in love with at first sight. Of course, it would be unfair to assume that all or even most optimistic people are like that.  Nevertheless, without a doubt, pessimistic people who imagine and take precautions for the worst are likely to more well-equipped to handle challenges, compared to the blindly optimistic who simply hope for the best.

Moving on to more scientific evidence. When we are angry or threatened, the brain releases adrenaline to prepare the body for fight or flight. This hormone also boosts motivation and nudges people to take mental risks. You often hear of people getting a sudden brainwave or accomplishing more than they usually do during an adrenaline rush. It sounds contradictory for sure, since just a paragraph ago, we're talking about how not indulging in risky behaviour is a good thing. Nevertheless, there is the Chinese saying "If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't get the tiger cubs." It means that if you don't take risks, you won't achieve greatness. So a healthy dosage of risks is still important!

But perhaps more realistically, allowing oneself to freely express your emotions when in a bad mood just feels better for the heart. Repressing your negative emotions can in the long run lead to depression and high blood pressure. On the other hand, those who are able to find it in themselves to express their anger, for instance, at an incompetent colleague or service provider, a friend who did something wrong, an inconsiderate neighbour... not only do they let off steam, they could potentially correct the offending party's behaviour, which would make life easier and cut out further resentment.

Finally, scientists like Joseph Forgas, who studies the impact of emotions on behaviour, says that “Negative moods indicate we’re in a new and challenging situation and call for a more attentive, detailed and observant thinking style.” Indeed, changes and challenges are always good as they help us to grow, not only in achievements, but also emotionally and intellectually. Happiness and contentment, on the other hand, makes us reluctant to get out of our comfort zone, so consequentially, we don't grow.

Nevertheless, it would be a pretty sad life to constantly pursue betterment but not enjoy the fruits of your labour! Furthermore, nobody likes being around someone who is frequently bad tempered and grumpy. So the key is to practise moderation. Be sensible and cautious when dealing with risks, but don't avoid them at all costs. Accept that anger is a normal emotion and be free to articulate it, but don't be unreasonable and spiteful, and more importantly, do not use physical violence. Appreciate what you have, but be quick to get out of your comfort zone when opportunities arise.

Good news to those of us who have some form of decay on our teeth; that means, almost all of us! A new chemical that could encourage cells in the dental pulp to heal small holes, is currently undergoing tests with positive results. According to the science journal Science Reports, the process works by soaking a biodegradable sponge in the drug (called Tideglusib) and placing it in the tooth cavity. This then encourages the damaged tooth to repair itself.

All hail the tooth fairies, I mean, the research team from King’s College London for this amazing discovery.

The team is hopeful that the drug would be commercially available in three to five years time.

Which means that during this period, we still mustn't let our guard down.


We use our teeth on a daily, regular basis. Any food and drinks we consume (except maybe water with fluoride) have the potential to cause tooth decay or cavities. Coupled with poor maintenance and oral hygiene, this is a sure-route down the path of no return. As the body is not equipped to repair the teeth, the only way to seal it up and prevent further decay in the tooth is through tooth fillings. Not doing so can result in further decay and ultimately tooth aches, and the tooth will have to be removed.

Tooth fillings aren't intrusive, but they don't come cheap, and after some years, they have to be replaced. So it is ideal if you can avoid the necessity of having them at all, and all that needs is good oral hygiene. This means doing the following:

1) Brush your teeth two times a day, after meals.

2) Floss your teeth everyday. This is a must. Not flossing your teeth is akin to not taking a bath. In fact, flossing your teeth can be said to be more important than brushing your teeth! If you're in a situation whereby you can't brush your teeth, you must at least floss it. 

3) Shortly after snacking or drinking anything (aside from water), rinse your mouth or gargle with water. Even better, floss. Fruits and vegetables increase saliva flow and these are typically good for your teeth. But still, it also depends on the preparation method. If you had fruits with chocolate fondue, you most definitely need to get all that sugar out. If in doubt, just gargle water and rinse.

4) You may wish to invest in mouth wash if you have trouble brushing your teeth. However, I have been told by my dentist that too much mouth wash may not be good in the long run due to the alcohol components inside it.

5) Visit the dentist at least twice a year to get professional cleanings and oral examinations for early signs of problems. Some people may have health conditions that impact on their oral health, and thus these people may require additional help with their oral hygiene. If you are a CHAS card holder or Pioneer Generation Card holder, some dental clinics will provide subsidised treatments. Visit the CHAs website for the list of participating dentists.

Until the tooth fairies deliver, hang in there and hold the fort!