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Acupressure
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
What Is It?
Sometimes called “acupuncture
without needles”, acupressure is a type of
massage healing technique that involves stimulating
certain points on the body with the fingers, palms
and knuckles (and sometimes the knees, elbows and
feet). It is a technique that is part of the ancient
holistic healing system known as Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM), which aims to treat
illness by balancing the vital energy (qi or chi,
pronounced “chee”) which flows through
the body via 14 invisible energy channels called
meridians.
Shiatsu is
the Japanese form of Chinese acupressure and has
developed characteristics of its own, incorporating
stretching, massage and other manual techniques,
often involving the use of the whole body to apply
strong pressure.
Reflexology is
a type of acupressure which involves stimulating
points on the feet.
How Does It Work?
Acupressure aims to remove energy blockages which may be causing
illness, by stimulating certain points of the body called acupoints,
which are found along the 14 meridians. Specific acupoints are
thought to relate to different parts of the body, and stimulating
these points with finger and hand pressure releases energy flow
to the affected parts.
While the existence of meridians and qi has never
been proven, there is evidence to suggest that acupressure
(and acupuncture) may work by triggering the release
of natural painkillers within the body. Acupressure
also improves circulation, easing muscle aches and
pain.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
Acupressure may be performed on a massage table or mat, with the
patient usually wearing loose clothing. The therapist will apply
pressure to specific points related to your condition for 10 to
30 seconds, sometimes repeatedly.
Treatment generally lasts 30 minutes to one hour.
Sometimes one session may be enough to ease an aching
back or stiff neck, but regular treatment over several
weeks may be needed for some conditions.
Many people report feeling more relaxed, with a loosening
of muscle tension after treatment. Some may experience
achiness where pressure was applied, but you should
feel little or no pain.
Some practitioners will teach patients acupressure
techniques that can be self-administered at home.
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What Is it Used
For?
Acupressure has been successful in treating pain (including back
pain and migraine), nausea, muscle tension, colds, morning sickness
and travel sickness. It can also promote relaxation. Acupressure
can be self-administered to ease problems such as headaches, earaches,
insomnia and nausea. Administered on a regular basis, acupressure
may help to maintain health and vitality.
Side Effects and Cautions
Acupressure may not be appropriate for those who have brittle bones
(osteoporosis), bruise easily, or are taking anticoagulant drugs
or steroids, which can make body tissues fragile.
Certain acupressure points should be avoided during
pregnancy - tell your practitioner if you are pregnant,
or think you might be.
Acupressure applied to the legs and feet may be damaging
if you have circulation problems due to diabetes or
varicose veins.
Caution should also be used near open wounds, swollen
or inflamed skin or broken bones.
Let your practitioner know if treatments are painful
or result in extended discomfort.
References
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an Acupressure Practitioner
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Recommended
Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Acupressure's Potent Points:
A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments
Michael Reed Gach
With your hands you have potential to relieve
everyday aches, pains and ailments without
taking drugs, to improve your health, and to
increase your vitality.
In Acupressure's Potent Points, Michael Reed Gach, founder
and director of the Acupressure Institute of America, reveals
simple techniques that enable you to relieve headaches, arthritis,
colds and flu, insomnia, backaches, hiccups, leg pain, hot
flashes, depression, and more--using the power and sensitivity
of your own hands.
This practical guide covers more than forty ailments and
symptoms, from allergies to wrist pain, providing pressure-point
maps and exercises to relieve pain and restore function.
Acupressure complements conventional medical care, and enables
you to take a vital role in becoming well and staying well.
With this book you can turn your hands into healing tools--and
start feeling good now.
Learn
more...
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A Complete Guide to Acupressure: Jin
Shin Do
Iona Teeguarden
Jin Shin Do acupressure is the author's unique
synthesis of a Japanese acupressure technique,
traditional Chinese acupuncture theory, Taoist
philosophy and breathing methods, and Western
psychological tools. A Complete Guide to Acupressure
describes this synthesis in detail, with contributions
from Iona Teeguarden and twelve senior Jin
Shin Do teachers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Learn
more...
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Acupressure for Emotional Healing
: A Self-Care Guide for Trauma, Stress, & Common
Emotional Imbalances
Michael Reed Gach
Increased stress and traumatic events in our
lives have resulted in many millions of people
who suffer from insomnia, nightmares, anxiety
attacks, depression, and tension headaches.
ACUPRESSURE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING offers relief
at your fingertips, quickly and safely, for
a wide range of emotional problems. It explains
how emotional distress becomes lodged in the
body as muscular tension and blocked energy,
and shows how acupressure can relieve not just
the resulting physical symptoms, but also their
emotional source--often without the need for
extensive talk therapy or medication.
Acupressure stimulates the same points used in acupuncture,
but instead of needles, firm finger pressure is used on the
surface of the skin. The pressure releases neurochemicals
called endorphins that relieve pain. As in acupuncture, specific
pressure points are connected with internal organs and energy
pathways in the body (called meridians) that regulate the
flow of electrical energy to all systems. Unlike acupuncture,
acupressure can be used safely by anyone, with only the hands
as equipment.
ACUPRESSURE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING offers a comprehensive
A-Z guide to emotional ailments (from abandonment to worry
and obsessive thinking), with fully-illustrated instruction
on dozens of precise acupressure point locations and how
to activate them, combined with yogic breathing, stretching,
and movement routines. Case histories from the authors' practice
further illuminate each condition and the path to emotional
balance and healing. Most routines can be used independently
for self-care and on-the-spot relief. There are also sections
on how to use the techniques to help others, with appropriate
safeguards.
Learn
more...
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Acupressure Books
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