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
Find
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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More
Acupressure Books
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