What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life-force to aid healing.

Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of hands. Some practitioners also use their  elbows on some points. There is a massive amount of scientific data that demonstrates why and how acupuncture is effective. Yet acupressure, developed long before acupuncture, was neglected after the Chinese developed more technological methods for stimulating points with needles and electricity. Acupressure, however, continues to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments.

MAIN USES:

Stress, fatigue, insomnia Headaches, migraines Depression, anxiety High blood pressure Musculo-skeletal problems, arthritis Digestive disorders Women’s health Promoting health Nausea

Practitioners’ clinical experiences over the years have shown them that acupressure can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eyestrain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, and tension due to stress. Skilled practitioners can also relieve ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion. You can also use self-acupressure to relieve anxiety and to help you get to sleep at night.

There are also great advantages to using acupressure as a way to balance the body and maintain good health. The healing touch of acupressure induces the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness. In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. A tension headache, for instance, may be rooted in the shoulder and neck area. Thus acupressure focuses on relieving pain and discomfort as well as on responding to tension before it develops into a ‘dis-ease’, that is, before the constrictions and imbalances can do further damage.

One of the major advantages of acupressure is that it is safe to do on yourself and others – even if you’ve never done it before – so long as you follow the instructions and pay attention to the cautions. There are no side effects from medicine, because no medicine is used. The only equipment needed is your own two hands. You can practice acupressure therapy anytime, anywhere. To easily reach some area of your body such as the back and trapezoid muscles there are inexpensive and safe tools available such as the health body ball and the backnobber. By using a combination of self-help methods such as trigger point stimulation, deep breathing, range-of-motion exercises and relaxation techniques, you can improve your condition as well as feel more alive, healthy, and in harmony with your life.

Acupressure Diary-Keeping

Acupressure’s effects can be subtle and while you may often experience immediate relief from stress and pain, sometimes it may take you a few weeks to notice a big change in your overall condition. Keep a record of your week-by-week progress. Note you body’s responses to specific points and self-help techniques. Your account of which points you use, the techniques that help you most, and the time it took to achieve results can be a valuable record for learning about your body and becoming more aware of its needs. Keep track of the results of your self-acupressure practice in order to pay close attention to your progress and well-being.