What are the benefits of Acupressure?
What is the purpose of Acupressure?
What can Acupressure help alleviate?
How does acupressure work?
What does acupressure feel like?
How to apply Acupressure?
Why I am not feeling any effects?
How do I locate points?
What manipulation of points brings about?
Can acupressure replace my standard medical procedures?
Acupressure (sometimes written as "accupressure") is a technique related to acupuncture, where the energies of the body are regulated by manipulating points on the body. This has effects on the emotions, tension and physical conditions.
The points are commonly called "acupuncture points," "pressure points," "acupoints" or "acupressure points."
What are the benefits of Acupressure?
Acupressure is a way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centers in the body. Chinese cultures believe the points to be junctures of meridian pathways that carry energy called chi. Western scientists have also mapped out and proven the existence of these points using electrical devices.
Acupressure massage therapy stimulates and activates the body’s own energies to help fight illness and restore harmony. Some of the acupressure points are significant as they relate to a specific part of the body while others are more general in their effect.
Acupressure can help alleviate ailments such as tension,stress, aches and pains,arthritisormenstrual cramps. Acupressure can also be used for general preventative health care.
What is the purpose of Acupressure?
The purpose of acupressure is to stimulate the body's own recuperative powers by stimulating the various points on the body. The stimulation removes energy blockages by diffusing the toxic build up that accumulates in the muscle tissue. The accumulation of toxins causes stiffness throughout the body. Stiffness in muscles puts abnormal pressure on nerves, and blood and lymph vessels. The pressure on blood and lymph vessels affect both skeletal systems and internal organ functioning.
What can Acupressure help alleviate?
Pain, headaches,migraines,insomnia,depression,toothache, dizziness, menstrual pain, digestive disorders including diarrhea andconstipation, nausea,morning sickness, motion sickness, stress and tiredness.
In all cases, acupressure massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.
How does acupressure work?
Acupressure and acupuncture share the same active points (also called trigger points). The ancient Chinese developed system of active points stimulation over 5,000 years ago. The active points are located on imaginary lines called meridians. Accordingly, the points are referred to by the meridian they are located on and consecutive number of point on that meridian.
The ancient Chinese believed that life energy chi (pronouncedchee) flows through these meridians. In a healthy person the energy flow trough meridians is unobstructed. The blockade of chi flow results in an illness. The Chinese believed that active points stimulation clears the meridians and improves the flow of energy.
The western medical science only begins to understand the mechanisms responsible for positive effects of active points stimulation. Stimulation of active points is thought to lead to increased release of endorphins. Endorphin is a natural body painkiller. Endorphin and morphine are chemically different molecules but, by coincidence, they have very similar 3-dimensional shape. This similarity in shape allows morphine to bind the endorphin receptor, reduce pain, and induce feeling of happiness. Thus endorphin released by acupressure stimulation may lead to relaxation and normalization of body functions.
What does acupressure feel like?
Most people really enjoy the feeling of acupressure. At first, when you are applying acupressure to a point related to a tense or spasmed muscle, you will notice a feeling best described as a "good ache," Within 15 seconds to 1 minute of pressure you will notice the ache gradually diminish and be replaced by a relaxed and warm feeling.
How to apply Acupressure?
There are two ways that acupressure points are manipulated: pressing (reinforcing) and reducing them. Most are probably familiar with the first, but not with the second method.
Finger Tip Knuckle Pencil Eraser
Pressing points for less than half a second can already have a distinguishable effect. So for just trying out a point you could press it only briefly. To get a full effect however, pressure should be applied for at least half a minute, but preferably longer. One to two minutes should do.
To reduce a point,turn a finger over it in counter-clockwise direction, also for one to two minutes. (What happens when you do this is explained in "What manipulation of points brings about.") Clicking on the picture of points that need to be reduced displays an animation showing how this is performed (clicking again stops the animation).
I think it's a good idea not to get into the habit of doing the same points every day. Do them when you feel you need them, don't overdo it. Pay attention to what effects points have on you.
If you're weakened (from age, disease or whatever), be sure to not reduce points more often than necessary. You could also additionally press these points for a few seconds.
Do a point on both sides of the body.
Why I am not feeling any effects?
When you are not feeling any effects from pressing points, several things may be the case.
You may not be pressing on the exact right spot (acupuncture points are about 0.5 mm diameter, so you'll have to be precise). Try different spots around the location you first tried.
You shouldn't press lightly, but you shouldn't hurt yourself either. Also, don't press for just a few seconds (although if you're very sensitive you might already notice effects then).
To feel if acupressure is working (for knowing that the location of the point is accurate), I usually sense what's happening in my face. Almost all points in the list on this site have some effect here. Many of the points also have some subtle effect on the quality of vision. You may see more clearly and more colors. Meditation will develop your ability to feel the effects.
If you're using a point quite often, or if you don't need a point, the effect may become very little or unnoticable.
How do I locate points?
To be able to use information from other sources for locating points, you'll need to know what the "cun" is.
The "cun" is the standard unit of measurement for the body used in acupuncture. As everyone's body has different dimensions, it is defined according to the person whose body is to be treated.
1 cun= width of the thumb, in the middle, at the crease
3 cun= combined breadth of the 4 fingers, at the level of the pinky finger's first joint above the palm of the hand
12 cun= the distance from the elbow crease to the wrist crease.
What manipulation of points brings about?
Acupuncture points can be manipulated in various ways. To keep things simple, acupressure books usually just mention pressing the points.
If you've ever seen an acupuncturist you may have noticed that he will turn needles after inserting them or do other manipulations. Acupuncturists also apply heat by burning stuff called "moxa" or using a laser, or apply electric currents.
By simply pressing a point, you arereinforcingit. You, thereby, increase energy in areas that the point influences.Reducinga point is actually not the opposite of reinforcing it. By reducing, you remove a blockage of energy. A blockage may be felt as tension, pain or heat. Energy acumulates there which starts moving again after removing the blockage. So if you reduce a point after you reinforced it, you get reinforcementandremoval of energy blockage. They don't cancel each other out.
In acupressure, you can reduce a point by continually moving a finger counterclockwise over it. An acupuncturist will turn his needle immediately after insertion.
It's also possible to apply heat to a point to warm it. This is an advanced technique that may injure your energy system, so it's best to stay away from this.
Can acupressure replace my standard medical procedures?
Do not use acupressure to replace standard emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment.
Acupressure should not be used:
If you are seriously injured or have persistent symptoms seek urgent medical treatment;
As the only treatment for illness; if you are sick, see a doctor;
If you have a heart condition;
Just before or within 20 minutes after heavy exercise, a large meal, or bathing;
If the point in question is under a mole, wart, varicose vein, abrasion, bruise, cut, or any other break in the skin;
If you are pregnant, especially if more than 3 months.
TAG: acupressure