Acupressure

Acupressure is an ancient method of improving a person’s health by applying pressure to specific sites on the body. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but does not break the skin. Instead, the acupressure practitioner relies on pressure at certain points on the skin invoked by fingertip or knuckle to accomplish his/her purpose. By doing so, the practitioner hopes to promote pain relief and healing in the patient.

Also called shiatsu, acupressure originated in ancient China in about 500 BC and spread throughout Asia. It is the oldest form of physical therapy for which instructions are written. A basic level of acupressure can be practiced by anyone for the relief of pain or tension, and the technique is in active use by those who practice alternative forms of medicine.

Like acupuncture, acupressure recognizes certain pressure points located along meridians that extend the length of the body. Certain meridians and their connectors are associated with given organs or muscles, and pressure points on the meridian will affect the pain level of the organ. The pressure points are often located far from the organ they affect. This idea is a reflection of the belief that energy flows through the body along the meridians and that pain develops in an area when the energy flow through the corresponding meridian is stopped or reduced. Acupressure opens the energy and eases pain or discomfort.

Before the first treatment, an acupressure practitioner obtains a thorough medical history and studies the patient carefully. All aspects of the individual are considered. The practitioner will observe the person’s tone of voice and body language, as well as discussing many aspects of health, including eating habits, sensitivity to temperature, emotional distress, and urine color. Before receiving acupressure, patients are usually asked why they want acupressure and are also asked about their current physical condition, medical history, and any areas of specific pain.

During acupressure, light to medium pressure is applied to an acupoint, and it is rotated in a tight circle. Primarily, this is done with the fingers, thumbs, and hands. Sometimes, the elbows or knees are used for key pressure points. Since the most reactive points are tender or sensitive when pressed, this response helps to determine the correct location. If the response cannot be felt, the pressure point location may not be correct or the pressure may not be strong enough. The sensations felt during an acupressure treatment may generate pleasure and/or pain. Acupressure on a single point can last thirty seconds, five minutes, or twenty minutes involving one-minute sequences with rests in between. The length of the massage depends on the tolerance of the patient and on the type of acupressure.

Anyone who would practice acupressure must first learn the location of the meridians and their connectors. More than a thousand pressure points have been mapped along the meridians, but the amateur practitioner need not know them all. Generally the individual with a recurrent or chronic pain can learn the point that best eases his pain and learn how much pressure to apply to accomplish his purpose.

There are instances where more traditional Western medicine is the treatment of choice, including life threatening infection, severe trauma, or the need for surgical procedures, such as open heart surgery. However, reports from various Asian and American institutions indicate that acupressure can be an effective way to ease pain and relax stressed muscles without the aid of medications. It has even been employed to provide anesthesia for certain types of surgery. This understanding has led to the practice of both systems side by side in some places, with the strengths of each system complementing the other.

See also Alternative medicine.

Larry Blaser