Friday, July 10, 2009

What Is Acupressure And How Does It Work?

By Linda Deen

Acupressure is an ancient healing practice that uses the same ideas and points, also known as acu-points, as acupuncture. The difference between the two is that acupressure does not use needles. As its name suggests, it uses pressure, finger pressure, to be exact. This simple method can help with many health issues.

Being a part of a traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure is most widely spread across Asia and has been in use for more than five millenniums.

It's interesting, however, that the earliest evidence of its use was not found in Asia, but in Europe, of all places. A 5300 year old mummy named Otzi, discovered in the Alps in 1991, had tattoos (simple dots and lines) that correspond almost perfectly with acupressure points.

According to traditional Chinese Medicine, energy or qi, sort of like a life force of all living things, runs through the human body along pathways called meridians. Blocked or diminished qi can result in various health problems. Acupressure works by stimulating acu-points located on meridians to balance and unblock the qi energy flow.

Many people believe that acupressure is more or less limited to pain management. It's much more than that. It can treat a variety of physical and mental maladies. These include anxiety, insomnia, allergies, asthma, fibromyalgia, digestive problems, skin problems, menopause problems, tinnitus, depression, addictions, and hypertension just to name a few.

It is applied using fingers, thumbs, palms or elbows. It's completely noninvasive and can be worked on bare skin or through clothing.

Is it safe? Generally speaking it's very safe, with very few possible side effects. You should know, however, that it is not to be used to replace emergency procedures and licensed medical treatment. You should not use acupressure if you have a heart disease or if the acupoint is under a mole. If you're pregnant, see maternity or labor acupressure. - 14130

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