Beginner Guide to Accupressure with charts
The Beginner's Guide to Acupressure
Introduction
Acupressure, acupuncture, and related practices Do-in, G-Jo, Shiatsu,
and Myotherapy, practiced in Asia for thousands
of years, have gained wider acceptance in the West in recent times. Traditional
Asian medicine emphasizes personal responsibility for one's health. This page is
designed to put the relief of common and minor discomforts and symptoms into
your own hands.
By learning how to stimulate your own pressure points, you can relieve
minor or moderate symptoms, and reduce the need for nonprescription drugs.
Unlike most drugs,
relief is usually immediate .
It
is believed that the human body encloses a perpetual flow of bioenergy, or
life-force called "chi ( "ki"
or "qi") -
This energy flows into the body and
along specific pathways called "meridians", influencing the functioning of all
the organs.
Most states have laws against the practice of remedial massage, or medicine of
any kind, without a license -
Only attempt to use it on your family and
friends once you are familiar with using acupressure on yourself. Be cautious of
the warnings
listed below. Also, be sure to explain what you are doing and what they can expect.
Warnings
Do not use acupressure to replace standard
emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment. If you are seriously injured or have
persistent symptoms seek urgent medical treatment.
Acupressure should not be used:
• 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
Note that symptoms marked
(M) indicate
that the need for medical attentionis likely, and those marked
(EM!) indicate
that emergency medical attentionmay be needed if the condition is severe or
life-threatening. For these symptoms, only use acupressure to supplement professional
medical care, or when no professional medical care is available. Only try
acupressure for these symptoms after seeking professional care and after using
standard first aid and emergency techniques.
Directions for Using Acupressure
You must apply deep
probing pressure - therefore, only apply pressure with:
(1) Finger Tip
(2) Knuckle
(3) Pencil
eraser (or something similar)
Before beginning, try to accurately classify your problem.
E.g. if you
have a backache brought on by stress, you might be better off treating the
stress rather than the backache itself.
Chart of Accupressure Points
Applying acupressure
- Explore the area with a
deep probing pressure, until the exact point announces itself to you with a
sharp twinge -It starts as a jolt, and after a moment
becomes a numbing sensation, or a
tingling radiating from the point . It can be quite a shock the first
time, but sensitivity decreases with experience.
Acupoints are normally beside
and in between bones, ligaments and tendons. They are never found on bones,
blood vessels or arteries, but in depressions between or beside them.
- When you have found
the point, apply pressure for 15 to 30 seconds
- Repeat using the same
point on the other side of your body -You should
feel immediate relief. You may feel a release of tension, sinus drainage or
perspiration. Sometimes points on opposite sides of the body will have different
effects.
- If symptoms
increase, do not use that side or point
- If the first point doesn't
work, try the next point or points until you find one that does -
There may be more than one approach to your symptoms, such as "kidneys" vs.
"backache." When you find a point that helps, use that point. If the relief is
temporary,
re-stimulate the point. Sometimes a pain
will go away and return 3 or 4 times, lesser each time.
- Thumb widths and hand
widths shown on the diagrams refer to the width of the thumb or hand of the
person being treated -
Ask for feed-back from them to be sure you've located the right spot, as exact
locations of points vary from person to person.
- You are trying to
harmonize your inner environment, so isolate yourself from the external
environment as much as possible -Find a quiet place, sit down, and try to relax. Avoid loud music,
exercise, food, and any drugs, including alcohol , while stimulating your
acupoints.
