Acupressure (Speedy Study Guides). Speedy Publishing

      

      Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses finger pressure on the acupuncture points and meridians to release muscular pain and tensions and to increase circulation.

      Common Acupressure Points

      Here is a list of eight commonly used acupressure points.

      Gallbladder 20 (GB20): Feng Chi

      This point is recommended for headache, migraine, eye blurriness or fatigue, low energy, and cold/flu symptoms. It is located by feeling the mastoid (ear) bone and following the groove back to where the neck muscles attach to the skull.

      Gallbladder 21 (GB21): Jian Jing

      This point is located by pinching the shoulder muscle with your thumb and middle finger and is commonly used for stress, facial pain, headaches, toothaches and neck pain. Use with caution in pregnant women.

      Large Intestine 4 (LI4): He Gu

      This point is good for stress, headaches, toothaches, facial pain and neck pain. However, as a word of precaution, it can induce labor and must never be used during pregnancy.

      Liver 3 (LV3): Tai Chong

      You need to take off your shoe to find this point. This is an excellent area to stimulate for stress, low back pain, high blood pressure, limb pain, insomnia and emotional upset.

      Pericardium 6 (P6): Nei Guan

      This point can help provide relief for nausea, anxiety, carpal tunnel syndrome, upset stomach, motion sickness and headaches and is even used for regulation of heart palpitations.

      Triple Energizer 3: Zhong Zhu

      This point is located in the groove formed by the tendons of the 4th and 5th finger, behind the knuckles and is commonly used in the clinic for temporal headaches, shoulder and neck tension, and upper back pain.

      Spleen 6 (SP6): San Yin Jiao

      This point can be very helpful for many urological and pelvic disorders as well as fatigue and insomnia.

      Stomach36 (ST36): Zu San Li

      You can find this point useful for fatigue and depression as well as knee pain and gastrointestinal discomfort. Asians frequently stimulate this point for health promotion and longevity.

      How Does Acupressure Work?

      From studies done by Western scientists we know that the acupressure points can be measured electrically. Scientists have also shown that acupuncture and acupressure produces higher levels of important bio-chemicals. Other studies show that acupressure can increase blood flow in even the deepest body tissues.

      Some scientists have shown that electrically active fascia, the tissues that wrap and interconnect the whole body, could be the location of a sensitive communications network; the basis for which acupuncture and acupressure work. In terms of using acupressure for the purposes of relaxing muscles, it works by increasing the blood flow to muscle tissue surrounding the acu- point. Increased blood flow naturally warms the muscles between 2 to 3 degrees. Increased muscle temperature allows the muscle to become more relaxed and flexible.