Accupressure & Acupuncter

      What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique. According to an ancient Chinese medical text that is translated into English called the "Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine", it's over 2,000 old!

This ancient healing technique leverages your body's own natural healing ability.

Quick Question: When you have a headache, have you ever held your forehead and temple by instinct;

do you squeeze your neck when you feel tension there? So you see, your body has a natural reaction to aches and pains. As it turns out, Eastern medicine, through the centuries, has mapped out a series of Energy Channels throughout your body.

It's based on a different view from Western medicine, of how our body works.

The belief is that "vital energy" flows through your body.

This energy is called ... · prana in India ·
(sounds like Chi) in China ·
Kee in Japan Its principle says that for energy,

flows through 14 standard meridians (pathways) in the body.

You can apply pressure at specific points (called acupoints) along the meridians to strengthen the flow of Chi, or remove blockages. Working on the right spot can free trapped chi, or slow it down if it is moving too fast or encourage it to flow into an area that it has been bypassing.

This helps to relieve pain, alleviate common ailments, and promote good health. Acupressure is practiced by thousands of people throughout the centuries and is safe and reliable.

Acupressure is easy to learn and is quick to practice.

It needs no equipment; just your own two hands.

You can apply it in your office, or at home – just about anywhere you feel comfortable and can have a little privacy.

Although acupressure is not a substitute for medical treatment, it often complements other treatments for more serious health problems. For many of the common pains and ailments, self acupressure can be as effective in relieving aches and pains as taking pain medication.

Why does Acupressure Work? Western scientists have started to understand this system better over the years.

They are able to explain why this system works for relieving pain and tension. They have mapped out and proven this system using highly sensitive electrical devices.

They discovered that acupressure points are places on the skin especially sensitive to bioelectric impulses. When you press the points for relieving pain, it releases endorphins, your body's natural pain killers.

As a result, pain is blocked. It increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area.

Your muscle relaxes. And it promotes healing.

What about tension?
Tension in your muscles can be caused by trauma, stress, chemical imbalance, and fatigue. And tension tends to concentrate around acupressure points.

When you press the correct points: · blood flow freely ·
toxins are released and eliminated The increased circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas.
It increases body's resistance to diseases.
It promotes healthier life.
And you feel a greater sense of well-being.
Recent BBC news reported that Acupressure is 89% more effective than physical therapy when it comes to treating back pains.
The pain relieve last longer too.

Who can use Acupressure?

Anyone. Athletes can use it to improve muscle tones and circulation.

Women can use it to improve their skin condition, lessen their wrinkles by toning and relaxing their facial muscles --- without drugs. Our daughter uses it to stop her own nose bleed when she was 5 years old.

Just a note here: acupressure is not a substitute for medical care, but it is a good complement in many cases.

We have published a series of acupressure applications in Market Place.

You will see some amazing applications of this system for relieving common aches, pains and illness, supporting your immune system, and for relieving stress.

What are the main benefits of this system?
1. It has no side effects like drugs.
2. You need no equipment other than your own two hands.
3. You can do it anytime, anywhere. 4. It is easy for a non-expert to help themselves. With acupressure, you are using finger pressure. Just pressing the area is effective. How to locate the Acupoints An acupoint is a point of increased sensitivity located along a meridian (pathway). The acupoints are labeled with the abbreviation for the meridian and the number.

For example,
the first point along the lung meridian is described as LU1.
Below is a brief description of the 14 standard. You do not have to memorize this list. This is here for your information only.

The 14 standard meridians are:
1. Lung (LU) The Lung meridian runs from the top of the chest down to the thumb.

2. Large Intestine (LI) The Large Intestine meridian runs upwards from the index finger to the edge of the nose.

3. Stomach (ST) The Stomach meridian runs down the body from the head to the second toe.

4. Spleen (SP) The Spleen meridian runs upwards from the big toe to the armpits.

5. Heart (H) The Heart meridian runs from the top of the arm to the hand.

6. Small intestine (SI) The Small Intestine meridian runs up the arm and shoulder from the little finger to the edge of the jawbone.

7. Bladder (B) The bladder meridian runs down the back a couple of finger-widths away from the spine 8. Kidney (K) The Kidney meridian goes up the body from the sole of the foot to the top of the chest.

9. Pericardium (P) The pericardium meridian runs from the chest to the middle finger 10. Triple Warmer (TW) The Triple Warmer meridian runs from the ring finger to the eyebrow.

11. Gall Bladder (GB) The Gall Bladder is a long meridian that runs from the head to the tip of the little toe.

12. Liver (LV) The Liver meridian runs from the big toes to the chest

13. Conception Vessel (CV) The Conception Vessel is a line down the centre front of the body from the roof of the mouth.

14. Governing Vessel (GV) Governing Vessel meridian runs from just above the anus to the upper lip. Most acupoints are located in small depressions, or hollows in the body between bones, muscles or tendons. Pain or sensitivity to pressure is the surest index of accurately finding the acupoint. If there is something wrong with any organ or part of the body, its corresponding point becomes very sensitive and tender.

How to Apply Pressure
How much pressure to apply depends on your condition and physique.

Use the pad of your finger for light pressure.
Use the tip of the finger for hard pressure.

Generally, light pressure is applied when:

1. You are doing it for the first time; or

2. You feel acute pain (short term, sharp pain) at the pain area; or

3. You have swelling at the pain area; or
4. You are feeling weak; or
5. You have complicated medical conditions such as high blood pressure, severe anemia or heart trouble.

Hard pressure is applied when:
1. You have chronic pain (long term pain); and
2. You don’t have other medical complications; and
3. You are not very tired. As a general rule, you should apply pressure so that it “hurts good” – something between pleasant, firm pressure and outright pain.

Acupressure is not meant to test your pain endurance. You should always decrease pressure if you feel extreme sensitivity or pain.

Caution Please keep the following in mind:

1. Keep your hands clean and nails trimmed.

2. Never work with an empty or full stomach.

3. Do the exercises in an airy, peaceful room.

4. Avoid pressing on skin surface where there is contusion, scar or infection.

5. Avoid doing the exercises within 2 hours of taking any drug and within half an hour after bathing in hot water.

6. The exercises are not recommended if you are pregnant or have a serious cardiac problem.

7. Stop the exercises if symptom becomes worse, or the pain is not relieved.

Avoid the following food during exercises if possible because they may have counter effects or cause irritation with your body:
1. Iced food or drink
2. Sour food such as vinegar, pickle, lemon or pineapple
3. Alcoholic drinks
4. Pepper, hot sauce or spices
5. Seafood with shells such as lobster, shrimp or crab Finally, note that acupressure is complementary, and not a replacement for medical care.

Please consult your doctor before doing the exercises, especially if you are pregnant, or have fractured bones, or other complicated medical conditions such as heart diseases.