Acupressure And Reflexology

Acupressure and reflexology are both bodywork techniques that apply pressure in one part of the body to promote healing or relaxation in another part of the body. Both techniques are based on the idea that the root of pain or discomfort is often some distance away from the area where symptoms exist.

Definition

Both acupressure and reflexology operate on the belief that points throughout the body correspond to different internal organs, glands and natural functions in the body. Applying pressure to these points promotes the proper flow of energy and restores balance to the body's systems. While acupressure uses points throughout the body, including those located on the chest, abdomen, legs, back and head, reflexology focuses on the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears. Reflexology also employs specific finger, thumb and hand techniques.

History

Acupressure is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which has been practiced for more than 2,000 years. Acupressure gained popularity in America in the 1970s after a New York Times reporter received acupressure treatment for pain while in China and wrote about it.
Therapies similar to reflexology may have been practiced by various ancient cultures. Some evidence exists that the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans and Australian aborigines practiced healing therapies involving the feet. Reflexology as it is known today is based on the work of a woman named Eunice Ingham. Working with healing principles created by physicians in the early 1900s, Ingham developed specific methods for applying pressure to the feet using the thumb and fingers, and created her own charts that identified energy pathways in the body. Ingham's methods of manipulation became the basis for modern reflexology.

Healing Principles

The goal of acupressure is to correct imbalances of the body's life force or energy, known as qi. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that qi travels throughout the body along pathways known as meridians. When there is too much or too little qi in any particular meridian, the imbalance can result in illness, which can manifest in any of the internal organs associated with that meridian. Using points along the meridian, known as acupoints, you can restore the proper flow of qi and relieve pain and discomfort.
The principles of reflexology are similar, but instead of using meridians, reflexology practitioners focus on pathways called reflex zones. These zones were first defined by physician William Fitzgerald, who determined that the body contained 10 lines of energy starting at the head and running to the feet. Using his zone theory, Eunice Ingham was able to draw correlations between locations on the feet and specific organs and glands in the body.

Benefits

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), acupressure and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine may be helpful in the treatment of obesity, high cholesterol, pain, sleep disorders, stress, depression, nausea and addictions. The University of Maryland School of Medicine also reports that reflexology improves circulation and may provide relief from digestive problems, stress, insomnia, migraines and pain in areas such as the neck, shoulders, back and jaw. Practitioners say reflexology can improve conditions such as respiratory infections, asthma, diabetes, premenstrual syndrome and skin problems.

Considerations

In 2009, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, conducted by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the United Kingdom, determined that there is insufficient scientific evidence that reflexology can effectively treat any medical conditions. Do not attempt to use acupressure or reflexology as the sole course of treatment if you are ill. Do not use acupressure if you have a heart condition or are more than three months pregnant.