If you have ever gotten a facial massage, you may not have realized that its effects are more than just relaxation and "feeling good." Your face is home to a variety of different acupuncture or acupressure points. According to Chinese medicine theory, when they are stimulated they can have an effect on various organs or ailments. Check with your doctor before starting an acupressure treatment, and be sure to research qualified acupressure practitioners in your area.
Chinese Theory
According to the textbook "A Manual of Acupuncture," the body has 12 main energy channels that run through the body. Energy, or qi, follows these channels and is one of the main sources of life. Each of these channels, called meridians, relates to a specific organ and its functions in the body, and each meridian has points where qi is pooled. These points are what Chinese medicine practitioners needle or stimulate in acupuncture or acupressure sessions. When energy stagnates or is deficient, disease can occur, thus it is important to maintain a balanced system for optimum health.
Facial Acupressure
There are several energy meridians that cross the face, including those for the large intestine, the stomach, the gallbladder, bladder, and the conception vessel channels, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture." The points on the face can be used to alleviate local concerns, such as facial pain or paralysis, but they can also help with other concerns as well. In the Chinese journal, Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, an article was published in January 2010 describing acupuncture's effectiveness in the symptoms of Bell's palsy, or paralysis of the face. Many of the selected points were on the face, in areas specific to the location of the Bell's palsy. Athough needles were used, acupressure is often thought to be just as effective if performed correctly, states the book "Chinese Bodywork."
Techniques
Because the face is mostly bone covered by connective tissue and skin, different massaging techniques need to be utilized. According to the text "Chinese Bodywork," the techniques used on the face should be soft and gentle, but deeply penetrating. Your practitioner may choose to begin with the forehead, sweeping her fingers from the middle to the outside in repetitive motions. She may also pinch the eyebrows, using the thumb and index finger, working from the inside of the brow to the outside. Specific points can be pressed or tapped as well, depending upon your symptoms. The orbital bone, underneath your eye, may be pressed, and you may feel the muscles in your jaw being massaged as well. If you experience any pain, be sure to alert the practitioner immediately.
Yintang
Because there are so many meridians and points on the face, your practitioner may choose to stimulate some that are specific, or do a general acupressure massage. If you are feeling anxious, he may choose the Yintang point, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture." Acupuncture.com states that it is located directly between the eyebrows.
Stomach Point 1
The stomach organ meridian begins in the face and travels down the front of the body to the toes, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture." Stomach point 1, states Acupuncture.com, is located directly below the pupil of the eye, on the bone beneath the eye. It can be used for swelling or redness of the eye as well as eyelid twitching. Stomach points 2 through 4 also reside on the face, and are good for eye concerns as well as facial muscle contractions, states "A Manual of Acupuncture."
Large Intestine Point 20
Helping with symptoms of nasal congestion, this point is located next to your nose, states "A Manual of Acupuncture." Your practitioner will find it by pressing the crease where the nostril joins the face, at the midpoint of the nostril.
Gallbladder Point 1
Acupuncture.com lists gallbladder point 1 as being used for headaches, and it is most likely a point you massage instinctively. It is located, according to the website, in that depression at your temples. In addition to helping with headaches, it can be used for eye pain or redness as well as deviation of the mouth or eye. Discuss your conditions with your doctor before beginning acupressure, and be sure to find the right acupressurist for your concerns.
References
- "Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion"; Clinical observation on treatment of acupuncture for different stages of Bell's palsy; Wang, Y and Yang, J; January 2010
- Acupuncture.com: Yintang
- "A Manual of Acupuncture"; Deadman, P
- Acupuncture.com: Stomach 1
- "Chinese Bodywork"; Chenguan, S; 2000
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