Your hands work hard, and you may find yourself rubbing them unconsciously in an attempt to relax them or alleviate pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are several points on your hand that not only help with pain, but may relieve other types of symptoms as well. Consult your physician before trying acupressure, and research a licensed practitioner who has experience with your particular ailments.
Acupressure
Acupressure is the stimulation of acupuncture points using hands or feet, states Acupressure.com. The book "Chinese Bodywork" says that acupressure was first recorded around 100 B.C. in imperial China, and that Chinese therapeutic massage is the source of all Oriental massage techniques. Acupressure points are found along energy lines, or meridians, in the body that correspond to certain organs. The stimulation of these points promotes, according to Chinese theory, the smooth flow of energy, or qi. A few organ meridians pass through the hands, including the heart, pericardium, small intestine, and the triple warmer channels, according to the textbook "A Manual of Acupuncture."
Research
Not many clinical studies regarding acupuncture of the hand exist currently, however, some research has been done to verify the existence of meridians and acupuncture points. Recent research done at the University of Verona in Italy studied the electrical impulses of specific points and meridians in the hand after exercise. Published in "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice" in August of 2010, the study measured acupuncture points in the hand for their electrical current. The points were measured before and after exercise. After exercising, the electrical current increased from 2000 to 8000 nA, with the maximum increase at heart point nine.
Heart Channel
You probably understand the significance of the heart in regards to your health, and Chinese theory holds the heart in a similar light. It governs blood, the flow of blood, the blood vessels, sweating, and it is home to the spirit, or "shen," states "A Manual of Acupuncture." Heart points on the hand include heart nine. This point is located near the little finger's nail, just at the inside corner of the nail. It can calm the spirit, clear heat and revive consciousness when stimulated.
Heart point eight is located on the palm side of the hand. Your practitioner may ask you to make a fist, and the point is located where the pinky finger hits the palm, according to yinyanghouse.com. It can be good for sore throat, incontinence, ulcers, canker sores, and pain along the outside of the arm.
Small Intestine Channel
The small intestine channel points that are located in the hand are found on the outside edge of the little finger. Small intestine point three is located right below the knuckle, while small intestine two is located above the knuckle, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture." Both can be used for pain along the outside of the arm, while small intestine two is good for the ears, eyes, and throat. Small intestine three also helps the neck and back and can be useful in epilepsy, states the book. Small intestine one is located just to the outside corner of the root of the little finger's nail.
Pericardium Channel
The pericardium is known as the covering of the heart in western medicine. In Chinese medicine, it is also a protector of the heart, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture." Pericardium point eight is on the palm of your hand, and is good for relieving heart fire, bad breath, and pain in the heart area, according to Acupuncture.com. Your practitioner may find this point by having you make a fist. She then may press the spot where your middle finger touches your palm, particularly to help calm, clear heat, and revive consciousness.
Triple Warmer Channel
The triple warmer, also called the triple heater or San Jiao channel, begins near the nail of the fourth finger. According to Yinyanghouse.com, the first point is located to the outside of the nail of the fourth finger, even with its root. This point can be helpful with pain in the hand or along the arm, states "A Manual of Acupuncture." Triple warmer two and three are also on the hand.
Your practitioner may have you make a fist to find triple warmer two, as it is located in a depression formed between the fourth and little fingers' knuckles. It is good for deafness, pain in the throat, and pain in the arm, hand or fingers, states the book. Triple warmer three is found on the back of the hand, in between the fourth and little fingers, in a depression just below the knuckles. According to Yinyanghouse.com, your practitioner may press this point if you have a headache, ear problems, local pain, throat pain or back pain.
References
- "A Manual of Acupuncture"; Deadman, P and Al-Khafaji, M; 2001
- Yinyanghouse.com: Heart Point 8
- "Chinese Bodywork"; Chengnan, S; 2000
- Yinyanghouse.com: Small Intestine 1
- Yinyanghouse.com: Triple Warmer 3
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