Western medicine views the body in mechanical terms. The heart is a pump, the stomach a fuel tank and the kidneys filters. Correct what's wrong mechanically and you can heal illness, according to this model. Alternatively, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, sees wellness as a product of the free flow of qi or energy along lines called "meridians" that run throughout the body. Block the flow, and illness results. Acupressure--the manipulation of key points along the meridians--releases stale qi and allows healing.
History
Acupressure techniques have a long history--over 5,000 years, according to John R. Cross, chartered physiotherapist and doctor of acupuncture on the Isle of Skye, U.K. Cross notes that touch therapy developed in ancient China alongside needle acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet and moxa--the practice of burning herbs on the skin to release stale qi.
Theory
Acupressure practitioners theorize that 14 channels or meridians run throughout the body. Each channel corresponds to an internal organ. Meridians run from the fingers, up the arms, through the face and head, and along different paths through the torso and down the legs, to the toes. Pressure points sit on the meridians. For centuries, acupressure practitioners have mapped these points to understand which ones to manipulate when a particular illness arises, according to Stephen Birch, practitioner of acupuncture at the Japanese Acupuncture Center in Amsterdam and co-author of "Understanding Acupuncture."
Important Points
Find pressure points in natural peaks and valleys created by the structure of your bones, muscles and tendons. The most influential points, according to Cross, lie on the lower arms and legs. The name of a point consists of the organ to which the point corresponds, followed by a number. For example, the third point on the liver meridian is called "Li 3." Although scientific attempts to prove the existence of meridians have largely failed, clinical trials do support the existence of points. Electricity moves more readily through points, Cross says.
How it Works
Scientists argue that acupressure works by stimulating the body to release endorphins, natural pain relief chemicals. Endorphins relax the body, allowing normal function to resume, according to Acupressure Online. TCM models argue that point stimulation increases the circulation of qi, which frees the circulation of bodily fluids, including lymph and blood. When organs are part of a freely moving qi system, they eliminate toxins more readily and function more efficiently, Birch says.
Try This
Use pressure points to find relief from common discomforts. The next time you're stuck in front of your computer, ease tired eyes and crankiness by pressing on the Conception Vessel Point 17, also called "The Sea of Tranquility," according to the website Acupressure.com. CV 17 is located on the center of your breastbone. Use one finger to probe the area in the center of the chest, level with your nipples, until you feel a point more tender than the surrounding tissue. Pressing the point firmly, use a clockwise, circular movement to massage it until it is no longer sore. Then press it steadily until a numb sensation spreads out from it. This feeling is the release of stale qi from the area.
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