Acupressure & Acne

Whether you suffer from severe breakouts or the occasional zit, acne is a sign that your body isn't processing toxins and bodily waste as well as it could, according to traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. Acupressure---the stimulation of key points on the body with a fingertip or thumb---is a therapy that you can practice at home to alleviate the underlying causes of acne. Acupressure is not a substitute for conventional medical therapies.

Theory

When you perform acupressure by pressing key "acupoints" or "pressure points," you stimulate your body's natural tendency to find equilibrium and heal itself, says Michael Reed Gach, founder of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, on his website Acupressure.com. TCM, the system that developed acupressure thousands of years ago, views a local symptom such as acne as a sign that the body has an imbalance on a deep internal level. For a complete understanding of the underlying causes of your acne, consult a TCM practitioner.

Causes

From a TCM perspective, stagnation of qi, or energy, in the liver often underlies acne, according to Bill Gottlieb, former editor-in-chief of Prevention Magazine Health Books, and author of "Alternative Cures: More Than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies." The liver can become especially stressed when hormone production is at its most intense, including adolescence and during a woman's pre-menstrual phase. Intense analytical thought and anger can also stress the liver, according to TCM.

Purpose

Acupressure seeks to strengthen the body's entire qi or energy system and increase the elimination of toxins. Releasing tension throughout the body, but especially where flare-ups occur, and relaxing the nervous system are other common goals of acupressure for acne, says Jeanette Jacknin, board-certified dermatologist and alternative therapist practicing in Phoenix, Arizona, in her book "Smart Medicine for Your Skin."

Try This

To stimulate the elimination of toxins throughout the body and relieve some of the congested qi that might be causing your acne, work on the point called the "great eliminator," or Li4. This point is a command point for the face, and can help to resolve acne, according to the website of the Yin Yang House Acupuncture & Wellness Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Warning: this point is not recommended for pregnant women, since it is also used to stimulate menstruation. To activate the point, press your thumb firmly into the space where your thumb and forefinger join. You'll have to press down and toward the bones to feel a tender spot there. Apply firm strokes of pressure toward the center of the hand until the point no longer feels tender. Work on both sides for about a minute.

Additional Therapies

Augment acupressure for your acne with the use of herbs, advises Jian Ping Shi, traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Toronto, Canada, in her online article for Vitality magazine. One of the best herbs for acne is dandelion. You can pick your own leaves or buy them at the grocery store---just make sure they're pesticide free by buying organic or rinsing them thoroughly. Simmer a handful of the fresh leaves in a quart of boiling water for 10 minutes, and drink the tea when it's lukewarm, says Jian.