Acupressure is a form of massage that utilizes the fingers to provide pressure on key points in the body to promote healing. Practitioners of acupressure report that when certain spots are pushed, muscle tension is relieved, circulation improved and the body's natural life forces are released for self-healing. Acupressure relies on the same points that are used in acupuncture, but without the needles. In a March 2006 article published by the medical journal BMJ, Taiwanese researchers at the Institute of Preventive Medicine reported that acupressure was effective in treating a number of conditions, ranging from nausea to low back pain.
Step 1
Perform acupressure on yourself with a guide of the acupressure spots that you can easily reach. Download the acupressure points charts from AcupressureOnline.org, which provides free charts and instructions on where to find various spots and how to treat certain maladies. See Resources for the link.
Step 2
Press down firmly on the space between the two large tendons running on the backside of your wrist to relieve morning sickness and nausea, some of the most common uses of acupressure. The spot can be found near the base of your palm. Wear a tight wristband over the area for sustained pressure or tape a small ball bearing tightly over the spot.
Step 3
Massage the hollow in front of your ear to relieve jaw pain. Find three hollow indents just in front of the ear opening and apply gentle but firm strokes on each spot for about 1 minute each.
Step 4
Feel better and alleviate minor depression by lying down and finding the indent on the top of your head that sits midway between your ears. Press down with circular strokes in a forward motion. The initial painful sensations you get from pressing this tender spot on the head will subside quickly and you should begin to feel better within about 2 minutes.
Step 5
Repeat the treatments as much as once every hour until you feel the area healing. Practitioners recommend treating the area of pain as often as you can every day.
Step 6
Expect some mild discomfort when you first begin applying pressure to sore points. Let up on the pressure if it hurts too badly, but know that the discomfort will ease as you continue with the treatments every day. As the initial pain subsides, increase the pressure slightly so that you continue with a comfortable pain level you can tolerate.
Tips and Warnings
- Experiment with pressure lasting for a second or less to see if it has any effect. Practitioners at Eclectic Energy report that you should feel something immediately. Once you feel a sensation, return to the spot and hold the pressure for a minute or two. Use something small such as the eraser on the end of a pencil to reach tiny spots in between tendons that you can't reach with the tips of your finger.
- If acupressure does not relieve your symptoms in a short period of time, see a doctor, because you may need more serious medical attention that cannot be alleviated through nontraditional methods.
Things You'll Need
- Chart
- Pencil with eraser
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