Acupressure is a system that comes from traditional Chinese medicine and has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. There are a number of active points located throughout your body along meridians, which are lines that run through your body like a river system and carry qi -- life force energy -- to your internal organs, body and limbs. Pressing on these acupressure points stimulates energy flow, promotes the release of endorphins -- pain-relieving chemicals -- and helps balance your bodily systems.
Early Pregnancy
One of the most common complaints of early pregnancy is nausea, or morning sickness. Acupressure may provide natural, effective relief for this uncomfortable and annoying symptom of pregnancy. One popular point among Chinese medicine practitioners is called pericardium 6 and is located about 2 inches above the inner side of your wrist between the two tendons found there. Another point that can help relieve pregnancy nausea, called kidney 27, is in the depression just below your collar bone, two thumb-widths away from your breast bone.
Late Pregnancy
You may consider using acupressure during late pregnancy to help prepare your body for labor and birth. According to research published in 1974 in "Geburtshilfe Perinatol," stimulating four different acupuncture points from 37 weeks of pregnancy until birth helped reduce the amount of time women spent in labor. These points are stomach 36, gallbladder 34, kidney 8 and urinary bladder 62. You can safely massage these points daily during the last few weeks of your pregnancy.
Technique and Tips
When locating active points find the most sensitive or tender area and use firm, deep pressure to effectively stimulate the point. Massage until you feel a numbing sensation and repeat point stimulation as often as necessary or desired. When you begin acupressure, the point may feel painful at first -- reduce the pressure until it becomes bearable and increase as you continue to massage the point. Try to focus on relaxing into the treatment as you massage the points. You may also invite someone else to massage the points for you so you can fully let go and gain the highest level of benefit from the acupressure.
Safety
Consult with a qualified acupuncturist or acupressurist prior to stimulating active points during pregnancy. There are a number of active points that are not considered safe to stimulate during pregnancy, since they may cause uterine contractions or lead to other possible complications. Ask your doctor, a friend or relative for a qualified referral in your area and consider looking for a practitioner who specializes in or has experience treating women during pregnancy.
