Acupressure is one of a number of alternative therapies based on the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupressure practitioners apply pressure to a number of points on the body, believing that this regulates the flow of qi, or vital energy. The technique of acupressure derives from acupuncture, and the two practices are based on the same fundamental theories.
Theory
According to traditional Chinese medical theory, qi, or vital energy flows through the body, animating it and causing the blood to flow. Blockages in the flow of qi or blood can lead to illness. According to this theory, certain points on the body are linked to the pathways through which qi flows. Lines of these points, called meridians, run across the body, while others occur individually. According to this theory, manipulating these points can improve the flow of qi and the individual's health.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
The theory of qi flow is the basis for acupuncture, a form of treatment in which a practitioner inserts metal needles into the points believed to be associated with the illness being treated. By contrast, acupressure practitioners exert pressure on the points, usually with their hands. Because both acupuncture and acupressure are derived from the same theoretical principles, the maps of pressure points and meridians are the same, or nearly the same, in both practices.
Acupressure Treatment
Acupressure treatment varies from practitioner to practitioner, but it usually begins with a diagnosis based on an evaluation of symptoms and a short medical interview. The practitioner then decides which points require pressure and applies pressure to them. Acupressure is often also used as a form of self-treatment for minor pain relief such as stress-related headaches and fatigue. In self-treatment, an individual performs his or her own diagnosis and applies pressure to the relevant points.
Efficacy of Acupressure Treatment
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on metaphysical theories and is not a form of evidence-based science. Nonetheless, a review of available evidence published in 2006 in the "Journal of Internal Medicine" concluded that acupuncture was effective in treating pain and nausea in some cases. The exact mechanism of this pain relief is unknown, but it may be attributable to the placebo effect. Acupressure has been studied in less detail than acupuncture but appears to have similar effects, possibly arising from the same source.
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