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Acupressure for common pains and illnesses
Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine system for
more than 2000 years. It is still in use today because of its effectiveness in
treating pain and several illnesses. Tradition medicinal practitioners have
identified specific spots throughout our body that are believed to improve
energy flow. These are known as acupressure points.
What is acupressure? Acupressure is firm, controlled and timed pressure applied by thumb, fingers, or elbow, on specific pain-causing “sore” spots of the muscles.
Acupressure points sends signal to the brain to direct the body for self-healing and to repair itself. The vital energy circulates in different natural pathways in the body known as meridians. When the meridians are blocked due to an imbalance in yin and yang it can lead to illness and pain. With acupressure one can correct the imbalances and restore meridian flow and thus bringing the body to normal state. The stimulation from acupressure helps to relax the muscles. A proper acupressure treatment can minimize illness symptoms, pain, swelling, sprain, bruising on bumps and help to improve health.
Acupoints are same for both acupressure and acupuncture. The
beauty of acupressure is that, if one knows the points for various common
conditions, then one can give acupressure to oneself anywhere at any time. It
is noninvasive and safe to use for common conditions. Acupressure is not a substitute for a medical
treatment and not for serious health conditions. It helps to release the easy
flow of energy in the affected part of the body.
References:
Acupressure point manual, 2012,The School of Chi Energy
Tips to give acupressure : If you are considering giving acupressure to yourself or your near ones, keep in mind few important points before proceeding.
Read, learn about acupressure – why and what is the purpose of giving acupressure?
Do not give acupressure to pregnant women and to serious ailments. Balancing act can go wrong in the body causing serious injury, if not properly treated with pressure points.
Use middle finger to press into the acupressure point firmly for two to three minutes. Use index and ring fingers for the support on either side.
Adjust the pressure according to your feeling on the point. It should not cause pain. If you are treating someone then ask them how the pressure feels, if there is pain then stop the process. Pain interferes with energy flow.
Apply slow, firm and deep pressure to stimulate the point.
When massaging and pressing, relax and hold the pressure at 90-degree angle. Deep breath few times.
One can repeat the massage as often as they like.
While giving acupressure:
Give yourself sometime. Be patient and consistent.
Sit or lie down -whichever is comfortable position
Relax, breathe deeply, close your eyes to understand the energy flow
There are hundreds of different acupressure points in our
body. The most common acupressure points for few common illnesses you can
reference through in next few slides.
Acupressure for headache: As you can see in the pictures, there are few acupressure points to get relief from headaches including migraine.
Third eye is a pressure point between eyebrows
Drilling bamboo, a pair of pressure points sits
inside each eyebrow near nose bridge and eyebrow bone.
Facial beauty are two points present on both sides
of nose, below the eyes
Wind mansion is present where skull meets the
neck
Gates of conscious are two points sits I the hollow
space base of the skull at back of neck.
Union valley is the point present in the area of
loose skin between the thumb and index finger
One point on top of the head.
To start with, spread your fingers on top of the head and slowly move the fingers above the ears and press the pressure points above the ears for 5 seconds. Release and repeat. Like wise move the fingertips on third eye point, hold it for 5 to 7 seconds and release. Take your fingertips on all the facial points, press and hold for 5 to 7 seconds. When you get relief by holding a point, you will know which point is working for you to give relief from headache. Press and hold, slowly massage the point for few seconds, release and repeat few times.
Eye strain relief for better eyesight: You will find pressure points for eye – three points in eyebrow, on both sides of the eye – one at corner, one between nose and eye. One point below the lower eyelid. One between the end of eyebrow and hairline at temple region (see image). To improve eye sight, to reduce strain on eyes use these points.
Pinch full length of eyebrow using fingers and
thumb.
Press upward against eyebrow next to nose cavity
Press the pressure points around the eye, hold
for 7 seconds.
After releasing try exercise: Close eyelids, and
look up, down, right, and left few times.
Pressure points for sinus relief: These points will help to get rid of the sinus and cold.
As you see in the image, to get relief from the
upper sinus, use B 2-point present where bridge of your nose connects with your
upper eye socket, on the underside eyebrow bone.
For lower sinus relief, use the points Li 20 and
ST 3. Li20 is close to nostrils and ST3 is little away from nostril.
To get relief, use your knuckle or finger. Press
on the points and hold it for 7 to 10 minutes. Release and take deep breath.
Repeat this few times to open the stimulation and for easy breathing.
Neck pain relief points:Three pressure points that help to get relief from neck pain
are: GB 20 (Wind Pool), GB 21 (Shoulder Well), UB 10 (Heavenly Pillar)
GB 20: Wind pool point is present on the back of neck, at base of skull. Massaging the point relieves stiffness, shoulder pain, headache and pinched nerve pain.
To locate the points, place your hands back of head, use
thumbs to locate two depressions on the edge of neck muscle. Use thumbs to
firmly and gently press up towards the skull. Release the pressure slightly if
the point feels tender. Hold it for few seconds (7-15 seconds), breath deeply
and release.
GB 21: Shoulder Well point, present at top of
the trapezius muscle, halfway between the midpoint of spine and outermost bone
of shoulder. It releases neck pain, stiffness, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder.
Rest index, ring and middle fingers of right hand on the
left trapezius muscle. Using middle finger firmly press the point in the center
for few seconds. Close eyes take deep breath. Repeat the acupressure on other
side of the shoulder.
UB 10: or Heavenly Pillar point, present on back of neck on outer edge of trapezius muscle downwards from wind pool point. Relieves neck pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain and headache.
Use thumbs to find the point by placing your hands back of
head. Press firmly and apply gentle pressure using thumbs on the points. Hold
fore few seconds, take breath, release. Repeat few times.
After releasing the points, clasp hand on back of head. Move
elbows forward and exhale. Move elbows backwards as much as you can and inhale.
Repeat it 4 to 5 times. Holding clasped hands, twist upper body left and right
few times.
Lower back pain and sciatica pain relief points: Lower back pain and sciatica pain does not go away easily. Pain killers will suppress the pain for some time. Physiotherapy, acupressure and yoga poses can help to get rid of these two pains. There are different pressure points to release lower back pain.
Stomach acupressure point: CV6 point located 2
fingers below the belly button. Apply firm pressure with your index or middle
finger.
Lower back acupressure points: Located on both
sides on the lower back, from the spine at waist level, on each side of the
spinal cord. Place your hands on waist and move thumbs towards the spine to
locate the points, apply firm pressure for 12 seconds and release.
Hip bone acupressure points: (B48 & GB30): B48
is located on both sides on the hip bone, at the bottom of your spine and GB 30
midway between the top of the hipbone and the base of buttocks. Apply gentle,
firm pressure using both thumbs on both points for few seconds.
Knee acupressure points: B54 points are located
at the center of the backspace of the knee and B53 slightly towards the outside
of the knee. To massage and apply
pressure either you can sit or stand. Using index or middle fingers locate the
points press and hold firmly.
Hand acupressure points: To use these points best
position is to be lying down on a mat. Point is located at the joint of the
thumb and index finger. With your other hand squeeze the point between the
thumb and index finger apply firm pressure on this point for a few seconds and
then release. Repeat it on the other hand.
Foot acupressure points: Point is located
between big toe and second toe (Liv3). Apply pressure using thumb or index
finger. Hold it firmly for 10-15 seconds and release. Repeat on the other foot.
After applying the pressure, one can perform yoga poses and
exercises that are helpful to release sciatica and back pain.
Shoulder pain relief: One the most difficult pain to remove and bear. It takes long time to heal the shoulder injury and to get rid of the pain. For shoulder pain pressure points are at places where one can reach easily or not able to give massage and pressure. It requires assistance from someone who can help you to with proper instructions.
San Jiao 14 and Large Intestine 15 points: These two
points are present in the indentation of deltoid muscles. The indentation that
is more towards the front is acupressure point L. Intestine 15 (LI 15) and indentation
that is more towards the back is acupressure point San Jiao 14 (SJ 14).
Apply gentle pressure to these points for 15 to 30 seconds
followed by gentle circular pressure to massage these points.
Anxiety, stress relief points: As shown in images acupressure points are present for stress relief in hands, feet, neck. Sometimes the anxiety and stress can cause neck and shoulder pain. It is related to our emotions. Pressing and holding these points (H7, Gb20, Tw15) firmly for 15 seconds will help to release the stress. While applying pressure breath in deeply and exhale long.
Menstrual cycle comes with cramps and severe pain. Painkillers can help but too much pain killers can cause edema, bloating and nausea. Instead, try applying pressure on certain pressure points below belly and around groin area as shown in images.
Place your hands with palm down on your back
with middle fingertips on your butt crack
Move hands closer so that fingertips come close
and pinkies barely touch each other
The two pressure points located sitting at first
knuckle of your ring finger and second point near second knuckle of ring finger
(see images)
Using thumbs push in and upward on the pressure
points and hold for 7 seconds.
Work on sore spots -Find out sore spots around your groin area and pubis bone. Hold each sore spot for 7 seconds. Then gently press on, over, and under edge of pubis bone to search out and erase sore spots, by holding pressure for 7 seconds. Check for sore spots between legs under groin. Then check for sore spots around navel and other abdominal muscles. Press spot above hip, moving skin and muscle down and inward over edge of hip bone.
Exercise One: Sit on floor. Put soles of feet together, 8 to
10 inches in front of body. Gently push left knee toward floor and then release
it, 6 times. Do same with right knee, 5 times.
