Acupuncture has become a familiar term in the West within the last few decades. People may not know exactly what it is, but most know that this natural healing process involves needles and that is often a deterrent. Acupressure, however, is not as familiar to many Westerners, but this ancient form of healing is making its way across the globe quickly. It has two things going for it when it comes to its sudden popularity; there are no needles involved and research says, ‘it actually works’.
Over 5000 years ago, the healing art of acupressure was developed in Asia as a gentle but strongly effective way to address pain within many different parts of the body. Instead of using needles as with acupuncture, acupressure relies on the sensitivity of the hands to detect and put pressure on the right area that represents the areas of the body where there is healing needed. Acupressure and acupuncture do have similarities in the way they are performed. Both healing techniques utilize the same pressure points or meridians. The acupressure points are stimulated by using the fingers to apply gentle to firm pressure on the meridians that correlate to the particular areas of the body. Each meridian or pressure point is connected biologically to specific parts of the body and organs within, allowing a trained acupressure therapist to know exactly where to begin working.
How Acupressure Can Help You
Now that we have a general understanding of what acupressure is and how it is similar and different from acupuncture, the next questions may be, how do I use acupressure to help myself, and is it something that I can do or do I need to find a acupressure therapist?
Relieving pain is the number one reason that people seek acupressure therapists, but there are many other reasons why one would want this type of therapy. Stress is another major factor for using acupressure. As most of us know, stress can be the cause of many of our physical ailments. Therefore it is important that if one is always stressed out, that they find the best way to get some relief. Acupressure also helps to balance the body’s energies. Each area of the body holds within it a certain energetic force, some practitioners and spiritualists call them chakras. You may know if your body’s energies are out of alignment if you feel particularly sick or stressed in a certain area of your life. For example, the throat chakra may need alignment if you have been experiencing an unusual amount of colds, sore throats, laryngitis, or an emotional inability to speak your mind with authority. You may even feel taken advantage of in this specific case. Acupressure can balance those energies so that each area or chakra is supplied with its own amount of energy and one is not taking from another in order to survive.
Acupressure can also be used in a daily beauty program. Therapists use meridian points to enhance blood circulation and this treatment is credited for toning muscles and maintaining or even clearing skin conditions. This natural healing modality is said to be able to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, which of course greatly appeals to the over-forty population. Sexual issues, physical and emotional, are also effectively addressed by acupressure, along with all types of back pains and conditions. Drug addictions, compulsive behaviors, and trauma, are on this expansive list of physical and emotional health conditions that can benefit from a series of acupressure treatments.
Going back to our second question about acupressure, “Can you learn to do it yourself or do you need to seek out a certified acupressure therapist?
If you desire to learn about pressure and meridian points, there is tons of information on the internet that can give you a quick simple course on how and where to apply the pressure, along with extensive online courses that offer certificates. Of course, these certified courses vary in price and volume of information. If you live in an area where it is easy to find a certified acupressure therapist, then you may want to take the burden off of yourself to learn the art, and simply allow someone you trust to treat you.
After a few visits, a therapist will most likely teach you some things you can do at home for yourself if pain arises. Just as you want to make sure that an acupressure website or online course is reputable, you should do the same research with any therapist you may find. You do not want the experience of dealing with someone who has misrepresented themselves and their skill level because this could increase your pain or the status of your physical or emotional issue.
If you choose to use acupressure for any health concern you are living with, remember that many natural healing modalities require a form of letting go, releasing, and trusting the process along with those who administer the treatment. Being uptight, afraid, or unsure if you have made the right decision, may hinder the healing process. So, ask the right questions and research the answers you are given, and then maybe you will know if you have found the right natural healing method for you.
References: Acuppressure.com, Pure Natural Healing