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Acupressure

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure builds on the concepts of Yin and Yang, the Five Element Theory, and the energy channels (meridians) of the body. These concepts are cornerstones of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The TCM philosophy holds that health is considered to be a state of balance within the body, maintained by the flow of vital energy (scientifically known as “bioenergy’ and also known as “qi” in Japan, “chi” in China and “prana” in India) along specific energy channels throughout the body.

There are 12 energy channels (meridians) within the body which distribute vital energy to the various organs and systems within the body. Acupressure is named so because of massage or pressure applied to specific acupressure points (acupoints) located throughout the body and linked together via this complex network of energy meridians.

These acupoints are the gateways to the body's vital energy and act as valves, pressure upon which is used to regulate the flow of vital energy throughout the body. Energy which is blocked or is deficient, or which may flow in excess, will ultimately result in disease or emotional imbalance within the body. Blocked or constricted energy begins to flow most freely when acupoints within the body are touched or pressed.

There are approximately 2,000 acupoints throughout the body and long the energy meridian lines. These points are the locations where the energy of each meridian rises the closest to the surface of the body. Of these 2,000 points, more than 400 points are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the use of acupuncture (many points of which are used for acupressure). The acupoints are named and numbered according to the energy meridian on which they are located and its corresponding organ. Many are bilateral, meaning they are mirrored on both sides of the body, therefore acupressure must be applied to both points of the pair. Some of the acupoints are significant as they relate to a specific part of the body while others are more general in their effect.

The area of the body at which acupressure is performed may affect and relieve areas of the body remote to the acupoint. This is because the acupoint and area healed are connected by energy meridians.

TCM does not currently operate within a scientific paradigm but some practitioners make efforts to present case studies in an attempt to foster an evidence-based medicine framework. Studying the location and how to work with each acupoint may provide a key to transformational energy work, therapeutic touch, massage therapy and other healing modalities.

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure, it's translation is finger (shi) pressure (atsu). Shiatsu emphasizes finger pressure at both the acupoints and also along the meridian lines of the body. Shiatsu often incorporates a larger variety of application techniques including palm pressure, stretching, massage, and other manual massage-like techniques.

Tuina (Chinese for "pushing and pulling") is similar to shiatsu, but with more emphasis on soft-tissue manipulation and structural realignment. Tuina is reported as being the most common form of Asian bodywork practiced within Chinese-American communities.

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