Acupressure: Simple Steps to Health: Discover your Body’s Powerpoints For Health and Relaxation

Before you begin acupressure, take a few minutes to stretch and relax the body, breathe deeply and release any mental tension or worry. Loosen any tight clothing, get in a comfortable position and rub the hands together to warm them. Rotate the wrists and flex the hands and individual fingers to increase circulation in them.

Performing Acupressure on Others

As you become increasingly confident and competent you will be able to start locating acupoints on others. You can help them improve their health, relieve common ailments and learn to use this self-health technique for themselves. You can also ask others to give acupressure to you. This is relaxing and enjoyable and helpful for acupoints that are difficult to reach, such as those on the back.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED

Children have a natural talent for acupressure. They find it easy to locate the acupoints, enjoy receiving acupressure, are good at positive visualization and have no difficulty in accepting its effectiveness. Acupressure is also a powerful self-help tool for those with disabilities and can be an enjoyable and helpful form of interaction when applied by someone else. The elderly can also benefit considerably as acupressure can help to mobilize joints, relieve pains or discomfort and maintain good health and well-being.

Contraindications

Acupressure should not be used when a person is under the influence of alcohol or non-medicinal drugs. Great care should also be taken if the person is extremely weak, sensitive or fatigued, in which case only light pressure should be used until strength and vitality have been built up.

Strong pressure should also be avoided on all points during pregnancy especially Large Intestine 4, Spleen 6 and Urinary Bladder 60 (see notes in the text) as these points are used to facilitate labour and birth. For these points just lightly touch with the fingertips or thumb and focus on breathing and visualization.

Acupressure should never be applied directly on cuts, wounds, scars, bruises or veins. Instead it should be applied around these sites of injury.

Consulting a Specialist

The acupressure techniques described in this book can be safely used by anyone to maintain and promote health as well as to relieve common ailments or for use in first-aid situations. However, acupressure does not replace conventional diagnosis and treatment in the case of serious health problems. If any health condition persists, or worries you unduly, you should consult a medical or complementary practitioner for professional advice. In addition, if you are using acupressure during pregnancy, labour or post-partum care it would be advisable to do so in conjunction with an experienced acupuncturist or acupressure practitioner who could help you monitor your progress.

Research

There is an increasing body of research underway which supports acupressure’s effectiveness. This research shows that stimulation of acupoints can lead to a wide range of physiological changes including: electrical changes in the skin at acupoint sites; changes in brain chemicals, such as increased release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers); and altered internal organ function such as changes in heart or respiration rates (see Further Reading (#litres_trial_promo)). It is clear that this simple technique can indeed have a profound, wide-ranging effect on the body.

How to Use this Book

Begin by reading this introduction thoroughly as it contains important information on the technique and application of acupressure. Then start by familiarizing yourself with the Acupressure Workout, which can immediately be put to daily use to promote your general health. Once you are comfortable with the Acupressure Workout, you can add the Facial Workout if you wish and select acupoint combinations from the rest of the text according to the body part or system you wish to improve or the ailment you wish to prevent or relieve.

Each part of the body is covered in order from the head to the toes. Ailments are listed alphabetically in the index at the back of the book. Keep a regular diary to note your progress with acupressure.

Motivation and Confidence

Start practising acupressure today! Don’t let doubt or lack of confidence distract you. As your desire to maintain regular practice and your confidence increase, so will the effectiveness of the technique. It is your participation, as much as the technique itself, that makes acupressure a success.

Your efforts with acupressure can lead to substantial changes in your life, including increased vitality and confidence and improved health. By adding positive thoughts, the mind becomes comfortable and peaceful. Slowing and deepening the breath increases oxygenation of the tissues and a sense of well-being prevails. As well-being increases, so does the feeling of harmony with others and the desire to help others. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, as the mind is rested internally and the senses focused deeply, so too the vital energy of the body and one’s spirit are nourished. Acupressure can play a part in this process.

part two (#u66789829-3ebf-58ce-9eee-fc8915f6d06f)

Acupressure Health Workout

1 (#u66789829-3ebf-58ce-9eee-fc8915f6d06f)

Acupressure Health Workout

To give your body an overall tone-up, and to promote general good health and vitality, this complete Acupressure Workout can be done morning and evening or whenever you have spare time.

The routine consists of acupressure to one or more of the major acupoints on each meridian in the order of the flow of energy along the meridians. By stimulating these points, every part of the body, internal organ and major body system is energized.

This routine can be easily learnt and safely practised by anyone, although there are certain points which should not be given strong acupressure during pregnancy. (These are generally points which are used to assist labour.) Such points are clearly marked with a caution in the text. Instead of using acupressure, pregnant women can just lightly touch the relevant points with the fingertips and, taking a couple of gentle, deep breaths at each point, visualize vital energy gently suffusing the meridians.

As for all acupressure, your fingertip or thumb pressure should be firm and even. You should feel the sensation of pressure or tingling but not pain. Remember to apply pressure perpendicularly below the skin, or angled slightly in the direction of flow of the meridian, to breathe deeply and evenly and to visualize energy flowing into the meridian and appropriate body parts.

Each time you practise this workout, focus awareness on the different sensations at your fingertips and in your body. Notice how sensations change each day and also any changes in your physical health. It is quite normal for sensations to vary according to the weather, diet, environment and menstrual cycle. For example, women tend to feel more skin sensitivity around the time of their periods, certain foods may increase skin sensitivity and skin sensations may be heightened during stormy weather because of the electrical charges built up in the atmosphere. By increasing your awareness of the body’s responses to different situations such as these you will develop a fine understanding of how your body works and how to take care of it.

This workout can be performed standing or sitting on the floor, on a bed or in a chair. Follow the order given below. Take your time and stay relaxed, breathing freely throughout. The complete workout should take 15–20 minutes, but you can make it last longer if you wish by spending more time focusing on your breathing and visualization at every point.

To Start

First stretch your body and take a couple of deep breaths.

Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable and free your mind of any mental worries.

Don’t perform the workout directly after eating or when very hungry or exhausted. Take a light snack or some rest first.

Rub the palms together and do a few gentle finger and hand stretches and wrist exercises to loosen up before starting.

Loosen any tight clothing, get in a comfortable position and rub the hands together to warm them.

Work through the points in the order shown below. Remember to apply pressure to points on both sides of the body except for the Conception and Governor Vessel points on the front and back midline of the body. Begin by applying the acupressure to each point on the left side of the body first and then on the right. The next time you practise, apply the acupressure to each point on the right side of the body first and then on the left. Alternating the side that you start with in this way will help to maintain balance in the body. Check regularly during your practice that you are still relaxed, comfortable and breathing deeply.

Remember to always locate the point correctly first and then apply pressure.

The Workout

1. Lung 7: The Respiratory System

Location: On the inside of the wrist, 2 finger widths from the wrist crease closest to the palm on the same side as the thumb in the depression behind the bone.

Technique: Using the thumb of the opposite hand, touch the point and then gently begin to apply pressure below the skin, angled slightly down towards the wrist and thumb. Apply sustained pressure or small, massage rotations to the acupoint. Use the fingers of the same hand under the wrist as support. Continue to apply pressure for 30 seconds to I minute while breathing rhythmically and visualizing the lungs as healthy and strong. Repeat on the opposite wrist.

Benefits: Strengthens the respiratory system. Helps to prevent and alleviate colds, coughs, congestion and breathing difficulties.

2. Large Intestine 4: The Head, Face and Skin

Location: In the centre of the triangle made between the small bones of the index finger and thumb. Can also be located at the end of the crease made by the index finger and thumb when they are pressed together.

Technique: Locate the point and then press in gently with the thumb of the opposite hand, placing the fingers underneath the acupoint, against the palm of the hand, for support. Press deeply and perpendicularly into the point, applying sustained pressure or small massage rotations to the acupoint for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Breathe deeply and visualize the whole of the upper body being filled with vitality. Repeat on the opposite hand.

Benefits: This point benefits the whole upper body. In particular it helps tone the skin and improve the complexion. It aids large intestine function, facilitating elimination and thereby helping to improve the skin quality and texture. It can be useful in relieving constipation and can also improve mobility and relieve pain in the arms, shoulders and neck.

Note: If pregnant, see here (#ulink_7357ad9b-9d54-5a2b-9f9d-65b6321855ff).

3. Large Intestine 11: The Arms, Skin and Digestion

Location: When the elbow is bent the point is located in the depression at the end of the skin crease towards the outside of the elbow.

Technique: Support the elbow in the fingers and palm of the opposite hand. Press in deeply with the thumb for 30 seconds to 1 minute, applying sustained pressure or small massage rotations to the acupoint with relaxed, even breathing. Visualize healthy, clear skin and good function of the large intestine. Repeat on the opposite elbow.