Acupressure is the practice of applying pressure to certain points in the body to create health or heal specific ailments. It works the same way that acupuncture works. However, with acupressure, the pressure is applied through pressing the points with the fingers or elbows. In acupuncture, pressure is applied with the use of needles. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used medical practice around the world, and it is used for healing a variety of conditions from chronic physical conditions--such as arthritis, asthma, mental illness, and anxiety disorders.
History
Acupressure has been around for thousands of years. A 5,000-year-old mummy found preserved in an alpine glacier wore tattoos bearing meridian points on him, showing early signs of acupressure in Europe, although acupressure is most commonly used throughout Asian countries. It is used in Japan, India, Korea, and China.
In early war times, warriors found that long standing ailments they had often vanished after being pierced by arrows or other piercing objects. A link was made to the meridians and the first forms of acupuncture involved being pierced with arrow tips, bones, stones, and eventually needles made from copper, silver and gold.
Facts
The earliest text written on pressure points is known as the "Nei Ching" or "The Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine." It was believed to have been written between 2,697 and 2,596 B.C. It is an extremely detailed text that has been used for thousands of years as the foundation of acupuncture and acupressure; it is the oldest known medical document written.
Chinese medicine was introduced to the western world through a specialist in Chinese culture from France. The texts on acupressure were converted into French in 1928, thus introducing Chinese medicine to the western world. Acupressure is the third most commonly used medical technique and practice used in the world today.
Process
Acupressure and acupuncture work based on the idea that the life force in nature--known as Chi--runs through pathways in the body called meridians. When these become blocked, illness will begin to manifest. This effects both the mind and body. Restoring harmony requires making sure that a healthy and balanced stream of energy is circulating throughout the body again.
Acupressure is the process of of pressing points in the body that will balance and unblock the flow of chi through the meridians. Acupuncture is the process of pressing these points with needles. Both have the same effects, but acupressure has the benefits of circulating blood and oxygen through the muscles through massage.
Treatment
Acupressure is used for treating a variety of disorders. These include asthma, arthritis, menstrual problems, sinusitis, depression, post operative recovery, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and hypertension. It stimulates a healthy digestive function, heals the immune system, improves circulation, soothes chronic pain, and improves energy levels and concentration. It works to set the whole body in balance so that it works to function better as a whole. Regular treatments result in an improvement in overall physical and mental health.
Benefits
Massage on it's own also provides many benefits. It lowers blood pressure, improves concentration and circulation through the body, reduces anxiety and hypertension, assists in the recovery from injury or surgery, and improves overall health and energy levels. Combining the art of acupressure with massage is a popular way to improve health and heal many disorders and complaints.
Tags: commonly used, most commonly, most commonly used, anxiety hypertension, being pierced, Chinese medicine, commonly used medical