Acupressure is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healing method that involves applying pressure to key “meridian points” located on the body. According to TCM, there are fourteen "meridians" that carry energy, or qi (pronounced chee) to all areas of the body, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidney and other organs. Each meridian is associated with a specific organ within the body. When the meridian is stimulated through gentle pressure, the effects are felt in the corresponding organ, or in the brain, giving a sense of well-being.
Applying pressure to the meridian points relaxes any tension in the muscles and helps balance the body’s vital life forces. Documented accounts indicate acupressure can help with many modern problems, including pain, poor circulation, lack of energy, insomnia, stress and certain diseases.
Acupressure sessions are gentle and non-invasive and usually last an hour. However, you may require a series of sessions to complete a treatment. Increasingly, acupressure is used to supplement or complement modern western medicine, especially for pain relief.
Like other aspects of TCM, acupressure deals views the person as a whole: considering body, emotions, mind, and spirit as one. The imbalance in the flow of qi, or vital energy, through the body’s meridians is thought to be the cause of many disorders. When appropriate pressure is applied to the meridians, qi is unblocked and can flow freely through the body, restoring balance and harmony.
TCM Fact: Traditional and Alternative Medicines are gaining popularity, even is the US and other developed countries. Records show for instance, that in 1997, people in the US made more visits to alternative MEDICAL practitioners than to modern medical doctors.
TCM Fact: Acupressure is often referred to as “acupuncture without needles”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes Acupressure as a valuable medical art-- one of the alternative medicinal treatments important in solving the health problems of the world.