A Wisdom Archive on Acupressure

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is a way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centers in the body. These energy centers or Acupoints lie on energy pathways called Meridians. When acupoints or meridians become blocked or congested you experience pain or discomfort on a physical level. On an emotional level you may become frustrated or irritable, and on a spirit (energetic) level you may experience a sense of feeling ungrounded, vulnerable, and have difficulty knowing your purpose in life.

Acupressure is using deep but gentle finger pressure on specific acupoints the blocked energy starts to release, allowing your body/mind to relax. As your body/mind relaxes, you have an opportunity to explore thought patterns, memories, and belief systems. Through mindful exploration, the way you experience your universe can change, allowing you an opportunity to manifest your purpose in life with less discomfort and stress; with a greater sense of wellbeing.

Paul Rouleau

Acupressure: Areas of use

Acupressure is effective for:

Introduction and links to related topics

Acumassage - Massage of the acupressure points.

Accupuncture - ACCUPUNCTURE:
The modern name is derived from the Latin words Acus (needle) and Punctura (penetration). It is, however, an ancient Chinese art of healing that sticks needles into a patient''s skin or even muscles to correct imbalances in the `yin'' & `yang'' of the body.
Yellow Emperor''s Classic of Internal Medicine, one of the oldest medical texts in the world, comprises a special section called `Magic Gate'', which is devoted to this therapeutic style.
Although modern acupuncture charts more than 2000 points in the body - located along invisible energy called `meridians'', 12 channels in each half of the body and 2 major channels (Ren & Du) along the middle line - traditionally there were only 365.
The western explanation for this is that a needle inserted at specific acupuncture points of the body releases certain chemical substances, that activate neuro-transmitters, which then pass on nerve impulses to the brain to obtain the desired effects. Must be performed by trained practitioners only.

The fundamental difference between these two systems being :
ACUPUNCTURE
A form of surgery where needles are penetrated into specific points of your body.
To cure chronic aches and pain.

ACUPRESSURE
A form of physiotherapy that indulges in massage and stimulation of precise points of the body.
To ease all kinds of aches and pains and provide relief from tension, exhaustion and disease.

Acupressure - Oriental healing system using direct finger pressure to specific tension spots to reduce stress and pain and affect healing. Also called Shiatsu massage and Reflexology.

Acupressure - (shiatsu, Japanese) Healing art based on massage, stimulating and increasing flow of life energy throughout the physical body

Accupressure - ACCUPRESSURE:
Based on the principle of manipulation of crucial pressure points in the body, accupressure cures difficult and chronic aches and pains - backaches, spondylitis, abdominal cramps, neurological disorders, arthritis etc. These pressure points, over a 1000 of them are actually small nerves about a centimeter in diameter and varying in depth between a quarter of an inch to several inches. - are often embedded in or near a muscle or tendon.
Adds life to those limbs that have been partially disabled.
Safe and effective, it involves no pin-pricks, no heat fomentations, nor any chemical or electric stimulations. However, it is a very exact art and should be carried out by a trained practitioner, absolutely sure about the pressure points to be tapped and the correct pressure to be applied.

The fundamental difference between these two systems being :

ACUPRESSURE
A form of physiotherapy that indulges in massage and stimulation of precise points of the body.
To ease all kinds of aches and pains and provide relief from tension, exhaustion and disease.

ACUPUNCTURE
A form of surgery where needles are penetrated into specific points of your body.
To cure chronic aches and pain.

Acupoint - Point on the body treated by acupuncture or acupressure