Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Acupressure Treatment Offers Natural Healing And Pain Relief

By Paulette Short


Patients who are looking for a safe approach to pain relief may want to try acupressure treatment. This technique comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but differs in that it does not use needles but manually applied pressure instead and involves stimulating specific points along the body's energy channels called meridians which in turn affect the organs they are connected to.

There have been numerous studies conducted which provide evidence that this method is effective as a pain relief and healing approach. Since it has been noted to impact both the body and mind, it is classified as a holistic modality. It eases muscle tension and improves circulation and also has a relaxing and energizing effect.

These energy meridians run throughout the body from the head to the heels and serve the purpose of connect the body's exterior to its interior. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that there are 800 pressure points located along these channels. Western medicine generally does not acknowledge acupressure, however it does agree that these identified points do coincide with the confirmed locations of many autonomic nervous junctions.

Whereas acupuncturists use needles to stimulate certain points, acupressure practitioners use their hands, feet, elbows, or some devices made for this purpose. Examples of acupressure tools include the foot roller, acuball, and energy roller. A session is usually about an hour long, and normally several will be needed to achieve the best results. The patient should drink warm water afterwards to flush away any toxins that were released.

This treatment is intended to balance out the positive and negative energy forces, or "yin and yang" of the body. Even with considerable evidence to back up the claims that acupressure can reverse many illnesses and eliminate pain, Western medicine is still reluctant to fully accept it as fact and generally writes off its effects as a response to another proven physical reaction in the body.

This method has also gained recognition as preventative measure that can help correct imbalances and pain before they progress further. Its principles are simple and it can be learned by anyone and applied to oneself to help treat problems such as neck pain, eyestrain, back and muscle aches, sinus problems, headaches, and arthritis. It can also help ease stress which can positively affect the immune system.

It has been proven that pressure applied to the wrist helps prevent nausea and vomiting which occurs as a result of chemotherapy or motion sickness. A special type of wristband is sold for this purpose which continuously applies pressure to this point. Other research suggests this technique is also an effective way to alleviate headaches, arthritis pain, depression, and anxiety, most likely due to the high level of endorphins it stimulates the release of.

Overall there is no risk associated with acupressure treatment, although it may not be suitable for those who have been diagnosed with cancer, a spinal injury, varicose veins, or rheumatoid arthritis, these patients should first check with their doctor. It can also cause contractions in some pregnant women, who are better off waiting until after they deliver. Patients must make sure that only a certified and licensed practitioner performs this procedure.




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