The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016
Acupressure
The Power of Touch
As one of the five senses (along with sight, hearing, smell, and taste), touch is one of the fundamental parts of human life. We use touch to relate to one another and to experience the world around us, and the simple act of touching or being touched has proven extremely powerful in the realm of health and well-being—both physical and emotional. Each of the practices discussed in this chapter uses touch in a different way. Acupressure involves putting physical pressure on specific points of the body with the aim of relieving pain. Massage includes rubbing techniques designed to promote relaxation, increase circulation, and relieve sore muscles. Reiki is a method in which a practitioner places the palms of his or her hands on different parts of the patient’s body with the intent of transferring healing energy. The other topics you’ll learn about in this chapter are acupuncture, reflexology, and Rolfing.
Acupressure
ORIGINS
Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that has been adopted by the Western world as a form of alternative medicine. Closely related to massage and acupuncture (see entry in this chapter), acupressure is based on the concept that energy flows through “meridians” in the body. It is believed that putting physical pressure on certain points—such as the fleshy web between the thumb and index finger—can clear energy blockages in these meridians and thereby restore or maintain health.
HISTORY/LORE
Although the Chinese have been practicing acupressure for over 5,000 years, and other Asian countries such as India and Japan have their own ancient versions, this technique was unknown to the Western world until the seventeenth century, when it was first introduced in Europe. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the practice really took hold in the United States.
USES
Have you ever found yourself rubbing your temples when you have a headache? If so, then you’re already familiar with acupressure. This ancient practice has been shown to be enormously effective at relieving pain and discomfort resulting from stress, injury, and chronic conditions such as arthritis, even when other options, such as prescription drugs, have failed. But acupressure is not just for those seeking to treat a specific ailment. Many people partake in this practice regularly, similar to massage, to increase circulation, release tension, and maintain general health. If you’re interested in giving it a try, you have the option of self-treatment or making an appointment with a certified acupressurist. Information about both is available online.