Acupressure: Self-Care At Your Fingertips
Acupressure is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),and has been in use for a few thousands years. It follows the same basic principle that is behind acupuncture (the use of needles). There is Qi (life energy) flowing through our body along pathways aka meridians. When Qi is blocked or unbalanced, illness, pain, and discomfort can potentially result. Acupuncture uses needles to access and stimulate the points in the body, whereas acupressure uses the gentle, but firm, pressure of fingers or tools to apply pressure. This is one of the reasons why it's an accessible form of healingβanyone can learn the points, and apply the pressure, on themselves or their family. It's essentially self-care at your fingertips, literally.
The genius of acupressure comes from its profound simplicity and effectiveness. You do not need to go to a doctor, have special tools, or need to spend a lot of time doing it. You can do it virtually anywhereβin your office chair, the plane, or lying in bed. By applying pressure to points on and in your body, you are attempting to reduce muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and activate the body's natural self-healing process. For example, applying pressure to the He Gu point (LI4), in the webbing between your thumb and index finger, is a well-documented technique to relieve headaches, toothaches, and stress.
But does it really work in a world beyond anecdotal evidence and folk medicine? There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence that supports this. Modern research studies have started to identify and describe the mechanisms of this ancient practice, and much of the research has focused specifically on how acupressure can have a neuromodulatory effect on a person.
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Pain Management: A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed positive results for acupressure as both standalone and combination treatment for low back pain.
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Nausea and Vomiting: Acupressureβs effect on relieving post-operative nausea is one of its most well-documented benefits. A 2018Β study in theΒ Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing found that acupressure wristbands (targeting the PC6 point) were an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing vomiting as well as nausea intensity in patients after surgery.
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Sleep Quality: Research has also shown promise for improving sleep. A 2018 meta analysis in the Journal of Sleep Medicine Review found that acupressure improved sleep quality.
- Anxiety: A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis published in theΒ Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine found that acupressure significantly reduced patient anxiety.
The science points to acupressure working by stimulating the nervous system to release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and by modulating neurotransmitters that affect stress and relaxation.
While acupressure is not a panacea, it is a valuable complimentary practice that empowers you to take control of your health. When you combine an ancient healing art with modern, and in some cases cutting-edge, scientific studies, acupressure demonstrates that sometimes the simplest practice, with the touch of your own hand, can be the most effective.
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