Acupressure

According to Eastern philosophy man represents the microcosm, which mirrors the universe, the macrocosm. Running through nature there is a vital life force called Chi. This has two aspects or forms of expression, known as Yin and Yang. Everything, people included, is made up of Yin and Yang and they symbolise the duality of the Universe. Yin is seen as corresponding to all things yielding, submissive, negative and feminine. Yang is seen as corresponding to all things dominant, positive and masculine. But all things contain the two and they are not poles which repel one another.

The symbol of the Great Polarity represents graphically the belief that the Yin and the Yang are complementary, a balance being necessary for harmony. The two are seen to balance one another, flowing into each other to become the other. Chi is thought to flow through the body along pathways or meridians as they are known. Many things may cause a blockage in energy leading to an imbalance of Yin and Yang. The aim of treatment, whether by needles or finger pressure is to restore the normal flow of Chi bringing back into balance the Yin and Yang.

Acupressure can successfully treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, aches & pains, headaches and migraine, menstrual problems, PMS, menopause and fatigue and can aid weight loss. Regular acupressure sessions release the build-up of daily pressures and tensions keeping the body resilient and healthy. By releasing tension regularly you help prevent many stress related problems helping you to look and feel at your best Chi is thought to flow around the body in channels called meridians. These are not anatomical structures like arteries, veins and lymphatics, but are energy pathways much like the chakras. There are 14 meridians on the body. The Yang meridians begin at the top of the head, face and fingertips and descend towards the centre of the body or towards the Earth. The main part of their path is on the back of the body. The Yin meridians are on the front of the body and start at the toes or the centre of the body and flow upwards.

The diagram shows the meridian pathways on the body and also the location of the acupoints used during treatment. Acupuncture derived from a much older form of Fingertip Medicine. As it evolved needles were used to stimulate certain points known as acupoints. These points had been found to relieve pains or symptoms in distant parts of the body and it was around this that the whole basis of acupuncture theory was built up. Originally, following the philosophy of numbers which played such an important part in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there were 365 acupoints described, equivalent to the number of days in the year. Some are more important than others and although there are now over a thousand points, most acupuncturists and acupressure therapists probably confine themselves to using about 50-60.

The acupoints are identified by a prefix and a number. Therefore the acupoint GB 20, indicates the 20th point on the Gall Bladder meridian. They are numbered from one to however many points there are on a particular meridian, according to the direction of the meridian as outlined above.

The meridians are designated by:-
Li Liver
L Lung
LI Large Intestine
S Stomach
Sp Spleen
H Heart
SI Small Intestine
B Bladder
K Kidney
P Pericardium
TW Triple Warmer
GB Gall Bladder
CV Conception vessel
Br Brain
GV Governing vessel

During a treatment the acupressure therapist may ask you to sit or lie on a massage table. Some acupressure therapists will work through clothing, others will ask you to undress although you will be covered with a towel. Then the therapist will locate and work on the specific acupoints that relate to your condition. Typically, the therapist will press each point for about three to ten seconds or longer in some cases and the points may be pressed and released repeatedly.

After a treatment, you will probably feel looser and more relaxed and you may experience a slight achiness. Stress management usually requires a series of about six regular weekly or monthly treatments. There are many different types of acupressure and each practitioner may use a variety of methods. One of the most popular is shiatsu, a Japanese technique based on ancient Chinese principles. Reflexology is a type of acupressure that involves pressure points on the feet and sometimes the hands.