Acupressure Is Less Painful Than Acupuncture Yet Extremely Effective

Acupuncture, after a rocky beginning, has now become well known and widely accepted in the West. Western medicine, after many scientific studies, has finally granted broad recognition and a strong measure of legitimacy to acupuncture-especially after the introduction of high-tech methods of stimulating insertion points via precision-manufactured needles and electrical techniques. Acupressure, however-though the older of these two related arts-may actually be more effective. Certainly it's more natural, since it relies on the gentle and sensitive yet strong power of the human hand. For self-healing, acupressure is decidedly the way to go. Make no mistake: There is an art to acupressure-we'll make no hyperbolized claims that it's fantastically easy or that you can master in minutes this highly developed technique.

What we are confident of is that acupressure is safe. Moreover, you can learn acupressure. Even if you're completely new to this art, you need to only follow directions...proceed carefully...and pay thoughtful attention to appropriate warnings. You'll experience no side-effects and will need to use no drugs! Your two hands and your mind are all the equipment you'll need. Moreover, you can practice acupressure therapy anywhere.

So how does acupressure work? Roughly, the same way acupuncture does. Since these arts derive from ancient Chinese medicine, it makes sense to describe them in oriental terms. Oriental practitioners believe that good health flows from the harmonious balance of complementary extremes-yin and yang-in the life force known in the Orient as qi or chi. (In some oriental languages and dialects, the word is pronounced chee, and in others similar to the English word key, I favor the latter for its obvious symbolic value.) Qi is believed to follow and flow through meridians, i.e., predetermined pathways, in your body. Through over three hundred different pressure points, you can access the qi force as it flows along the meridians. The acupressure specialist accesses various combinations of points to restore balance in the qi and to affect various body organs and functions.

Acupressure's working, however, does not depend on you accepting the oriental notion of qi. The simple fact is that acupuncture and acupressure do work providing healing, improved circulation and relaxation. Western medicine and physiology are now mapping these effects in terms of modern neurological science. Western practitioners read the traditional acupuncture points as useful places to access and stimulate nerve, muscle, and connective tissues, boosting blood flow and the body's natural pain-killing functions.

To learn how to achieve the various benefits of acupressure, I recommend you learn more about this art and consider visiting an acupressure practitioner. There are also online resources available for you to gain more insight about this wellness regimen. Three particularly helpful ones are: www.beautifulonraw.com (the article on the right side of the home page titled: Improve Circulation and Rejuvenate through Acupuncture and Acupressure); http://rawfoodists.blogspot.com/ (the March 12 post titled Acupressure and Acupuncture); and http://www.kaboodle.com/rawfood (the article towards the bottom of the page). These sites provide more information about acupressure and include additional information about natural lifestyles and raw foods.