Acupressure for adults

Acupressure or acupressure, which has been used in China for thousands of years, uses the same principles as acupuncture to relax and improve health, as well as to treat illness. Acupressure is often referred to as acupuncture without needles. But what is acupressure and how does it work? What is the theory of acupressure? Would such an intervention hurt?

Acupressure, also known as shiatsu, is an ancient alternative treatment that is closely related to massage. Although acupressure is generally harmless in general, when performed by a qualified professional, there are certain circumstances or contraindications in which acupressure can be hazardous to your health.

The practice of acupressure differs from other forms of massage in that it uses more specific pressure with the fingertips instead of long, sweeping strokes or kneading. Pressure on certain acupuncture points on the surface of the skin, according to some experts, can contribute to the development of the body’s natural healing properties. However, there is still not enough data on acupressure – more clinical and scientific studies are needed to determine exactly how effective such massage is, and to draw conclusions – whether the claims of practitioners regarding benefits or harms are justified.

In the West, not all practitioners believe that it is possible to influence points or that certain bodily meridians really exist, but practitioners really work. Instead, they attribute any results to other factors that must be realized in massage. This includes reducing muscle spasm, tension, improving capillary circulation, or stimulating the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving hormones.

What are common acupuncture points?

There are literally hundreds of acupuncture points on the body – too many to list them all. But there are three main ones that acupuncturists and acupressure specialists usually use:

• large intestine 4 (or point LI 4) – it is located in the zone of the palm, its fleshy part at the borders of the thumb and forefinger;
• liver 3 (point LR-3) – on the top of the foot up from the space between the big and next toes;
• spleen 6 (point SP-6) – located approximately 6 – 7 cm above the area of ​​​​the inner edge of the ankle.

The benefits of acupressure for adults

Research into the potential benefits of acupressure exposure is just beginning. Many patient testimonials speak of the beneficial effects of this practice in solving a number of health problems. However, more thoughtful studies are needed.

Here are a few health issues that seem to improve with acupressure:

• Nausea. Several studies support the use of wrist acupressure to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after surgery, during spinal anesthesia, after chemotherapy, for motion sickness, and pregnancy-related.

  The PC 6 acupressure point is located in the groove between the two large tendons on the inside of the wrist that start at the base of the palm. There are special bracelets available without a prescription. They press on similar pressure points and work for some people.

• Cancer. In addition to relieving nausea immediately after chemotherapy, there are anecdotal reports that acupressure also helps reduce stress, increase energy levels, relieve pain, and reduce other symptoms of cancer or its treatment. More research is needed to confirm these reports.
• Pain. Some preliminary evidence suggests that acupressure may help with lower back pain, post-operative pain, or headaches. It can also eliminate pain from other conditions. An LI 4 pressure point is sometimes used to relieve headaches.
• Arthritis. Some studies show that acupressure releases endorphins and promotes anti-inflammatory effects and helps with some types of arthritis.
• Depression and anxiety. There are studies that show that acupressure can relieve fatigue and improve mood. But again, more thoughtful testing is needed.

Harm of acupressure for adults

In general, acupressure is safe. If you have cancer, arthritis, heart disease, or a chronic illness, be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any therapy that involves moving your joints and muscles. And make sure your acupressurist is licensed and certified. It may be necessary to avoid working with deep tissues, and it is on this effect that acupressure is based, if any of the following conditions are present:

• exposure is carried out in the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXba cancerous tumor or if the cancer has spread to the bones;
• you have rheumatoid arthritis, a spinal injury, or a bone disease that can be aggravated by physical manipulation;
• you have varicose veins;
• you are pregnant (because certain points can cause contractions).

Contraindications for acupressure for adults

Cardiovascular disease in general is a contraindication for both acupressure and other types of massage unless approved by your physician. This includes heart disease, a history of blood clots, clotting disorders, and other blood-related conditions. For example, acupressure is especially dangerous for people at risk for blood clots because pressure on the skin can release the clot, causing it to travel to the brain or heart, with serious consequences.

Cancer is also a contraindication for acupressure. Initially, the contraindication was due to concerns about changes in blood circulation, resulting in an increased risk of metastasis or spread of cancer. However, according to oncology massage therapist William Handley Jr., new research no longer supports this theory. But cancer patients have other problems associated with acupressure, such as an increased risk of tissue damage, bleeding, and embolization from the pressure used during acupressure. This is especially true for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Along with the two main contraindications associated with cancer and cardiovascular health, there are various other contraindications for which a doctor should be consulted before performing acupressure on the body. These include:

• pregnancy;
• acute fever;
• inflammation;
• poisoning;
• open wounds;
• bone fractures;
• ulcers;
• infectious skin diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• venereal diseases.

If you have concerns or doubts, talk to your doctor before starting an acupressure session.

How to do acupressure for adults at home

Without special knowledge at home, it is better not to practice such a massage.

Popular questions and answers

Acupressure is a very popular procedure, but what do professional doctors think of it? We asked the most popular questions to rehabilitation doctors.