How Acupressure Points Work

Have you ever felt those weird, tingling sensations when someone presses on your hand or foot? Those are called acupressure points. They are located all over the body and are said by some to help relieve pain and pressure in various parts of the body.

In this article we will take a closer look at how these points work so that you can start using them to help yourself.

A History of Acupressure

The idea of using these points to relieve pain comes from traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese said that the points help to stimulate the meridian system in the body and bring about relief by being able to rebalance the body. Acupressure has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2000 years!

The ancient Greeks are also said to have used acupressure for achieving heightened states. Some martial arts also refer to acupressure points both in terms of them being a place of vulnerability of someone and also a way of helping heal the body.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that they became popular in Europe and North America.

Acupressure is now a very common form of natural healing that is frequently used by some alongside more traditional medicine.

Does Acupressure Work?

There has been no definitive medical test showing that acupressure works. However, limited studies have indicated it might work for some people and in some circumstances.

In 2011 a review of controlled trials using acupressure found that 35 out of 43 trials had shown acupressure to be effective at treating certain conditions. However, the review also found that the trials “indicated a significant likelihood of bias”.

The authors of the review concluded that this “review of clinical trials from the past decade did not provide rigorous support for the efficacy of acupressure for symptom management. Well-designed, randomized controlled studies are needed to determine the utility and efficacy of acupressure to manage a variety of symptoms in a number of patient populations.”

You can read the review here.

Another study in the same year concluded that “acupuncture or acupressure may help relieve pain during labour, but more research is needed”. You can review that study here.

So acupressure has its supporters and acupressure products are widely used, but there is no proof it actually works.

Acupressure itself is not invasive and is therefore generally considered to be safe. The worst case scenario is that it won’t harm you, but may not do you that much good. But with its use extending to over 2,000 years you can see why some people are willing to give it a go.

What Are The Acupressure Points

There are thought to be around 360 acupressure points around the body that are said to help with various ailments. Some common ones include:

• At the base of your thumb and first finger where they join together (this is said by some people to relieve headaches or migraines).
• Behind your ear bone and following the back to the neck muscles (recommended for headaches and cold symptoms).
• Pinching the shoulder muscle (stress, headache and neck pain).
• Holding the palm upwards, one inch down from the centre of the wrist (said to be good for nausea and stomach problems).
• The same point but on the front of the hand (for energy and boosting the immune system)

What Are Meridians?

Most acupressure points are arranged around meridians. Meridians are described in traditional Chinese medicine as pathways connecting points in the body, the points being the acupressure points. There are 12 main meridians. Each meridian connects an organ to the outside of the body.

The 12 main meridians are:

• Lung
• Large Intestine
• Stomach
• Spleen
• Heart
• Small Intestine
• Gall Bladder
• Liver
• Kidney
• Bladder
• Pericardium
• San Jiao

There are also 8 other meridians which are not connected to organs. The Governing Vessel (Du Mai) and Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) are the most notable.

Chinese medicine says that energy flows through these meridians and they call that Qi. If Qi flows freely within your body then you remain healthy. But when Qi is blocked then you can get stressed. Acupressure helps relieve this stress and allows the Qi to flow more freely again.

What is Acupressure Used For?

Acupressure has not undergone rigorous research. The amount of data on the usefulness of acupressure is limited. However, there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence which suggests that some people have benefited from acupressure for a variety of conditions.

In the main the benefits of acupressure seem to surround reducing stress and anxiety and relieving pain. Acupressure is also believed by some people to be able to promote weight loss because it apparently increases metabolism.

Some studies have also suggested that wrist acupressure can reduce nausea. This pressure point is on the inside of the wrist, between the two large tendons. There are bracelets and wristbands aimed at targeting this pressure point.

Some evidence suggests that both back pain and headaches can be helped using acupressure. The point to help relieve headaches is quite well known, you may have heard about it already. It is the point between your thumb and first finger. Squeeze this area for 30 seconds, rest, and then squeeze again. This is often thought to reduce the pain of headaches.

How Do You Use Acupressure Points?

When you push on a point, press firmly but not too hard for about 30 seconds. Rest and then push again, or push on another acupressure point.

You can also use other things to press acupressure points.  For instance, a tennis ball can be used to press the sole of your foot. Acupuncture is also a form of acupressure.

Don’t push on any acupressure point for too long. You may need someone else or an object like a pillow or chair arm in order to reach some points you are trying to relieve pain in.

It’s also really helpful if you have something flat and hard that will allow you to put pressure on different parts of your back as well, such as with using a book while lying down. Doing this gently but firmly from head-to-toe will help release tension throughout all muscle groups there. You could also use a yoga block to do the same.

There are even some acupressure mats that have been developed to help you stimulate the back, back of the legs, neck and head.

Acupressure Products

There are many other acupressure products that you can buy to stimulate various acupressure points around the body. For example:

• acupressure mats to lay on and that stimulate the back.
• acupressure arm bands that stimulate points in the arm.
• acupressure bracelets and wristbands for pressure points around the wrists.
• acupressure gloves for stimulating points in the hands and fingers.
• acupressure rollers which help with those hard to reach points in the back.
• acupressure slippers that stimulate points in the feet.