Domain

Explanation & remarks

What is acupressure?

• Within Oriental systems, the flow of "vital life energy" or Chi is important for health & well-being
• The supply & flow of Chi runs along invisible electrical channels in our bodies known as "meridians"
• One of the simplest ways to improve flow of Chi is through acupressure for health & acupuncture for treatment
• It involves the application of fingertip or thumb pressure at specific points on the body (known as "acupoints") to stimulate meridian flow & internal organ function for health & ease imbalance

Why is the flow of Chi within our bodies so important for health?

• Ancient Indians envision the body as a manifestation of different forms of energies
• In order for the body to be in good health & us in good spirits, there should be balance of energies within the body & should there be any imbalance, excess or resultant energies must be able to flow & equilibrate to attain eventual balance
• Imbalance tips the bodily scale, affects harmony of the different energies & deteriorates health
• The flow of Chi depends on the following:

1. Diet 飲食
2. Lifestyle 生活方式
3. Environment 環境
4. Posture 身題姿勢
5. Breathing 呼吸運氣
6. Habits 身心習慣
7. Attitude 心態
8. Personality 性格
9. Spirit 精神

How does acupressure help in the flow of Chi?

• An unhealthy body is like a house with many closed doors reducing the flow of fresh air through the entire space
• If the closed doors are opened up, fresh air through mechanical forces would flow & equilibrate more freely, thus the house would be conducive to its inhabitants
• The body is like the house & the doors are the "acupoints" along the meridians where Chi flows
• An unhealthy body would have many closed doors or "acupoints" which hinder the free flow of Chi
• What acupressure does is through applying pressure on specific closed "acupoints", these are forced to open, thus allowing the excess or deficient Chi to equilibrate between different regions & improving the health of the body
• The fundamental criteria is for acupressure to assist in the free flow of Chi energies to achieve a state of balance where the body would naturally heal itself

What simple acupressure steps are available for us?

• Note: avoid close to mealtimes, exhaustion or hunger
• I provide Acupressure health workout by Jacqueline Young below as a general guide:
• Relax yourself, deep calm breathing & loose clothing & press on the following:
• Inside of wrist next to pulse
• Valley made by the thumb & the index finger
• Outside of elbow
• Side of lower leg
• Outside of ankle
• Outside of wrist
• Behind the little finger
• Back of neck
• Back of knee
• Back of ankle
• Sole of feet
• Ankle
• Middle of wrist
• Foreside of arm
• Outside of lower leg
• Behind the toes
• Above the upper lip
• Below the navel
• At the edge of the breast bone
• Ear
• Wind up by rubbing, massaging, simple walking & relaxing, drink lots of water

Are there additional workouts for acupressure?

• For general health care, try the following, relax yourself & observe your bodymind effects:
• Valley made by the thumb & the index finger
• Mid-point between the navel & end of breast bone
• Below the shoulder blade & beside the spine
• Edge of kneecap on muscle
• Back of knee
• Back of middle lower leg
• Side of lower leg near the knee
• Back of ankle
• Front of shin
• Sole of foot
• Behind the neck at shoulder level
• Behind armpit
• Edge of hip joint
• Above the kneecap
• Edge of little finger
• Edge of ankle in shallow depression
• Mid-point between armpit & lowest rib
• Front of arm
• First joint between the large toe & the index toe
• Top of skull
• Small of back beside the spine
• Below the navel

Is any relationships or similarities between the Western nervous system & Chinese acupoints?

Phil Rogers MVB, MRCVS
HOME: 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland
T: 353-1-6281-222; E-mail: [email protected]
Homepage : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/roghome.htm

WORK:Grange Research Centre, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co Meath, Ireland
T: 353-46-25214; F: 353-46-26154
TECNOTES: http://www.research.teagasc.ie/grange/tecnotes.htm

"The neuroendocrine / adaptive / homeostatic system of western medical philosophy underlies most AP effects and mechanisms"

Relationship with Ayurveda (Indian origins)?

• Qi in Chinese medicine = prana in Ayurveda
• Chinese five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, earth
• Ayurveda five elements: ether, water, air, fire, earth
• Similar beliefs (not yet scientifically confirmed or difficult & complex to do so):

1. Concept of body's vital spots
2. Emphasis on restoring balance as the physician's task
3. Attention to personal hygiene
4. Preventive treatment against disease
5. Reliance on herbal drugs
6. Works & tested for thousands of years

• Main difference:

1. Chinese use an organ-based system of diagnosis
2. Ayurveda uses a whole mind-body-spirit diagonsis based on constitutions

Where can we learn more about acupressure?

• Learning is better than knowing, but doing is better than learning
• Try acupressure for yourself & others, see the effects
• In theory, look for more information on search engines as well as Chinese medicine
• In practice, attend classes or workshops & observe
• Practice makes perfect for our health