What Is Acupressure?
Since the beginning of time, humans have realized that when certain areas of the body are pressed, massaged, or needled symptoms were reduced or even eliminated. We instinctively touch where we are in pain or discomfort. Acupressure works by improving the flow of vital life force energy (qi) though the body, which activates the body’s self-healing mechanism.
The ancient Chinese had the ability to see “lines of light” in the body that had energy running through them. What resulted was the meridian system in Chinese medicine. They could also ‘see’ points on those lines where more energy, Qi, was gathered and which ones were blocked.
Acupressure operates on the same theory as acupuncture – breaking up energy blocks and restoring balance of vital Qi in the body – but instead of using needles, the practitioner uses their hands to apply pressure along the energy meridians.
By using this method of manual pressure, the practitioner can tap into the patient’s natural healing ability and also the pressure of massage can trigger pain-relieving endorphins to release.
When combined with carefully chosen essential oils the action of the acupoints are further activated and the benefits of the essential oil and the acupoint work synergistically to provide relief from symptoms faster and more effectively than either modality alone.
