What is acupressure? Well, acupressure is an ancient healing art practiced for at least 5,000 years. It's a traditional Chinese medicine technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture, the only difference is that it doesn't use needles. Acupressure actually existed long before acupuncture.
Acupressure keeps the body's energy flow in balance. It works by applying pressure to specific acupoints located along energy channels called meridians. This activates the body's natural self-healing powers.
People have used acupressure for thousands of years to treat various illnesses and disorders, including: chronic pain, arthritis, asthma, digestive issues, headaches, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, strokes, weight loss, and many, many more.
Regular use of acupressure can set the whole body in balance, which will result in overall improvement of health. It improves memory, learning capacity, energy levels, supports the immune system and even helps to improve fertility. Maternity or labor acupressure is a great natural method intended to help women during pregnancy and childbirth.
Where and when did acupressure originate? It is generally believed that acupressure originated in India and later spread to China and other parts of Asia. The earliest text that mentions meridian based treatments is known as the "Nei Ching". This is the oldest surviving medical work written some two thousand years ago.
The earliest known evidence of a practice similar to acupressure was found in Europe. The Tyrolian Iceman Otzi, a 5000-year-old mummy found in the Alps in 1991, had more than fifty tattoos on his body, many of which correspond to modern acupuncture points.
Acupressure has been practiced for thousands of years, most commonly in Asia. Today, it is accepted and practiced worldwide. It clearly stood the test of time.
Posted under acupuncture
This post was written by Linda Deen on June 25, 2009
