For centuries, acupressure has been used by practitioners of alternative medicine to relieve pain and illnesses. I wasn’t introduced to acupressure until few years ago when a friend of mine helped me get through a runny nose with some massage techniques. I was impressed, and I quickly started reading and learning the technique.
Aside from a runny nose, acupressure can help you with a sore throat as a natural and home remedy, headache, cold, sinus pain and much more. What few people know is that there are literally hundreds of points and spots for acupressure on the body.
If you manage to understand just 20% of those and learn how to exploit them to treat illnesses and pains, you will feel great. And if the question “what is acupressure” troubles you, the simple answer is that acupressure is a technique derived from acupuncture. However, unlike acupuncture where you need needles to pressure certain spots on the body, with acupressure, all you need are your fingers.
 

Before You Start

The first step to successful acupressure massage is relaxation.
You must be as calm and as comfortable as possible, which will let your brain wander around and you can focus on the spots you need to massage.
Sit comfortable in chair or armchair, but make sure never to cross your legs.
Before you start the massage, make sure to warm up your hands by rubbing them for one minute or two.
This will increase the energy flow between your hands and make them more sensitive.
After you’ve warmed up your hands, you can start the massage by stimulating the point you want/need.
If you are experiencing pain, make sure to inhale and exhale slowly to relieve pain.
 

Acupressure Points on the Fingers

Your hand is all you need to massage to relieve pain and cure several illnesses. Let me introduce you to all the points on your hand.

• The first point I want to tell you is the tip of your thumb. This is the first section of the tip, and you can massage it against cold. Massaging and pressing this point will stimulate your nose and throat, providing relief from any respiratory problems you might be experiencing such as a cough, cold, nasal congestion and difficulties swallowing.
• For a sore throat, you want to stimulate the lower part of your thumb. While you are stimulating the lower part of the thumb, make sure to inhale and exhale slowly, to let the energy flow through your body. This point can also be stimulated for hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.
• Sinus pain is the next respiratory issue that you can treat with acupressure. The points for sinus pain and sinusitis are located on all four fingers except the thumb, at the tip of the finger. Massage as close as you can to the tip of the nails to relive sinus pain, dizziness, headache, stuffy nose and to also stimulate secretion of mucus.
• If you are having problems with influenza, you want to apply pressure on the pads of all your fingers. Massaging all fingers at once will relieve pain in the muscles of the entire body, providing you with a soothing effect that will battle influenza. If you want to go a step further, you can also massage the skin between the toes, that delicate skin that stimulates the lymphatic system.
• Fatigue is another issue that you can treat by acupressure. For fatigue, you want to stimulate the point under the tip of your middle finger. Massage the right side of the middle finger to relieve fatigue.
• Massaging your index finger, just under the tip helps you with abdominal pain. The small finger also helps with abdominal pain.
• Last, but not least, headaches can be relieved by massaging the ring finger.

The Magic of Acupressure

What many people ask me is how acupressure actually helps?
For some people it looks like science, or something artificial. I admit, I was not a believer at the beginning.
What I’ve come to understand over the years is that acupressure has three main effects on the body:

1. Prevention–as regular acupressure helps in maintaining good health
2. Therapeutic effect–as it can improve overall health
3. Last but not least, diagnostic effect–as pain and discomfort during acupressure can be symptoms of problems.

But the most important aspect of regular acupressure is the benefit of relieving tension.

In the world of constant stress and dynamic living, pressure is a common aspect of our lives.
Acupressure helps relieve that pressure–helping us relax and restoring the balance of the body.
The massage also improves oxygen flow through our body by stimulating circulation.
 
Guest post by Vanessa Rhodes
 
Have you used or a loved one used acupresssure?
What was your experience like?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
 

“PIN & SHARE”

“Shared at the Pin Junkie Pin Party”

“Shared at the Homestead Blog Hop”