Acupressure

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Acupuncture point LI-4 (Hegu) known in Chinese as (hg)
Acupressure [from Latin acus "needle" (see acuity) + pressure (n.).] is an alternative
medicine technique similar in principle to Acupuncture. It is based on the concept of life
energy which flows through "meridians" in the body. In treatment, physical pressure is
applied to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure
may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various devices.
Some medical studies have suggested that acupressure may be effective at helping manage
nausea and vomiting, for helping lower back pain, tension headaches, stomach ache, among
other things, although such studies have been found to have a high likelihood of bias.
[1]
It
may probably not be as effective as acupuncture, but some claim
[who?]
it provides temporary
relief.
According to Quackwatch acupressure is a dubious practice, and its practitioners use
irrational methods.
[2]

Background
Acupoints used in treatment may or may not be in the same area of the body as the targeted
symptom. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory for the selection of such points
and their effectiveness is that they work by stimulating the meridian system to bring about
relief by rebalancing yin, yang and qi (also spelled "chi").
Many East Asian martial arts also make extensive study and use of acupressure for self-
defense and health purposes, (chin na, tui na). The points or combinations of points are said
to be used to manipulate or incapacitate an opponent. Also, martial artists regularly massage
their own acupressure points in routines to remove blockages from their own meridians,
claiming
[weasel words]
to thereby enhance their circulation and flexibility and keeping the points
"soft" or less vulnerable to an attack.
[3]

Reception
A 2011 systematic review of acupressure's effectiveness at treating symptoms found that 35
out of 43 randomized controlled trials had concluded that acupressure was effective at
treating certain symptoms; however, the nature of these 43 studies "indicated a significant
likelihood of bias." The authors of this systematic 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."
[1]
A 2011 Cochrane review of four trials using
acupuncture and nine studies using acupressure to control pain in childbirth concluded that
"acupuncture or acupressure may help relieve pain during labour, but more research is
needed".
[4]

An acupressure wristband that is claimed to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness and
other forms of nausea provides pressure to the P6 acupuncture point, a point that has been
extensively investigated.
[5]
The Cochrane Collaboration, a group of evidence-based medicine
(EBM) reviewers, reviewed the use of P6 for nausea and vomiting, and found it to be
effective for reducing post-operative nausea, but not vomiting.
[6]
The Cochrane review
included various means of stimulating P6, including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture,
transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, acustimulation device and acupressure; it
did not comment on whether one or more forms of stimulation were more effective. EBM
reviewer Bandolier said that P6 in two studies showed 52% of patients with control having a
success, compared with 75% with P6.
[7]
One author of an article published in the Scientific
Review of Alternative Medicine disagreed.
[8]

A Cochrane Collaboration review found that massage provided some long-term benefit for
low back pain, and said: It seems that acupressure or pressure point massage techniques
provide more relief than classic (Swedish) massage, although more research is needed to
confirm this.
[9]

Quackwatch includes acupressure in a list of methods which have no "rational place" as
massage therapy and states that practitioners "may also use irrational diagnostic methods to
reach diagnoses that do not correspond to scientific concepts of health and disease."
[2]

Acupressure work theory
A variant system known as two point acupressure attempts to bypass a blockage of vital flow
by using one acupoint to create a link with one of the collateral meridians, and then using one
additional acupoint to stimulate or reduce the flow around the obstruction.
[citation needed]

Criticism of TCM theory
Main article: Acupuncture Criticism of traditional Chinese medicine theory
Clinical use of acupressure frequently relies on the conceptual framework of Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM). There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis
for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.
[10]
Proponents reply that TCM is a
prescientific system that continues to have practical relevance. Acupuncturists tend to
perceive TCM concepts in functional rather than structural terms (e.g., as being useful in
guiding evaluation and care of patients).
[11]


The Instruments of Acupressure
Instruments
There are several different instruments for applying nonspecific pressure by rubbing, rolling,
or applying pressure on the reflex zones of the body. The acuball is a small ball made of
rubber with protuberances that is heatable. It is used to apply pressure and relieve muscle and
joint pain. The energy roller is a small cylinder with protuberances. It is held between the
hands and rolled back and forth to apply acupressure. The foot roller (also "krupa chakra") is
a round, cylindrical roller with protuberances. It is placed on the floor and the foot is rolled
back and forth over it. The power mat (also pyramid mat) is a mat with small pyramid-shaped
bumps that you walk on. The spine roller is a bumpy roller containing magnets that is rolled
up and down the spine. The Teishein is one of the original nine classical acupuncture needles
described in the original texts of acupuncture. Even though it is described as an acupuncture
needle it did not pierce the skin. It is used to apply rapid percussion pressure to the points
being treated.
[12]








How does acupressure work?
When I get a headache, my friend presses a spot on my hand. Somehow, this makes my
headache go away. How does this work? Your friend is using a very old (about 5,000 years)
and widely practiced form of body work called acupressure. Like acupuncture, this practice
comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Although acupuncture is more widely known, most
sources suggest that acupressure actually predates acupuncture by about 2,500 years.
Acupressure and acupuncture, as well as other therapies such as Shiatsu and reflexology, are
based on the concept of a person's energy, or life force. This belief system theorizes that a life
force, known as chi or qi (pronounced chee) travels through the body along pathways called
meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine dictates that there are 20 meridians. However, in
acupressure and acupuncture, most work centers around 14 meridians: the 12 regular
meridians (see sidebar) and two extra meridians known as the Conception Vessel and the
Governor Vessel.
According to this theory, a block in the flow of chi results in discomfort or even disease. To
release the blocked energy, or to promote energy flow to a certain area, the acupressure
practitioner presses an acupoint. According to specialists in Traditional Chinese medicine,
more than 300 acupoints have been identified along the 14 meridians. Each is assigned a
Chinese name and an alphanumeric code, such as Shenmen (HT7).
The Japanese practice of Shiatsu, which literally means "finger pressure," is similar to
acupressure. In acupressure and Shiatsu, thumbs are most commonly used to apply pressure,
although other fingers, knuckles, palms, elbows and even feet can be used in some of the
therapies. The degree of pressure that is applied varies, as does the duration. Anything from
moderate to penetrating pressure is employed for several seconds to several minutes, and the
treatment can be performed once or repeatedly.
The acupoint that your friend used to make your headache disappear is known as the Hegu
(LI4) point. Hegu is the Chinese name and LI4 refers to a specific point on the large-
intestine meridian.
Currently, there is no evidence in western medical science to support the theories upon which
acupressure and similar therapies are based. However, a number of recent studies have been
conducted to investigate the use of acupressure in the temporary relief of nausea and
headache pain. Some of these studies suggest that applying pressure to certain points causes
the brain to release more endorphins, small proteins that act as a natural painkiller.