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This massage
technique applies pressure to specific points on the body
related to acupuncture points. In traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), stimulating certain points by pressure encourages
the flow of vital energy (Qi) along the meridian pathways.
Acupressure can be integrated into almost any type of natural
medicine practice and can be used for a comprehensive list
of conditions.
Applies the same theory, principles and
practice as acupuncture, by using finger pressure instead
of needles. Acupressure is a powerful and effective
healing technique when applied by a therapist who has studied
Chinese Medicine. However, because it is a non-invasive
therapy, it may be applied by anyone, and is especially
suited to use by an animal's own guardian for relieving
anxiety or tension. It is also a valuable follow-up
to acupuncture treatment.
Benefits/Contraindications
See a qualified
specialist in IAATH directory.
Training/Certification
Since acupressure
does not require the use of needles like acupuncture, it
is generally classified as massage, and training may be
offered through massage schools or independent seminars.
Please see the IAATH practitioner list for professional
acupressure specialists.
Acupressure – (from "acupuncture" and "pressure")
is a traditional Chinese medicine based on the same ideas
as acupuncture. Acupressure involves placing physical pressure
by hand, elbow, or with the aid of various devices on different
acupuncture points on the surface of the body. Traditional
Chinese Medicine does not usually operate within a scientific
paradigm but some practitioners are now bringing this practice
into an evidence-based medicine framework.
Traditional Chinese medicine's acupuncture theory predates
use of the scientific method and has received various criticisms
based on scientific thinking. There is no known anatomical
or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points
or meridian (Chinese medicine) meridians.
http://www.chinesemedicinetimes.com/section.php?xSec=122
Vol 1 Issue 4 - Aug 2006, "The Final Days of Traditional
Beliefs? - Part One"</ref>
Acupuncturists tend to perceive TCM concepts in functional
rather than structural terms, i.e. as being useful in guiding
evaluation and care of patients. <ref>Kaptchuk, 1983,
pp. 34-35</ref><ref name="NIH_funct">
"Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy
and physiology of the "acupuncture points", the
definition and characterization of these points remains
controversial. Even more elusive is the basis of some of
the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the
circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and the five phases
theory, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary
biomedical information but continue to play an important
role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of
treatment in acupuncture."
Acupuncture. National Institutes of Health: Consensus Development
Conference Statement, November 3-5, 1997. Available online
at [http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm
consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm]. Retrieved
30 January 2007
Neuro-imaging research suggests that certain acupuncture
points have distinct effects that are not otherwise predictable
anatomically. <ref>{{cite journal | last = Pariente
J | first = Lewith GT | co-authors = White PJ | year = 2005
| month = Sep | title = Investigating acupuncture using
brain imaging techniques: the current state of play. | journal
= Evid Based Complement Alternat Med - Oxford University
Press | volume = 2 | issue = 3 | url = http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/3/315
| access date = 2007-03-06
| pmid = 16136210 </ref>
Background
Acupoints used in treatment may or may not be in the same
area of the body as the targeted symptom. The TCM theory
for the selection of such points and their effectiveness
is that they work by stimulating the Meridian (Chinese medicine)
meridian system to bring about relief by rebalancing Yin
and yang, and qi (also spelled "chi"). This theory
is based on the paradigm of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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 to thereby enhance their circulation and flexibility
and keeping the points "soft" or less vulnerable
to an attack. Attacking the acupressure points is one theme
in the wuxia genre of movies and novels.
Acupressure might work via release of endogenous opioid
analgesics such as enkephalin, endorphin and dynorphins
leading to alleviation of pain.
Scientific research
A randomised trial of Tapas Acupressure Technique for weight-loss
maintenance found attendance at weight maintenance was 72%
for TAT [[Tapas Acupressure Technique]]- higher than any
other method studied and warranting further study. This
study was supported by a grant (R21 AT01190-02) from the
National Center for Complementary/Alternative Medicine,
National Institutes of Health, USA. The abstract for this
study can be accessed via:
[http://journals.medicinescomplete.com/journals/fact/current/fact1005a13a60.htm]
An acupressure wristband that is claimed to relieve the
symptoms of [[motion sickness]] and other forms of [[nausea]]
is available. The band is designed to provide pressure to
the P6 acupuncture point, a point that has been extensively
investigated. 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. [http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003281.html].
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
Journal said that ''P6 acupressure in two studies showed
52% of patients with control having a success, compared
with 75% with P6 acupressure''[http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band59/b59-4.html].
One author of an article published in the Scientific Review
of Alternative Medicine disagreed [http://www.sram.org/0802/acupuncture.html].
A Cochrane|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.''[http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab001929.html]
Criticism of TCM
Clinical use of acupressure frequently relies on the conceptual
framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which some
scholars have characterized as pseudoscience|pseudoscientific.
There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological
basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridian
(Chinese medicine)meridians.
"The Final Days of Traditional Beliefs? - Part One"
</ref> Proponents reply that TCM is a prescientific
system that continues to have practical relevance. Acupuncturists
perceive TCM concepts in functional rather than structural
terms, i.e. as being useful in guiding evaluation and care
of patients.
<ref name="NIH_funct">NIH Consensus statement:
"Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy
and physiology of the "acupuncture points", the
definition and characterization of these points remains
controversial. Even more elusive is the basis of some of
the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the
circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and the five phases
theory, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary
biomedical information but continue to play an important
role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of
treatment in acupuncture." Acupuncture. National Institutes
of Health: Consensus Development Conference Statement, November
3-5, 1997. Available online at [http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm
consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm].
Retrieved 30 January 2007.</ref>
''See Acupuncture#Criticism of TCM theory|Acupuncture: Criticism
of TCM theory''
See also
* [[Acupoint therapy]]
* [[Fire cupping]]
* [[Jing (TCM)|ching]]
* [[Luo Points]]
* [[Manipulative therapy]]
* [[Massage]]
* [[Moxibustion]]
* [[Pushing hands]]
* [[Qigong]]
* [[Reflexology]]
* [[Shiatsu]]
External Links
Simple Acupressure Techniques
http://www.acupuncture-and-chinese-medicine.com/acupressure-techniques.html
Research - Acupressure
Eases Low Back Pain
http://www.acupuncture.com.au/research/article23.html
Acupressure -
a brief history
http://www.alternative-medicine-online.com/Therapies_Acupressure.html
American Organization
for Bodywork Therapies of Asia
http://www.aobta.org
]
[[Category:Acupuncture]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Manipulative therapy]]
[[Category:Traditional Chinese medicine]]
[[Category:Massage]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
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