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Home >> Therapies Provided >> Acupressure

Acupressure

Imagine experiencing all the ancient Eastern healing knowledge and stress relief you might find in an acupuncture session – without having all those scary needles stuck into your skin.
You're not dreaming. You’re thinking about acupressure, a mainstay in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, and a comfortable and effective treatment for a variety of ailments and issues.

The word "acupressure" is a combination of "acupuncture" and "pressure". To put it simply, it is the process of applying pressure, instead of needles, to meridian points in the body in order to relieve pain or cure a specific problem.

TCM principals state that the "chi" or "qi" – their term for the body's energy -- flows through the body through 14 channels known as meridian lines. These meridian lines are said to connect each of your vital organs to the rest of your body. Pain or illness occurs when the flow of energy, or chi, is blocked from reaching the proper organ. That's when acupressure can be extremely helpful.
Acupressure

Acupressure can help cure what ails you.



You may have heard the phrase "unblock my chi" in a New Age comedy, but in fact, the science behind acupressure is very real. Many organs in your body are related to a corresponding spot in your hands or feet.

The acupressure points hand chart indicates where some of these points are – there are various spots to manipulate to ease many health issues, particularly headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle tension and pain, fatigue and nausea related to pregnancy, cancer treatment or motion sickness. When these meridians are manipulated by a trained acupressure specialist, the results can be instant and dramatic.



The History of Acupressure

While acupressure has only gone by its current name for a few years, the practice of manipulating meridian points is thousands of years old. Forms of acupressure have been practiced throughout Asia almost since the dawn of civilization there.

But it was not until the 1930s, and the reign of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, that Chinese medicine began to spread throughout the world. At first, most of the attention was focused on acupuncture, which, in the 1970s, was declared to be a viable cure for over 40 diseases by the World Health Organization.

As viable as acupuncture might be, the idea of being pierced with long needles isn’t for everyone. So the needle-free alternative of acupressure, combining the principals of acupuncture with elements of Shiatsu and Reflexology, emerged. Today, the treatment method now known as acupressure is one of the most popular ways to heal pain and illness in the world.



What to Expect from Your Acupressure Treatment

As with all massage treatments, your session will take place in private, in a quiet, relaxing room. However, an acupressure session is a little different than a typical massage session, because what happens during your treatment depends largely on what you are hoping to accomplish in the first place.

Before your treatment begins, you will consult with your massage technician about the issues you are experiencing and your desired outcome. Our Power Therapeutic Massage therapists are highly skilled and intuitive, and understand how to work with your energy field as well as your physical body. Whether you are looking for relief from migraine headaches or menstrual pain, or a cure for nausea, your therapist will work with you to help you achieve your goals.

You do not need to undress for an acupressure treatment, as no oil will be used, and much of the work will be done on your hands and/or feet. Your therapist will consult the acupressure points hand chart as well as his or her own intuition and experience as he or she applies soothing pressure. Other areas of your body may also be involved.

You may notice an immediate sense of relief the moment your therapist touches the "right spot". Perhaps the best part is that you will be able to recreate this effect on your own, whenever you need to, once you learn how during your session.



What Others are Saying about Acupressure

"Pressure on the extra 1 acupuncture point increases sedation and decreases stress, according to recent research."
Department of Anesthesiology at Aretaieion Hospital and St. Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece. Authors: Argyro Fassoulaki, M.D., Ph.D.; Adia Paraskeva, M.D.; Konstantinos Patris, M.D.; Theodora Pourgiezi, M.D.; and Georgia Kostopanagiotou, M.D. Originally published in Anesthesia Analgesia, 2003, Vol. 96, pp. 885-889.
"Subjects susceptible to motion sickness reported significantly fewer symptoms when wearing Acuband, a commercially available acupressure band."
Pennsylvania State University Gastrointestinal Psychology Laboratory. Authors: Robert M. Stern, Ph.D.; Michael D. Jokerst, MS; Eric R. Muth, Ph.D.; Chris Hollis. Originally published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2001, Vol. 7, pp. 91-94.
"Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have found that acupressure may reduce sleepiness and help keep students awake during class."
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., Course on Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis, University of Michigan, School of Public Health. Ann Arbor, Mich. Authors: Richard E. Harris, Ph.D.; Joanne Jeter, M.D.; Paul Chan, M.D.; Peter Higgins, M.D. Ph.D.; Feng-Ming Kong, M.D.; Reza Fazel, M.D.; Candace Bramson, M.D.; Brenda Gillespie, Ph.D. Originally published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Aug 2005, Vol. 11, No. 4: 673–679





Recommended Reading

To learn more about Acupressure, check out one of these books.

eBooks - Download Instantly

  • (2009) Back Pain Free Days. eBook. Download Now!
  • Banish your backpain in 10 days through acupressure.

  • Leino, Dr. Lena (2003) Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth. eBook. Download Now!
  • Induce Labor Naturally In Less Than 48 Hours.

  • Wilken, Wendy (2009) Facelift Without Surgery. eBook. Download Now!
  • Look 10 to 15 years younger within 30 days using acupressure.

Hardcover and Paperback Books

  • Gach, Michael R. (1990) Acupressure's Potent Points: a Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments. Mediatrition. ISBN-0553349708
  • With your hands you have potential to relieve everyday aches, pains and ailments without taking drugs, to improve your health, and to increase your vitality. It teaches you to use your fingers to stimulate key points on your skin that, in turn, activate your body's natural self-healing processes. With this book, it is a skill you can learn now--and use in your own home.
  • Forem, Jack (1999) Healing with Pressure Point Therapy: Simple, Effective Techniques for Massaging Away More Than 100 Common Ailments. ISBN-0735200068
  • Jack Forem is the bestselling author of "Transcendental Meditation". In this book he shows how anyone can relieve his or her own stress, tension, aches, and pains while increasing vitality and well-being with a variety of pressure point therapies.

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Power Therapeutic Massage
(217) 347-0500
Open Monday through Friday 8 am - 7 pm.
Saturday and Sunday by appointment.

Power Therapeutic Massage
1915 South Banker Street
Effingham, IL 62401

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Advanced reservations are appreciated, but last-minute bookings may be available. Please call for availability. Sorry, no walk-ins. In case of cancellation please give 6 hours notice.



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Disclaimer

Power Therapeutic Massage specializes in numerous massage techniques and energy therapies: Swedish Massage Therapy, Relaxation Massage Techniques, Deep Tissue Massage, Pregnancy Massage Techniques, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Myofascial Release, Home Visits, Hot Stone Massage Therapy, Herbal Wraps, Reflexology & Aromatherapy.

There are many common mis-spellings for massage terms: Sweedish Masage Terapy, Relaxtion Massae Tecniques, Deel Tissu Massag, Pregnacy Massge Techniqes, Shiatzu, Accupressure, Myofacial Relese, Hom Vists, Hor Sone Massagee Theraphy, Herval Wras, Reflexolgy & Aromatheraphy.

Other frequent mis-spelled words: hoem, homw, pregnancy, pregnany, pregnancy, sfone, ston, strone, tisse, tissues, waps


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