Acupoint Acupressure Introduction

Acupressure / Acupoint Massage (also known by Japanese as Shiatsu) is an ancient healing art which uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin and stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities.   It is safe and easy to learn, with no drug-induced said effects, Acupressure / Acupoint Massage gives you the potential to improve your health and increase your vitality.   Acupressure / Acupoint Massage are a health maintenance method developed by the Chinese and Chinese Medical Doctors in their countries-long struggle against disease.   It is based upon the traditional theories of Qi, blood, visceral organs, meridians and collaterals. It is characterized by pressing and rubbing on meridians, Acupoints, muscles and skin areas by pushing and stroking the meridians, digital and palmar pressing on the Acupoints, kneading and grasping muscles and rubbing the skin.   Acupressure / Acupoint Massage are so named because the massage or pressure applied is to acupuncture points and meridians.   It can be performed by patients or their family members. It is safe and simple, causes no inconvenience or pain and can be applied to patients of all ages.   This manual and course component is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or physicians.   The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his or her health or the patients health and particularly in respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.     WHAT IS ACUPRESSURE - ACUPOINT MASSAGE   Acupressure / Acupoint Massage are one of the ancient and unique therapeutic methods of traditional Chinese medicine.   It is based upon the traditional theories of Qi (chi), blood, visceral organs, meridians and collaterals, and is characterized by applying special pressing and rubbing on certain meridians, Acupoints, muscles and skin areas with different parts of the palms and fingers and with various degrees of force.   It includes pushing and stroking the meridians, digital and palmar pressing on the Acupressure/Acupoints, kneading and grasping the muscles, and rubbing the skin, by which the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians and collaterals will be promoted. The function of visceral organs regulated and the nourishment of muscles improved.   Therefore, it can be used for treating and preventing diseases. It is called "Acupressure / Acupoint Massage" because the massage is chiefly applied to Acupoints and meridians.     ORIGIN & DEVELOPMENT OF ACUPRESSURE / ACUPOINT MASSAGE   Acupressure / Acupoint Massage are an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was founded and developed by the Chinese over their many centuries of struggle against disease.   More than two thousand years ago Acupressure / Acupoint Massage was already being applied in medical practice. As stated in the Canon of Medicine, the oldest medical classic in existence in China, written in the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), “Overstrain and fright may cause obstruction of meridians and collaterals manifested by paralysis.   The treatment is massage and medicated liquor." It is therefore certain that massage was an art of healing used in combination with medicated liquor and decoctions.   In the Sui and Tang dynasties (A.D. 581- 907), along with the development of medical theory and practice, new achievements were obtained in the field of massage therapy. As recorded in the New History of the Tang Dynasty, "In the Imperial Bureau of Medicine there is one massage doctor and four massage masters in charge of Daoyin therapy (physical and breathing exercise combined with self-massage) and bone-setting. "   Various monographs and clinical reports on massage have been published. Nowadays, a number of countries have sent personnel to China to study Acupressure / Acupoint Massage. This ancient art of healing is becoming one of the necessary methods for preventing and treating diseases for all of mankind.   According to the Six Codes of the Tang Dynasty, "Massage is used for treating the diseases caused by wind, cold, summer heat, damp, hunger, overeating, overstrain and excessive leisure." In the Song, Kin and Yuan dynasties (A.D. 908 ~ 1368) massage therapy was more widely used.   As stated in the General Collection for Holy Relief, "Pressing and rubbing may be applied either separately or in combination; all these practices are called massage. Pressing alone without rubbing, rubbing alone without pressing, pressing together with rubbing, pressing and rubbing in combination with herbal medication - each has its own indications."   In the Ming and Qing dynasties (A.D. 1368-1911) there further development of massage therapy. Massage was one of the thirteen specialties into which medicine was divided. Particularly rich experience was gained in the treatment of paediatric diseases, and a unique system of massage for children was formulated. More than twenty monographs on massage were written in this period.   Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, massage therapy has had rapid progress. Massage departments, massage clinics, massage hospitals, massage schools, massage faculties in colleges of TCM - Traditional Chinese medicine, as well as massage research institutions have been set up.     THEORY & ACTION OF ACUPRESSURE / ACUPOINT MASSAGE   Acupressure / Acupoint Massage is a kind of external treatment based on the theories of Qi, blood, visceral organs, meridians and collaterals.   Meridians and collaterals are distributed throughout the body. They connect with the visceral organs (the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, urinary bladder, gall bladder, and triple heater / energizer) internally and extend to the body surface skin - muscles, bones, limbs and orifices (eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, urethra, vagina and anus), making all parts of the human body a coordinated integrity. Nutrient substances such as Qi, blood and fluid are transported to various parts of the body chiefly through the meridians and collaterals to maintain normal body functioning.   Meridians and collaterals are not only the connections in which the Qi and blood flow; they are also important approaches for reflection of pathological changes and transmission of therapeutic effect.   By the way of meridians and collaterals, disorders or pathological changes of internal organs may be reflected at the body surface, while diseases of the superficial tissues may influence the visceral organs.   Therefore, disorders of the meridians and collaterals, either due to impact of emotional factors (excessive joy, anger, melancholy, anxiety, sorrow, fear and fright) or due to attack of exogenous pathogenic factors (wind, cold, summer heat, damp, dryness and fire), will lead to impaired flow of Qi and blood, and hence disease.   Based on the above-mentioned theory, Acupressure / Acupoint Massage is performed on the principle of integrating mobilization with immobilization, treating the disease in accordance with an overall analysis of the patient's condition and reinforcing what is in deficiency and reducing what is in excess by applying special manipulation and various forces directly on the Acupoint's and meridians.   So it has the action of promoting the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians and collaterals, improving the mobility of joints, invigorating the function of the spleen and stomach, recuperating the kidney ~ yang, causing sedation, smoothing the flow of the liver ~ Qi, warming the meridians and collaterals, dispelling wind and cold, removing blood stasis and swelling, softening and resolving hard masses