Acupressure for Beginners

                For quite some time I have been receiving your emails asking me to give details about acupressure, a healing method that I profusely promote in my blog. So today having some good time on my hand I thought to share a few things about this mode of healing.

                Acupressure, acupuncture, chiropractic or reiki, etc, are amongst 100 healing methods popularly known as Alternative/ Complimentary Medicine. The reason for naming them alternative is because they are an alternate to Western medicine, and these methods also compliment the medical procedures. 

Western medicine might try to tackle your illness or pain symptomatically with prescription medication or in severe cases with surgery, while alternative medicine emphasizes less invasive and more holistic treatments. Rather than solely concentrating on curing an illness, alternative medicine focuses on providing natural ways to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. 

These days there is a growing acceptance of alternative medicine which means that people are more likely to step outside their comfort zone and try a non-Western cure for their health problems. According to the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, nearly 40 percent of American adults use some form of alternative medicine.

So the million dollar question is, what is acupressure? The word acupressure is related to acupuncture in fact it can be called its close cousin. ‘Acu’ means needle and ‘puncture’ means to pierce. Acupuncture treats diseased parts with inserting needles; whereas Acupressure exchange needles for an acupressurist’s fingers. Moreover, due to the spread of Aid and Hepatitis C with Acupuncture needles, Acupressure has gained a superior and safe place in alternate healing.

Acupressure came into existence some 5000 years ago, it began in India, then went to Ceylon. Unfortunately, it was not persevered properly, so when it went to Ceylon and then to China it was practiced as Acupuncture.  

 

It treats diseases by applying pressure on specific points with the help of one’s thumb or unpointed objects. Unlike massage, Acupressure places sustained pressure and focused energy on a specific point rather than rubbing over a large area.

You see our body consists of five elements wood/earth, water, fire, air & space. These five elements are controlled by the electricity in the body known as Bio-Electricity in the West. This current or electricity (Chetna) comes from the non-changeable Life Battery which is installed in our body at the time of conception. 

(The white dazzling light generated by this battery can be seen in the middle of the forehead with eyes closed, through certain yogic practices & meditations. Many people including myself, have seen this light.)

Out of this life battery, electric current passes in the body through lines called meridians/ nadis. These meridians start from the tip of each finger of the right hand and goes all over the body and end in the toes of the right leg and similarly on the left side.  

As long as the current of electricity flows properly in the body, the body remains healthy. If for any reason this current does not reach any part of the body, there begins malfunctioning of that part accompanied with pain in some cases. If remains unattended it may cause illness.

This body current is disturbed not only by unhealthy living habits but also mainly due to stress. Stress is thought to affect immune function through emotional and/or behavioral symptoms such as anxiety, fear, tension, anger and sadness and physiological changes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating. 

Researchers have suggested that these changes are beneficial if they are of limited duration but when stress is chronic, the system is unable to maintain its healthy balance thus creating illnesses.

Psycho Neuro Immunology (PNI) is a new branch of science that specifically focuses on the connection between mental processes and health.

 Now if the current is properly sent to the affected part, the pain, if any would subside and so the disease or malfunctioning of that part would also be cured. So we can say that the Science of Acupressure provides us with the techniques of sending current to all the desired parts of the body. 

The gentle pressure stimulates the key points and pathways that run along the body providing relief from tension and pain (as well as helping to mitigate these problems before they develop into illnesses).

That’s why we say that alternative medicine is a holistic treatment that not only treats the illness but it also works to restore a human body as a whole. Acupressure cures wide variety of illnesses from flu to depression, harmonal problems, female ailments (gynecology issues), asthma, sinus, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, and so much more.

Acupressure is also very helpful in reducing common side effects of Western medical treatments. Patients treated with acupressure before and after surgery may find that surgical sites heal faster with less scar tissue, similarly after effects of chemo-therapy can be reduced to a minimum. 

This ancient healing technique also gives patients a sense of empowerment and self-regulation. Practitioners say that patients treated with acupressure are more compliant with treatments and are more focused–and that helps with the healing process.

It is also note-worthy that long time accumulation of toxins caused due to anger, depression or any form of negativity creates cancer in the body. Just like Western medicine first and second stages of cancer can be treated successfully with Acupressure. However, if cancer reaches its third and last stage it becomes difficult to be healed both with allopathy and acupressure and only comfort can be given through the latter.

I have taken references from the book 'Hands that Heal' authored by Dr. Zainab Bhaiji who is a established Medical doctor as well as the pioneer of introducing Acupressure in Pakistan. By the way she has also trained me for Acupressure and Reiki. 

Second reference is from the book 'Health in your Hands' by Devendra Vora M.D. who is another eminent name in the field of Acupressure. 

So Have all the Happiness & Health....

Sonya Syed. (Day 403)