Career Information: Acupressure

Short Definition
Acupressure is a branch of alternative medicines where a diagnosis, prevention and cure to ailments are done through touches of a doctor's hand or by applications of pressure by the doctor on the surface of the patient's body

Expanded Information
Acupressure is that branch of traditional medicines where the cure is effected without the need of taking any medicines. This prevents any side effects often associated with the conventional medicinal treatment.

Since last 5000 years the acupressure is used to cure ailments or diseases in Korea, China, Japan and India. This is a proven scientific method of treatment. However like surgery, the art, knowledge and expertise of the doctor are useful in alleviating the health problems. Thus acupressure is an art and a science useful as an alternate therapy in the health care field. It is often used as either supplementary or complementary therapy along with the popular orthodox (conventional) medicinal practice and / or treatment.

Theory of Acupressure
Specific points on the surface of the body cater to nerve currents and blood circulations to various areas of the human body. They also supply energy called Vital Energy (Pran in India and Chi in China). This vital energy flows in human body through various paths across the human body known as meridians. Meridians are of two types :

The imbalance in the flow of the vital energy (Chi or Pran) through these meridians is a primary cause of a disease or an ailment. So by applying appropriate pressure a blockade is removed from the meridians (that carry vital energy or blood or lymph to various organs). Thus the person is cured of the ailment or the disease. Since the technique of applying pressure differs from case to case, to bring harmony in the flow of the vital energy (or blood or lymph) it is advisable that one takes a proper treatment from a professional, well qualified, experienced, trustworthy and reliable acupressurist rather than risking one's own health in the hands of a novice or one's own self.

Acupressure works on the following principles apart from the other principles:

1. Removing block(s) if any in the flow of vital energy.

2. Reinforcing (revitalizing) in case of deficiency of the vital energy.

3. If necessary control (or sedate) excess of vital energy.

4. Yin / Yang balance.

5. Establish or Reestablish the energy equilibrium.

6. Towards achieving proper or better homoeostasis.

7. Alleviate pain (analgesic effect).

8. Natural Cure.

9. Energize the deficient organs for recovery, remove toxins and harmful objects and give a feeling of true well being.

10. Regeneration of the right kind of new tissues.