Information About Acupressure
What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is a type of therapy which involves pressing points on the
body to achieve beneficial healing results whether for pain relief, stress
reduction or simply for general well-being.
Some people confuse acupressure with acupuncture and the principles behind
the treatment are similar. They both assume the existence of meridians,
or energy channels, through which passes energy (Qi - pronounced Chee).
According to practitioners, imbalances in the flow of Qi can result in
disease or sickness. However, whilst acupuncture uses needles, acupressure
is simply the application of the practitioner's hands.
What does an Acupressure Practitioner do?
There are a number of different forms of acupressure. For example, in
the Chinese variation called Tui Na the hands are used in a kneading
fashion similar to massage.
By the far the best known 'version' of acupressure in the UK is Shiatsu.
Some practitioners ask that you remove clothing and retain modesty with
a towel but the majority will just require that you wear loose comfortable
clothing. Depending upon the condition you may be required to sit on
a chair or lay on a treatment couch. If appropriate some will ask you
to lay on a comfortable mat for treatment.
Treatment, once again depending on the problem, may last anywhere between
fifteen minutes and one hour.
Acupressure points on the body are pressed for up to ten seconds, occasionally
longer, and sometimes the points will be pressed repeatedly.
Acupressure usually results in relaxation for the body though on occasion
there is a slight achiness which soon dissipates.
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