How to Stimulate Your Pressure Points Through Acupressure

Looking for a way to treat your aches and pains? Acupressure is beneficial to those who seek to treat themselves for common, everyday lags in energy as well as for localized pain or soreness. By applying pressure to specific points on the body, you can generate healing and otherwise beneficial effects that promote physical and mental well-being (sometimes immediately!). Costs for stimulating your pressure points on your own are generally very minimal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Blunt object with which to apply pressure. Good ideas include your fingers or the eraser on a pencil, though ideal objects need only be 3 to 4 mm to suffice
• Map of the body's pressure points

Stimulate Your Pressure Points Through Acupressure

1. Locate the correct acupressure point for the area you wish to treat. Use your map of the body's pressure points. Apply pressure to that point. In acupressure-specific terms, this is called 'reinforcing the point.' Points that are pressed receive increased energy during acupressure.
2. Reduce the point next. To do this, continually move the blunt object of your choice in a counter-clockwise direction for 1 to 2 minutes. By reducing the point, you remove blocked energy from your system.
3. Balance the 2 techniques. Most people are more familiar with reinforcing the points. Incorporating reduction means you get reinforcement and reduction of blocked energy.
4. Apply heat. This will stimulate the point through warmth, making it more responsive.
5. Try different pressure points relative to the location you wish to treat. Because we are all physically different, your sweet spot may be located slightly off-center from the traditional acupressure point.

Determine Whether Treatment is Working

6. Change position. You may feel a great difference when you stimulate the same point with a slight adjustment in your posture.
7. Monitor your face. Many people notice distinct changes in their facial expression during acupressure. Use a mirror to gauge its effectiveness and position the blunt object accordingly.
8. Check the point map. Pressure points are usually .5 mm large, so there is definitely room for error. Precision is key.
9. Take note of changes in vision. Through the use of acupressure, some people experience improved vision, with increased clarity and color vibrancy.
10. Remember to breathe. Relaxing and breathing help you to lessen tension, thereby making yourself more aware of the treatment's effectiveness.
11. Consult the experts. Clear guides to the pressure points can be found at Eclectic Energies (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• You'll know when you've hit a pressure point that contains blocked energy. Many people experience pain, heat or tension when encountering these points of blocked energy.
• Heating pressure points is considered to be a more advanced practice. Some believe it can damage your energy system when done by an amateur.
• If you are experiencing acute pain, do not try to treat your symptoms with acupressure. Consult a healthcare professional immediately.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary healthcare provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.