What is acupressure?
Acupressure is a type of alternative medicine that is performed by applying physical pressure to various pressure points on the body surface. This technique is a traditional Chinese medicine practice and has the same principle as acupuncture.
Acupressure aims to provide relief by correcting imbalances in the qi flow. Qi (also pronounced as Chi) is the flow of energy that is present in all living beings. When there is an imbalance in the flow of qi, certain medical conditions manifest themselves.
It is the art of massaging specific points on the body to induce self-healing reflexes. Acupuncture and acupressure aim at the same anatomical positions. The only difference is the manipulation method. Acupuncture uses fine, thin needles, while the latter uses massage techniques with the hands.
How does it work?
Acupressure corrects the flow of qi by applying physical pressure to the main anatomical positions connected by channels called “meridians”. Hands, elbows, and various mechanical devices are used to apply physical pressure to the pressure points. The location of the pressure points may be away from where the symptoms are felt. Overall, acupressure helps by restoring balance and improving blood flow to body fluids.
Traditional Chinese Medicine theory is that acupuncture points are placed in the body in a way that is along the meridians. Certain stretching exercises can also be part of this therapy.
What Are The Benefits Of Acupressure?
This traditional Asian method aims to restore the body’s energy and balance. Research has shown that it is precisely this qi that is disturbed in various diseases, including cancer. Acupressure helps restore the qi to its normal state, which is believed to aid in healing and treating diseases. Acupressure for cancer also emerges as a useful treatment modality, which will be discussed later in this article.
For centuries, acupressure techniques have been used to treat tension headaches, pain (especially in the neck and back), chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, healing wounds, infertility, impotence, sexual dysfunction, decreased libido, learning disorders, motion sickness, nausea and vomiting; Addiction rehabilitation, mental stress, emotional disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders. It is also useful in getting rid of compulsive behaviors and improving various skin conditions.
Acupressure for cancer:
With the increasing advances in alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is also being used to treat diseases as deadly as cancer. Acupressure for cancer is an extremely interesting topic as it is a promising method of therapy for the disease and includes certain unique methods of overcoming abnormal cell death and tumor growth. There are fewer data on acupressure in cancer. However, there are several studies and research available around the world that support acupressure for the relief of symptoms caused by cancer treatment.
Acupressure for Cancer and the Deadly Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation:
One can treat cancer with toxic emissions and heavy chemical formulas. However, these modalities lead to a number of side effects in the patient that further impair the quality of life. As discussed in the previous articles, severe nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. Additionally, fatigue increased the risk of infection, and normal cell destruction is a bonus. Acupressure for cancer can help alleviate these symptoms largely, at least enough to allow the patient to live normally with cancer treatment.
Did you know that your body has three pressure points that can fight off the unwanted symptoms of cancer treatment? No? Then we have revealed the secret for you.
- The vertical midsection of the front of your wrist has a point that when massage with certain techniques can help to greatly relieve nausea and vomiting. You can call this point the number 6 acupuncture point. You can locate it by placing the first three fingers of your left hand on the vertical middle part of the wrist of your right hand. Align your left ring finger with the palm folds of your right extremity. Place your left thumb on your left index finger, which is placed on your right wrist so that you should feel the indentation between the two tendons of your arm. Apply concentrated pressure at this point for at least three minutes. Repeat this exercise with the other hand as well.
- The mesh that appears between your index finger and thumb when you expand your fingers has a dot called L14. Applying firm pressure to this area for at least five minutes can help relieve the pain.
- A useful point known as acupuncture point 1 is right between your eyebrows. Apply pressure at this point for 10 minutes get rid of fear.
A 2007 clinical study evaluating the effects of acupuncture and acupressure on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) found that acupuncture offered a comparatively greater improvement by providing 36% benefit in CRF while acupressure helped 19%.
Acupressure and quality of life:
Various studies have shown that certain points on the body surface are related in many ways to several internal body functions. Therefore, treating these points through gentle massage techniques or through other methods can produce a variety of health improvements that have not yet been proven for solid reasons. Quality of life and acupressure are directly related as manipulating acupuncture points can provide relief from a wide variety of symptoms including headache, fatigue, lower back pain, anxiety, stress, and even chronic conditions like arthritis. In addition, it works as a complementary treatment for cancer patients.
Learn more about acupressure for cancer from the following web sources:
Dr. Adem Gunes has built the world’s largest database of scientifically tested natural substances with proven effects in cancer treatment. In 2009 he was appointed chief physician at the ProLife Clinic in Innsbruck, Austria, and played a key role in setting up the research laboratory. He is also a co-founder of the first Austrian hyperthermia center. Now Dr. Adem works closely with cancer patients from all over the world (including Germany, Thailand, Dubai) to recommend a complementary cancer clinic to them or to create a personalized care plan for patients to be followed at home.