HOW DO THEY WORK?
By Sunny Cooper, M.S., M.Ed., Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM)
Acupressure and Shiatsu are types of therapeutic massage or body work that promote wellness and can help people with a wide variety of problems. They could also be called "Acupuncture without Needles" because they work with the same "points" and energy pathways (meridians) as acupuncture. "Shiatsu" is a Japanese word meaning "finger pressure". The terms are often used interchangeably.
The ancient Chinese developed an understanding of the human body that may seem somewhat strange because it focuses on a different part of our functioning than conventional Western medicine. It is based on the idea that something called "QI" (pronounced "chee") flows throughout the body in channels or pathways called "meridians". These pathways are the same in everyone, and along the pathways there are "points" where the practitioner can access and manipulate the Qi within the patient.
All living things have Qi, and it is sometimes called the "Life Force" or "Vital Energy" According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, all illness, whether physical or emotional, is caused by deficiencies, blockages, or disturbances in the flow of Qi. In health, Qi is in sufficient amounts and flows evenly and harmoniously throughout the body. By stimulating the Acupressure points, Qi can be strengthened, blockages can be released, and correct direction of flow can be restored.
How does this Qi or "Vital Energy" work in Western terms that we can understand?
My personal belief, evolved out of years of working with clients and using acupressure therapy, is that it works on at least four different levels.
FIRST, in the musculo-skeletal system: many of the classical acupressure points lie at the points where the muscles attach to the bones. In these areas are tiny organelles called "proprioceptors" which tell the muscles when to contract and when to relax, and how much tension to maintain even when relaxed. By stimulating those points manually, the therapist can give them an instruction to relax or change the resting tension. This can quickly and very effectively induce a relaxation response and better muscular balance, relieving pain and tension in the receiver.
SECONDLY, in the nervous system: many of the points are located along nerve pathways near the spine and in the extremities. Different pressure techniques can stimulate or relax the nerve firing to areas of the body. Since the nervous system delivers information and instructions from one part of the body to another, and from the brain to the organs and muscles, acupressure can effect internal processes very well. Many people have found that receiving acupressure can lower blood pressure, improve digestive functioning, help allergies and asthma, water retention, female organ problems, and many other difficulties besides just muscular tension and pain.
THIRDLY, in the immune and endocrine systems: No one knows how this works yet, but people often discover, after receiving regular acupressure treatments for a few weeks, that their immune system seems stronger. They have better resistance to colds and viruses, allergies and other immune-mediated disorders improve. Others who have suffered from hormone imbalances often start to feel better too, and even medical testing frequently shows that hormone levels have changed after a series of regular acupressure sessions.
FOURTH, at the level of emotional stability and general well-being: stimulating the acu-points causes a natural release of endorphines, brain substances which induce a sense of comfort and well-being likened to a "runner's high". I believe this is only one aspect of how acupressure helps people achieve better emotional balance, thus offering help for depression, anxiety, fears disorders, chronic worry, and anger. Various emotional states can only emerge out of a certain body chemistry. As the body chemistry begins to restore a healthier balance, as the muscular, nervous, immune, hormone, and other systems get into better harmony, a shift in emotions naturally and comfortably occurs.
When the person is willing to add simple lifestyle changes along with acupressure therapy and medical management, dramatic changes can take place in the person's emotional and mental functioning. In addition to these factors, I believe that many people are simply starved for healthy touching. Humans simply work better when we receive respectful, healthy, unconditional touch on a regular basis. We need our "strokes". In addition to the physiological benefits, acupressure fills a very great need for those deprived of this inate biological demand.
Many people wonder what a typical acupressure session would be like. When someone come to see me for their first visit, I ask them some questions about their condition. I ask how long they have had the condition, what they have done to help it so far, and what has worked or not. I ask detailed questions about their symptoms or pain. I take a simple medical history to find out what surgeries, accidents, or illnesses the person may have experienced.
Then the person lies down on my treatment table. It is not necessary to remove clothing, but I do ask the person to remove shoes and socks, belts, jewelry, and contents of the pockets. Next I feel the pulses in the wrist, and test for sensitive areas in the abdomen and in the arms and legs. This helps me to determine where the Qi energy may be blocked or deficient in the body. Based on what the person has told me, and what I find in the pulses and points, I focus the treatment on the points and meridians where I need to move the Qi. I do this by working with the acupoints individually or in combinations. I gently move the limbs to warm and stretch the muscles and enhance movement in the joints. The treatment feels very pleasant and relaxing, and many people say it is a little like getting a massage, without the oils.
Treatments can be as short as 30 minutes, or they can last up to 90 minutes. The first one is usually 90 minutes to allow time for questions about your condition and symptoms.
The idea of using hands-on therapy to help so many conditions is unusual to many Americans at first. Many have been delighted and surprised with how effective the treatments are for many problems. After all, this type of therapy has been an integral part of health care in Asia for thousands of years.
Acupressure works well in combination with any other therapy you may be using concurrently, and most people find that combinations enhance the effectiveness and speed of both. Use of medications, chiropractic, mental health counseling, physical therapy, exercise, and even surgical intervention are completely compatible with acupressure therapy. Please feel free to call for a brief telephone consultation to find out how acupressure therapy can help YOU, and book your first visit.
Sunny Cooper,
Licensed Massage Therapist
Acupressure specialist
New Brighton, MN
Have a massage!
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