Pain Relief and Preventative Care with Acupressure

Acupressure is based on the same principles that govern acupuncture. The ancients believed that the life energy force, or chi, helps maintain proper physical function. When that force is interrupted or inhibited, it can create chronic pain, metabolic imbalances or other health problems. Today we understand the central nervous system influences the body in much the same way, for better and for worse.

Eastern medicine healers applied both acupuncture and acupressure at specific points on the body to reroute errant chi flow and restore health. Modern practitioners continue to use these methods to stimulate the body release pain-relieving endorphins and accelerate its own healing processes. Regular sessions also help the body maintain its optimal nerve response and immunity against disease while controlling chronic pain.

Manual pressure may seem an amazingly low-tech way to help control back pain, neck pain and chronic illness, but we have successfully employed it to relieve these and other conditions. Patients lie on a table and breathe deeply as we hold pressure on specific "meridians." Neck pain and headaches, may call for stimulation of the two GB20 points at the base of the skull. The K27 points near the collarbone work not only for back pain but also for throat and chest discomfort. Hundreds of meridians, used in various combinations, can address just about any localized or systemic problem known to man. This makes it a valuable complement to chiropractic care and massage therapy. It also appeals to patients who wish to benefit from natural, drug-free healing but might have a "needle phobia."