Acupressure

Acupuncture without needles… it has to be good doesn’t it

Acupressure is basically Acupuncture without needles. Based on the same concept of the body, it is actually better at making permanent change.

Most of you will have heard of Acupuncture , but you may have been too scared to use it. After all who wants to feel like a pin cushion anyway?

Acu theory which is behind all Eastern therapies is the concept of energy channels running through your body. If these channels become blocked or impeded, tension builds which leads to ill health, including back pain. Acupuncture uses needles to remove these blockages, Acupressure uses your fingertips.

Which is better – Acupressure or Acupuncture

As both rely on the same concept of health, both are very effective. It comes down to personal choice. Do you like needles – then see an Acupuncture specialist. Prefer not to have needles then use Acupressure.

What is the difference then?

Simply put, pressure points use your fingertips to stimulate the Chinese acu points. The beauty of it is, you can use the techniques at home, whereas with Acupuncture you cannot. If your Acupuncturist gave you needle to insert, you wouldn’t would you.

It is therefore more versatile, is generally painless and you can improve and increase your response by using it at home. This saves you valuable time and money on therapy times.

Acupressure Types

Although the Chinese form is most commonly used and seen, there are other forms from other eastern regions.

Reflexology - is a form used on the soles of your feet or the hands. Reflex points are stimulated to release tension in various areas of the body to help restore health. Gaining in popularity as part of a general relaxation approach to health, less effective for back pain removal.

Jin Shin – a Japanese art where the stimulation of the points is used with light touch. A very effective therapy and can be easily used at home to help stimulate health and remove back pain. One of the better forms of this therapy as you can feel the points pulse. Hence can see changes physically and within the acu point.

Chinese – this is basically Acupuncture without the needles. It uses the same points as Acupuncture except pressure is used to stimulate them. Pressure is applied with either fingertips, rods or even elbows at times. The pressure applied can be at times painful.

Which Type is best?

Although this is my professional and personal opinion, the lighter forms are better. For two reasons: firstly you do not create pain, you are already in pain so why create more? Secondly, you can feel these points working as they pulse. So you can use them as a curative and a preventative.

Acupressure in general is better than Acupuncture also, why? It is simple to learn and apply at home. Acupuncture is limited to professionals, whereas Acu-pressure can be learnt and used by your self. To change any back pain issue or general health problem, you need to change habits.

This can only be accomplished by using techniques at home . Habits take time to form, which is why you need to learn to do techniques at home. You can then change your habits which allow your back pain to disappear and not return.

Sure treatment is advisable if you have had an injury or if pain persists. Aid your treatment with techniques at home and back pain can ease quicker and you can learn to prevent it also.

The Back Pain Advisor strives to give you expert and valuable advice on all back pain therapies. If your Acupressure specialist passes the "Sugar Test" then it is a good therapy for you.

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Back Pain Therapies

Chiropractic Care	Osteopath	Acupuncture
Feldenkrais	Physical Therapy	Massage Therapy
Shiatsu Massage	Bowen Therapy	Alexander technique

Are you confused? A simple practitioner guide is here to help remove the confusion on the ideal back pain treatment for you.