Index
What is it?
It is a therapeutic procedure that combines the principles of massage and acupuncture without the use of needles. The massage is performed on the skin with the tip (pulp) of the thumb and the middle fingers with small movements and pressure in somebody regions where there are circular acupuncture points.
What is the origin of the acupressure technique?
It is believed that acupuncture (Bhedan Karma, as the Indians know it) and acupressure (Marma Chiktsa) were born with the appearance of the wise Ayurvedic medicine (considered the oldest medicine of all) in ancient India. Such precious knowledge was translated from Sanskrit (ancient Indo-Aryan language) into other languages and later taken to Egypt, China, Japan, Persia, and other regions of the East.
The Chinese made an enormous contribution to the development of acupuncture once it came to be practiced freely in China since, at one time, Ayurvedic medicine was banned in India by orders of the invaders.
With the political independence of India, Indian Ayurvedic medicine is practiced again in their home country. And in other countries, such as Japan, acupressure is generalized.
What are the indications?
The digitopuntua is recommended for various treatments for both chronic and newly diagnosed diseases, always seeking harmony between body and mind. These are some of the dysfunctions that can be exploited under this method:
Anxiety (soothing action), allergy, arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, depression, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), dysentery (intestinal infection), dyspepsia (indigestion), general pain, abdominal pain, joint and back pain, nausea, migraine, epilepsy, spermatorrhoea (sperm output involuntarily without orgasm), stress, impotence, insomnia, leucorrhoea (white flow of the vagina), poor circulation, neurasthenia, facial paralysis, tension, coughing, and vomiting.
Some persistent painful symptoms may indicate a severe illness, which requires a rigorous clinical evaluation to be adequately addressed.
Does the medical profession recognize acupressure?
Yes. Its importance is recognized by traditional medicine: Indian, Chinese and Japanese. Since 1995, allopathic medicine has recognized acupuncture as an effective therapeutic method in some Latin American countries.
Can this technique also be used to prevent diseases?
The proper and regular practice of acupressure can improve and promote the self-healing ability of the body’s immunity, stimulating blood circulation, increasing vitality, combats stress, among other diseases.
How is acupressure?
The location of the points requires knowledge of anatomy and the guidance of a qualified and experienced therapist. There is no need to use oil or cream. For the stimulus, it is easier to reach the deeper tissues; you can make a circular on the ground before pressing and thus prevent it from moving. The circle formed during the pressure massage is a unit. In each treatment, approximately 80 to 120 units are indicated per point, with a duration of 2 to 3 minutes.
Points of the Digitopuncture
Let’s see just some essential points:
(1) Large intestine, Hegu. Pregnant women can not stimulate this point. Indications: headache, pain, and inflammation of the eyes, toothache, sore throat and swelling, deafness, febrile diseases without sweating, abdominal pain, constipation, and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Location: on the back of the hand between the thumb and forefinger, the space between the first and second metacarpals; to the outer half of the second metacarpal.
(2) Stomach, Zusanli. Indications: stomach pain, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, back pain, pain in the legs, mental disorders, fatigue, baby colic (massage and gentle pressure), and improving the quality of life. Location: three thumbs and one finger below the knee joint (the wide middle finger) away from the crest of the tibia bone.
(3) Pericardium, Neiguan. Indications: nausea, palpitations, vomiting, stomach pain, psychological disorders, febrile illnesses, and pain in the elbow and arm. Location: a fold of the transverse wrist, between the tendons of the long palmar muscle and the radial flexor of the peninsula.
Are there precautions to practice it?
Here are some recommendations to keep in mind before starting the treatment with acupressure:
– The points located in the abdomen are contraindicated for pregnant women.
– Do not apply with intense force in debilitated patients, the elderly, and children.
To avoid fainting, it is not recommended to apply it to hungry people, tired, and in a drunken state.
– It is also contraindicated in the following regions: the anterior face of the neck, armpits, sides of the chest, around the breasts, the medial or inner side of the thighs, in lesions and ulcers.
