The Chinese believe that acupressure has been practiced for 5,000 years and people involved in wellness and Holistic therapies are firmly convinced that the methods employed within this sphere are more effective than physical therapy. According to Chinese medicine, each living thing possess a life force called qi or chi. When it’s flowing freely, this chi, which moves along energy channels called meridians, the body is in a state of health and is in balance. Practitioners tap in acupuncture points in order to stimulate and manipulate the life force in the body.

Illness arises when chi is deficient or blocked. These disruptions in energy are usually due to injury or stress. Practitioners believe that acupressure stimulates the brain to produce and discharge endorphins into the bloodstream. These endorphins help slow the aging process, reduce stress, relieve pain, and help beef up the immune systems of the body.

In Western societies, lower back pain is a huge problem for millions of people. It has led to lost man hours and the medications used to treat the pain come with a number of complications and side effects. Several clinical studies have revealed acupressure to be superior to physical therapy in terms of pain relief. Although these studies did not consider disability and functional status as suggested by most researchers of low back pain, the outcomes are nevertheless, extremely relevant and meaningful. The National Taiwan University in Taipei did a randomized controlled trial in February 2006 to see if acupressure worked better than physical therapy in treating low back pain. The trial lasted a month and 129 patients suffering from low back pain participated in the study. Half of the patients were treated with acupressure while the other half with physical therapy for a month. At baseline, post treatment, and at follow treatment six months after, main endpoints were self-treated Chinese versions of conventional low back pain outcome measures (Roland and Morris disability questionnaire). Regardless of the difference in mean change absolute score from baseline, post treatment, the mean total Roland and Morris disability questionnaire score was markedly higher, in the physical therapy group than in the acupressure group.

Acupressure was connected with an 89 percent decrease in marked disability and that gain was still seen at six-month follow-up compared to physical therapy.

The ages of the patients who participated were between 18 – 81 years.

In another non-related study, acupressure has also been seen to help keep sleepy students awake during class. A total of 39 student volunteers performed on themselves in order to stimulate pressure points on their heads, hands, feet, and legs. The treatment involved using the forefingers or thumbs or lightly massaging of the points. It was observed that 98 percent of the students remained alert during the rest of the day.

Amy-SuiQun Lui, L.Ac.
Asian Health Center
27059 Grand Army of the Republic Hwy
Cleveland, OH 44143
Tel: (440) 833-0983