A Beginner’s Guide to Pressure Points in Acupressure

Pressure points are crucial in Acupressure. It is an alternative that is believed to help in healing body parts that correspond to the pressure point. 

Acupressure is an excellent alternative therapy with healing capabilities. It is similar to acupuncture but uses pressure on body spots instead of needles. The pressure can be applied with hands, elbows, or even high-tech devices, such as acupressure mats.

Acupressure is based on Chinese medicine and uses pressure to stimulate acupuncture points. It is beneficial for a range of conditions, such as headache, stress, anxiety and pain relief. It also serves as a standalone treatment in tandem with other therapies. 

How Does Acupressure Done?

Acupressure is usually done by a professional acupuncturist wherein particular points of the body are stimulated. During the process, you have to lie down or sit comfortably on the massage table. The main tools used in acupressure are the thumb, fingers, knuckles, etc, they are solid enough to exert pressure when handled lightly.

The process is repeated three to four times and the pressure is exerted for 30 seconds, then it increases up to 2 minutes and then decreases to 30 seconds again. In fact, the interesting part is that acupressure can be self-applied too. However, you have to be very careful with the pressure point, as a wrong move can cause serious health issues. But, the looming question is - what exactly are pressure points? Well, let us find out!

What Are Pressure Points to Relieve Stress?

Simply put, pressure points are particular spots on the body that are believed to be connected to other parts of the body, such as internal organs or another larger area like the back or chest. It is believed that you may feel relief or de-stressed when these points are massaged or ‘pressured.’ They are part of the practice of reflexology. Reflexology practitioners opine that applying a certain amount of pressure to a specific point facilitates healing in the region of the body that the point corresponds to. 

Number of Pressure Points in the Human Body

To be precise, there are 361 standardized acupoints or pressure points for acupressure. However, there might exist more pressure points than those we currently know of. Some researchers believe that there are more than 400 acupoints, while others think that there might be thousands. 

The three most commonly used pressure points are -

1. SP-6 (Sanyinjiao)
   On the inside of your lower thigh, or just above your ankle, about four finger widths away, is where it is placed. Menstrual cramps and uncomfortable periods are common uses for it.
    
2. P-6 (Neiguan)
   It is located in the inner forearm, at three finger-widths away from the wrist. It is pressure to get relief from nausea and prevent vomiting.
    
3. ST-35 (Tianshu) 
   It lies three finger-widths to the side of the belly button. It is used to manage constipation.

Conclusion

So, there we have it, a crisp overview of pressure points to relieve stress.

Summary: Pressure points are specific points on the human body that are believed to correspond to other areas of the body, such as internal organs or larger areas like the chest.