10 June 2009Acupressure1 Relaxation & Immunity Booster Techniques

10 June 2009 Acupressure 1

AcupressureRelaxation & Immunity

Booster Techniques


• The word ‘acupressure’ has two parts, ‘acu’ and ‘pressure’.

• Acu means needle (or minute points like the tip of a needle) and ‘pressure’ means to press (with the help of thumb, fingers or any other object).

• Acupressure refers to a therapy wherein pressure is applied at specified locations of therapeutic value in the human body (acu points) to heal diseases.

Definition of Acupressure

Acupressure is a natural science, philosophy and a rational method of therapy based on an inbuilt mechanism provided in the human body by the Nature.

google search - acupressure

http://www.acusansthan-ald.org/index.php?PageURL=chinese_meridianst


Acupressure seeks to cure diseases by restoring the imbalance of energy flow in the human body.

As per the basic principle of the therapy, energy is constantly flowing in the human body along defined pathways known as meridians.

A disease occurs if this energy flow becomes excess or deficient, gets impeded or counter-flows due to various external or internal factors.

Basic Principle of Acupressure



Basic Principle of Acupressure


A number of points known as acu points are located along these meridians and control the flow of energy on these pathways, just the way electrical switches/regulators control the flow of current in a circuit.

Stimulation of these acu points with pressure using specific techniques corrects the energy imbalance along a meridian and the disease gets cured.

Meridian Theory of Acupressure


Sujok Acupressure

J. P. Agarwal, K. C. Goyal and G. Garg, “Su-Jok Acupressure”, Acupressure Research, Training and Treatment Sansthan, Allahabad, U.P., India (2006).

In the year 1987, Prof. Park Jae Woo of Korea established that the human hands and the feet are replica of the entire body

&exact correspondence of body acu points exists on the hands/feet.

It is thus possible to practice acupressure solely on the hands or feet.

google search – acupressure sujok

In classical acupressure, acu points are found on the entire body at various locations from head to the toe.



Sujok Acupressure


It is thus possible to practice acupressure solely on the hands or feet.

Sujok is a Korean word meaning hands (su) and feet (jok) and sujok acupressure refers to acupressure using acu points on the hands and the feet.


Page 38

Location of different parts of Body in the Hand


10 June 2009 Acupressure 8Page 39


Thumb is Head


J. P. Agarwal, K. C. Goyal and G. Garg, “Su-Jok Acupressure”, Acupressure Research, Training and Treatment Sansthan, Allahabad, U.P., India (2006).Page 12

Basic Principle

of Visualizing

Body in the Hand


J. P. Agarwal, K. C. Goyal and G. Garg, “Su-Jok Acupressure”, Acupressure Research, Training and Treatment Sansthan, Allahabad, U.P., India (2006).Page 13

Basic Principle

of Visualizing

Body in the Foot



Reflexology techniques for normal health


1. Walking barefoot on rough or uneven ground for at least five minutes everyday

2. Walking on dew-drenched grass early in the morning for about five to ten minutes

http://www.bestonhealth.com/travel/india/health%20centers/acupressure/acupressure2.asp?id=43


images.google.com search – walking barefoot on grass

images.google.com search –walking barefoot on gravel




images.google.com search - fingertips press

3. Hold the fingertips of both the hands together as sown in the figure. Fingers should be kept apart

While inhaling, press the tips of the fingers of one hand against the fingertips of the other hand

While exhaling, release the pressure

Continue for about two to three minutes.Repeat this up to two times a day


4. Interlock the fingers. Hold the hands in front of the chest

While inhaling, press the fingers of left hand against the right hand


While inhaling, press the fingers of right hand against the left hand


Continue for two to three minutesRepeat twice a day



images.google.com search –fingers interlocked

10 June 2009 Acupressure 16http://www.bestonhealth.com/travel/india/health%20centers/acupressure/acupressure2.asp?id=43


5. Clench your teeth firmly, with lips maximum apart

Breathe in through the mouth, feeling the cool air entering the mouth

Close the mouth and exhale slowly through the nose

Continue for five to six timesRepeat twice a day

images.google.com search – teeth clenched



RelaxationTechniques


1. Hold the left foot with both hands. Fingers of the hands should be on the top of the foot and thumbs of the hands should be on the padded part of the foot just below the toes

Press the padded part of the foot just below the toes with the help of the thumbs of the hands for one minute

Repeat the same procedure for the right foot for one minute


Relaxation techniques

images.google.com search – massage the foot bottom


2. Hold the toes of the right foot with the right hand as shown in the figure. Hold the heel right foot with the left hand

Rotate the right foot five times clockwise and five times anti-clockwise along with deep breathing

Repeat the same procedure for the left foot



images.google.com search – self massage the foot bottom


3. Place the fingers on top of the left foot in such a way that a thumb supports the sole

Move the fingers in small circular movements on the top and sides of the foot and the ankle. Continue for 30 seconds

Hold the left foot with the left hand. Move the palm of the right hand over the sole of the left foot from the heel to the toes for 30 seconds

Repeat for the right foot



images.google.com search – massage the foot bottom


4. Massage with small and gentle strokes the top and sides of the foot. Start from the ankle and move up towards the toes.

Use both the thumbs and the palms of both the hands for massaging

Continue for 30 seconds for one foot and then massage the other foot





5. Place the thumb in the reflex point of the solar plexus of the foot as shown in the figure. Place the fingers on the top of the foot

Take a deep breath and hold the breath while pressing on the reflex point

Release the breath as the pressure is released slowly

Repeat two to three times for one foot and then change the foot

Same procedure can be done in the palms of the hands also as shown in the figure






Potent Points for Boosting the

Immune System

10 June 2009 Acupressure 26http://www.acupressure.com/articles/immunesys.htm#top

Potent Points for Boosting the Immune

System


Potent Point Exercises for Boosting the

Immune System


Potent Point Exercises

http://www.acupressure.com/articles/immunesys.htm#top

Sit comfortably

Firmly hold K 27:In order to clearly locate acu point –K 27, take a deep breath. K 27 is located inside the hollow directly below the protrusions of the collar bone and just outside your upper breast bone

Inhale and place your middle and index fingers in the hollow (K 27) and press for at least 10 seconds. Exhale and release the pressure

Continue for one minute

1




Sit on the tip of the chair

Briskly rub B 23 and B 47:Acu points B 23 and B 47 are located in between the second (L2) and third (L3) lumbar vertebrae of the back bone. B 23 and B 47 are 2 and 4 finger widths, respectively from the spinal cord

Place your palms against your lower back (i.e. against B 23 and B 47). Rub up and down for one minute, creating heat from friction

2




Acu points B 23 and B 47

Do not press on disintegrating discs or fractured or broken bones

If you have a weak back, a few minutes of stationary, light touching instead of pressure can be very healing

2

Caution




Sit back comfortably for the next step

Firmly press CV 6: CV 6 is located two finger widths below the naval point (belly button).

Place your fingertips in the center of your lower abdominal area, between your belly button and pubic bone (at CV 6).Close your eyes. Exhale fully and gradually press one to two inches deep inside the lower abdomen (at CV 6). Hold for at least 10 seconds. Inhale and release the pressure

Continue for one minute

3




Briskly rub St 36: St 36 (Three Mile point) is located four finger widths below the knee cap and one finger width on the outside of your shinbone.

Place your right heel (or thumb of the right hand) on St 36 of your left leg and briskly rub it up and down for one minute

Repeat the same for right leg

4




Rub K 3 and then Lv 3:Acu point K 3 is located mid-way between the inside of the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon in the back of the ankle

Place your right heel (or thumb of the right hand) at point K 3 of the left leg and rub for 30 seconds

Continue to rub acu point Lv 3 as described in the next slide

5

K 3

Point K 3 should not be stimulated strongly after the third month of pregnancy

Caution




Rub K 3 and then Lv 3: Lv 3 is located on the top of the foot in the valley between the big toe and the second toe

Use your right heel (or thumb of the right hand) to rub Lv 3 of the left leg for thirty seconds

Repeat the above two procedures (rubbing K 3 and Lv 3) for the other leg

5




Briskly rub LI 11:Acu point LI 11 is located on the upper edge of the elbow crease

With your arms bent in front of you and your palms down, place the palm side of your right fist on top of the elbow crease of your left hand. Briskly rub over the left elbow joint with your right palm for thirty seconds, creating heat

Repeat for theother arm

6




Rub TW 5 and then LI 4: Acu point TW 5 is located on the outside of your forearm, two and a half finger widths from your wrist crease

Make a fist with your right hand and place it on TW 5 of the left hand. Briskly rub TW 5 for thirty seconds

Continue to rub acu point LI 4 as described in the next slide

7




Rub TW 5 and then LI 4:Acu point LI 4 is located in the webbing between the thumb and the index finger, at the highest spot of the muscle, when the thumb and the index finger are joined together

Place your right fist on LI 4 of your left hand. Use the knuckles of your right hand to briskly rub LI 4 point for 30 seconds

Repeat for theright arm also

7

CautionPoint LI 4 is forbidden for pregnant women because its stimulation can cause premature contractions in the uterus




Repeat steps 1 and 2:This will further boost your immune system

Step 1 – acu point K 27Step 2 – acu points B 23 and B 47

8




Press CV 17: Acu point CV 17 is located on the center of the breast bone, three thumb widths, up, from the base of the breast bone (at the level of your heart)

Interlock your fingers. Keep your palms tightly together. Place the back of your thumbs firmly against your breast bone to press CV 17, at the level of your heart.

Close your eyes. Concentrate on your breathing – take slow, even, deep breaths in your heart to completely dispel all anxiety

9images.google.com search

–fingers interlocked

CV 17


Breathing Exercise for theImmune System


• Remain in the posture in which you were pressing CV 17

• Focus on breathing deeply for two more minutes

• Gently control your respiratory system, making each breath grow longer and deeper than the last one

• Breathe out any tensions that you feel are restricting your lungs from moving fully and naturally

• Feel that your mind is becoming clear with each breath

10


Breathing Exercise for the Immune System


• Notice the resistance your mind creates: the worries and judgments it comes up against

• Take several deep breaths and dissolve these barriers

• Breathe deeply and gently; remember, you are breathing in vital life force

• Hold the breath at the top of the inhalation for a moment, and feel its fullness

• Then exhale smoothly, letting your hands drift down into your lap, and relax, feeling the vitality of the breath circulate throughout your body

10



Potent Points for Relieving

Colds and Flu


Stimulating Natural Resistance toColds and Flu

Press into B 36:Acu point B 36, also called Bearing Support, is located near the spine, off the tips of the shoulder blades. This point is good for stimulating the body's natural resistance to colds and flu

Use your index fingers to press into points B 36 for one minute

http://www.acupressure.com/articles/coldflu.htm


Relieving Colds and Flu



Potent Point ExercisesPress into B 2:Acu point B 2 is located in the indentation of the eye sockets where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows

Use your thumbs on the upper ridge of your eye socket to press into the slight hollow near the bridge of your nose for one minute

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, letting the weight of your head relax forward onto your thumbs

1



Potent Point ExercisesPress St 3 and LI 20: Acu point St 3 is located at the bottom of the cheek bone directly below the pupilAcu point LI 20 is located on both the cheeks just outside the nostril

Place both the middle fingers beside nostrils and index fingers next to them. Gradually press up and underneath the cheek bones for one minute. This helps relieve nasal congestion.

2



Potent Point ExercisesPress both LI 11: Acu point LI 11 is located on the upper edge of the elbow crease

Bend your arm and place your thumb at the end of the elbow crease on the outside of your forearm. Curve your fingers to press firmly into the elbow joint for one minute

Repeat on the other arm

3



Potent Point ExercisesPress LI 4 firmly: Acu point LI 4 is located in the webbing between the thumb and the index finger, at the highest spot of the muscle, when the thumb and the index finger are joined together

Spread left thumb and index finger apart. Place right thumb in the webbing on the back of left hand and fingertips on the palm directly behind the thumb

Firmly squeeze thumb and index finger of right hand together to press into the webbing. Angle the pressure toward the bone that connects with your left index finger, and hold for one minute

4

Repeat with theother hand



Potent Point Exercises4

Repeat with theother hand


Caution

Point LI 4 is forbidden for pregnant women because its stimulation can cause premature contractions in the uterus


Potent Point ExercisesFirmly press GB 20: Acu points GB 20 are located below the base of the skull, in the hollows on both the sides, 2 to 3 inches apart - depending on the size of the head

Close your eyes and place the thumbs underneath the base of the skull, two to three inches apart.

Slowly tilt the head back and apply pressure gradually, holding the position for one minute to fully release these important cold-relief points

5


GB 20 GB 20


Potent Point ExercisesFirmly press GV 16: Acu point GV 16 is located in the center of the back of the head, in the large hollow under the base of the skull

Place the tips of middle fingers into the hollow in the center of the base of the skull. Keeping fingers on the point, inhale as you tilt head back and exhale as you relax your head forward

Continue to slowly rock your head backward and forward, and breathe deeply while you hold this important point for relieving head congestion

6


GB 20 GB 20

GV 16


Potent Point ExercisesTouch the GV 24.5:Acu point GV 24.5 is located directly between the eyebrows in the indentation where the bridge of the nose meets the center of your forehead (Third Eye Point)

Bring palms together and use your middle and index fingers to lightly touch the Third Eye Point located between your eyebrows.

Breathe deeply as you hold this point for one minute for balancing your endocrine system

7



Potent Point Exercises8


Firmly press K 27:In order to clearly locate acu point –K 27, take a deep breath. K 27 is located inside the hollow directly below the protrusions of the collar bone and just outside your upper breast bone

Place fingertips on the protrusions of collar bone, then slide fingers down and outward into the first indentation in between the bones

Press into this hollow for one minute as you breathe deeply and visualize the congestion clearing


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10 June 2009Acupressure1 Relaxation & Immunity Booster Techniques