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Acupressure Therapy

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Table of Contents

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………. 3

History of Acupressure ……………………………………………………………… 3

Shen Tao and Jin Shin Do Techniques ……………………………………………… 4

Body Meridians ……………………………………………………………………… 5

Facial Meridians …………………………………………………………………….. 7

Hand and Foot Reflexology …………………………………………………………. 7

Acupressure and Aromatherapy …………………………………………………….. 8

Treating Ailments: Anxiety and Stress ……………………………………………... 9

Treating Ailments: Addiction and Immunity ……………………………………….. 10

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………... 11

Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………… 12

Appendix ……………………………………………………………………………. 13

Acupressure Therapy

Introduction

Acupressure is an ancient form of therapy that dates back to nearly 400 BC of ancient China. Today, it is an acknowledged form of complementary treatment in Western medicine, and acupressure has scientifically proven to be effective in treating psychological issues like stress and anxiety, as well as even physical ailments and symptoms. There is an acute science to acupressure technique and therapy, requiring complex knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, as well as the psychological and spiritual theories involving the Qi, or life force. Two forms of acupressure, Shen Tao and Jin Shin Do, have evolved over thousands of years to be integrated into contemporary medicine. This form of treatment and therapy can have positive effects on patients suffering from chronic stress, anxiety, and physical pain, and acupressure can even be an aid in treating more serious illnesses such as drug addiction and autoimmune disease.

History of Acupressure

Acupressure began in ancient China – tablets dating back to 400 BCE show charts of the body and facial meridians used in this type of therapy.[footnoteRef:1] In fact, acupressure is believed to be the original spiritual medicinal practice in Asia before acupuncture techniques (using tools instead of the fingers, such as bone, gold, and silver needles) several hundred years after influences from other countries modified the practice.[footnoteRef:2] Both acupressure and acupuncture are based on same fundamental principle of acupoints activation across meridians,” which are pressure points connected to bodily organs.[footnoteRef:3] Other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea also adopted their own forms of acupuncture and acupressure therapies to treat human ailments, although the origins all trace back to China.[footnoteRef:4] Acupressure was registered by the National Institute of Health in 1997 as an “acceptable procedure complimentary to Western medicine.”[footnoteRef:5] [1: Mehta, Piyush, Dhapte, Vashwas, Kadam, Shivajirao, and Dhapte, Vividha. “Contemporary Acupressure Therapy: Adroit Cure for Painless Recovery of Therapeutic Ailments,” Journal of Traditional and Contemporary Medicine, Vol. 7, (June 2016): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.06.004.] [2: Harvey, Eliana, “Shen Tao Acupressure,” Positive Health Online, No. 14, (August 1996): http://www.positivehealth.com/article/acupuncture/shen-tao-acupressure.] [3: “Jin Shin Do Foundation for Bodymind Acupressure,” Jin Shin Do Foundation, last modified November 2017: http://jinshindo.org/] [4: Motlagh, Farid, Ibrahim, Fatimah, Rashid, Rusdi, Seghatoleslam, Tahereh, and Habil, Hussain. “Acupuncture Therapy for Drug Addiction.” Chinese Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 16, (May 2016): 4, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7] [5: Ibid.]

Essentially, acupressure aims to release tension in the muscle through activating a complex and interconnected series of meridians. Meridians are channels within the human body to maintain Qi, the balance of energy or life force, which achieves the steadiness of health.[footnoteRef:6] Meridians are connected to certain organs or tissues of the body. Acupressure is needle-free, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological, which makes it a popular and accessible form of treatment, and promotes a person’s overall well-being.[footnoteRef:7] “It is a pressure point, hand-mediated energy healing technique which is considered as useful strategy for the management of multiple symptoms, along with beneficial physical comforts, satisfaction, and economy.”[footnoteRef:8] [6: Harvey, “Shen Tao Acupressure,” 3] [7: “Jin Shin Do Foundation,” 4] [8: Mehta, “Contemporary Acupressure,” 251]

Shen Tao and Jin Shin Do Techniques

Shen Tao and Jin Shin Do are two popular acupressure techniques that are spiritually and uniquely different from one another, though both are practiced in tangency with Western medicine. Jin Shin Do, a Japanese technique that applies Chinese acupressure theory, translates to “The Way of the Compassionate Spirit.”[footnoteRef:9] Jin Shin Do promotes a trancelike state to find utter relaxation and inner wisdom of the patient, to further connect with emotions and find balance.[footnoteRef:10] Jin Shin Do follows meridians associated with a “local” point and its “distal points”: “Generally, a ‘local’ point in a tense area is held together with related ‘distal points’ which, though distant from the tense area, help it to release because of functional and energetic relationships.”[footnoteRef:11] [9: “Jin Shin Do Foundation,” 1] [10: Ibid.] [11: “Jin Shin Do Founation,” 3]

Shen Tao, meanwhile, is one of the oldest forms of acupressure, dating to 400 BCE in ancient China.[footnoteRef:12] This technique is based on Taoist views of the universe, following philosophies of the Yin and Yang, as well as the inner and outer workings of nature. Traditional Shen Tao used only the fingers to activate acupoints, and its original healers had “a high degree of ability to move and balance the Qi (life force).”[footnoteRef:13] However, over time, it was believed healers lost the ability to use their hands along to fully balance the Qi, and so tools were introduced (needles) in order to balance perception and intuition.[footnoteRef:14] Shen Tao, or the “Path of the Spirit,” uses the Jing-Lao system of energy rivers within the body, also known as meridians, in order to understand the body’s interconnectivity. “Shen Tao acupressure is a unique form,” writes Eliana Harvey, author of “Shen Tao Acupressure” in Positive Health Online, “with a subtle touch, that has been called the Mother of Acupuncture.”[footnoteRef:15] [12: Harvey, “Shen Tao Acupressure,” 5] [13: Ibid.] [14: Ibid.] [15: Ibid, see also 6.]

Body Meridians

There are 12 major body meridians, although each of these 12 have numerous auxiliary acupoints and meridians associated with them. The 12 major body meridians are connected to the area linked to its corresponding organ: lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, pericardium, triple warmer, gall bladder, and liver.[footnoteRef:16] Each of these organs have “electro-points” or “reflex points” on the nearby fascia (organ tissue) and the epidermal zone, which acupressure can access via the skin.[footnoteRef:17] In addition to the organ meridians, there are two centerline meridians known as the “Conception Vessel” and the “Governing Vessel,” which are associated with the spine, either posteriorly (governing) or anteriorly (conception).[footnoteRef:18] [16: See figure 1 in appendix] [17: “Jin Shin Do Foundation,” 7] [18: See figure 1 in appendix]

Generally speaking, the lung meridian is a line along the anterior arm, beginning from the tip of each shoulder and extends through the thumb and forefinger. The large intestine follows a parallel line on the posterior of the arm. In another group, the stomach meridian extends from the facial cheeks, parallel to the trachea on the throat, and descend to the exterior-anterior of the legs. In tangent to this meridian is the spleen meridian. The heart meridian and small intestine meridian are in synthesis to each other, the small intestine beginning at the base of the neck, the posterior shoulders and the back of the arms, ending at the tips of the posterior pinky fingers; the heart meridian follows the anterior of the inner arms and ends at the anterior of the pinky fingers. The bladder meridian is a posterior zone from the top of the skull, and the center of each posterior leg to end at the exterior side of the smallest toes. The kidney meridian begins beneath the anterior collarbone and parallels either side of the navel and interior parts of each leg. The pericardium meridian follows parallel to the heart meridian, instead ending in the middle fingers. The triple warmer meridian begins above the ears along the sides of the skull through the posterior shoulders and posterior arms, ending at the ring fingers. Finally, the gall bladder and liver meridian are at the top of the skull and sides of the body, neither posterior nor anterior: These are complex lines that extend from skull to the largest toe.[footnoteRef:19] [19: Ibid.]

Facial Meridians

The facial meridians are connected to the 12 major body meridians (in Jin Shin Do, these are “distal” points) and are broken down into specific acupoint zones.[footnoteRef:20] Starting from the top of the skull, the kidney is associated with the frontal cortex zone just above the hairline.[footnoteRef:21] The gall bladder is then associated to a nearby zone above the temples on either sides of the forehead, forward of the hairline. The forehead itself is subdivided into three wedged zones: The bladder follows the two arrowhead lines from the hairline peak to mid-brow, whereas the stomach follows the centerline split between these two; the liver and gall bladder fill the space between. The heart is located at the nose bridge proper, as well as at the tip of the nose and on either sides. The liver and kidney has micro-zones within the eyebrow, as well as space beneath the eyebrow, along with the stomach closest to the lower eyelid. The lungs extend from the sides of the nostrils, and the colon (large intestine) zone is beside and above this space closer to the cheekbones. The upper lip is associated with the stomach, and the lower lip is the small intestine. The liver has also a small zone above either sides of the upper lip, and the large intestine in a symmetrical fashion below the lower lip. The kidney and bladder maintain the tip of the chin and ear tragus.[footnoteRef:22] [20: “Jin Shin Do Foundation,” 2] [21: See figure 2 in appendix] [22: See figure 2 in appendix]

Hand and Foot Reflexology

The hands and feet, like the face, have reflexology (or “distal” association) with the 12 major body meridians. However, the reflexology of the foot contains specific areas of the body within a given meridian in order to find the exact acupoint. For example, the right foot will have connections to specifically the “right eye” or “right ear,” and can even be more exact than that.[footnoteRef:23] There are also specific body organs that are connected to parts of the foot which are non-specific to a given meridian, such as the pancreas, hypothalamus, medulla and cerebellum, trachea, and appendix, among others.[footnoteRef:24] In an overview, the right foot is typically associated with unique organs such as the appendix, and the left foot has distinct connection with organs such as the spleen and heart. Hand reflexology, like foot reflexology, has distinct locations to be accessed in acupressure that may be distal association with the 12 major meridians, along with unique and specific locations. These locations can include the solar plexus, diaphragm, thyroid, rectum, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, trapezius, sciatic nerve, and cervical spine, among many others.[footnoteRef:25] [23: See figure 3 in appendix] [24: See figure 3 in appendix] [25: See figure 4 in appendix]

Acupressure and Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy in combination with acupressure is proven to be effective in reducing agitation even in severe illnesses like dementia.[footnoteRef:26] “The absorption of essential oil via transdermal administration or inhalation may activate the autonomic nervous system to induce the reaction of the limbic system and hypothalamus.”[footnoteRef:27] Aromatherapy is effective through what’s known as nerve conduction, as Man-Hua Yang et al. explain, and that the somatic nerves therein communicate to the skeletal muscles and triggered to relax.[footnoteRef:28] The aromatherapy has a scientific physical and psychological relaxing effect, and the “stimulation of sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system can cause blood vessels, internal organs, and glands to effect.”[footnoteRef:29] The study by Man-Hua Yang et al. used a combination of aromatherapy and acupressure to treat patients with severe dementia in a trial to see if such treatment therapies were effective in reversing symptoms. Their results showed that dementia patients demonstrated a significant drop in agitation and other psychological symptoms of their disease when regularly treated with acupressure and aromatherapy, and stressed using the two treatments together. The “effects of both acupuncture are related to autonomic nervous system and the effect of aroma-acupressure is superior to aromatherapy” alone.[footnoteRef:30] [26: Yang, Man-Hua, Lin, Li-Chan, Chiu, Jen-Hway, Wang, Pei-Ning, and Lin, Jaung-Geng, “Comparison of the Efficacy of Aroma-Acupressure and Aromatherapy for the Treatment of Dementia-Associated Agitation,” BioMed Central Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Vol. 15, No. 93 (March 2015): 10.1186/s12906-015-0612-9.] [27: Ibid., 8] [28: Ibid.] [29: Ibid., 19] [30: Ibid., 21]

Treating Ailments: Anxiety and Stress

There have been numerous scientific studies done on the effectiveness of acupressure in treating psychological and physiological illnesses and conditions. Although there are some studies that have inconclusive results, the vast majority of scientific literature researching this subject comes to opposing conclusions: Regular acupressure is highly effective in reducing stress and depression in patients who also suffering from chronic anxiety. Acupressure theory promotes psychological wellness and balance, which can reduce negative outcomes associated with psychological illnesses. Nant Hmwe et al.’s article states that acupressure treatment can “significantly reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and general psychological distress in patients.”[footnoteRef:31] [31: Hmwe, Nant, Subramanian, Pathmawathi, Tan, Li, and Chong, Wan. “The Effects of Acupressure on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” International Journal of Nursing Studies, Vol. 52, No. 2, p. 509-518, (February 2015): 518, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.11.002.]

Treating Ailments: Addiction and Immunity

Piyush Mehta et al.’s study boasted highly of the scientific results in using acupressure with Western medicine in order to treat and maintain wellness in patients suffering from severe physiological illnesses, such as cancer. “Acupressure alleviates wide range of disease conditions ranging from immune ailments to emotional disorders.”[footnoteRef:32] Studies proved a patient’s autoimmunity is boosted through acupressure therapy, which can help patients with autoimmune disorders such as HIV.[footnoteRef:33] There was also scientific review of helping patients maintain body weight and healthy BMI to combat obesity with the use of acupressure. It has significantly helped with side effects of treatments like nausea from chemotherapy, and many nurses in Western medicine use acupressure to stimulate and promote wellness in patients with coma conditions or those who suffer from asthma. Acupressure can alleviate discomfort from spinal anesthesia, enhance memory from patients with Alzheimer’s, and help with sleep disturbance in the elderly.[footnoteRef:34] [32: Mehta et al., “Contemporary Acupressure Therapy,” 254-255] [33: Ibid.] [34: Ibid., see also 256-257]

In addition to Mehta’s research, Farid Motlagh et al. looked into the effectiveness of using acupressure in treating addiction.[footnoteRef:35] There was not strong evidence to support acupressure as a complete treatment of any addiction, but acupressure therapy has significant effect on alleviating withdrawal symptoms of drug addiction. The study found that acupressure reduced stress-induced relapse in cocaine addiction, and decreased withdrawal symptoms from opioid addicts. Furthermore, acupressure inhibited attention-bias in heroin addiction and lowered the likelihood of relapse in these patients. “Prominent effects of acupuncture are increases in the levels of enkephalin, epinephrine, endorphin, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the central nervous system and plasma that might mediate substance abuse,” writes Motlagh et al., and this resulted in countering anxiety following nicotine withdrawal, normalized alcohol drinking behavior, and created anti-craving effects associated with dopamine overdrives.[footnoteRef:36] This study stressed that it is still unclear whether acupressure is an effective treatment for addiction in methamphetamine, cannabis, psychoactive drugs, or polydrug users.[footnoteRef:37] [35: Motlagh et al., “Acupuncture Therapy”] [36: Motlagh et al., “Acupuncture Therapy,” 67] [37: Ibid.]

Conclusion

Ultimately, acupressure is an effective strategy and recognizable treatment in Western medicine for a range of ailments. It benefits and promotes psychological and physiological wellness in a patient, even for those who suffer from severe diseases like dementia or addiction. Acupressure is an exact medical science, with theoretical and anatomical intelligence, and practitioners must be licensed, same as any doctor. Although research has yet to prove acupressure as singularly effective in curing chronic diseases, it is a popular and effective treatment for many symptoms and psychological side-effects. Jin Shin Do and Shen Tao’s ancient origins certainly prove that humans have been using acupressure for thousands of years, and its spiritual connections make it an appealing and popular practice all over the world.

Bibliography

“Facial Meridian Points,” Beauty Black Book, (February 2019): https://beautyblackbook.com/acupuncture-facelift/face-meridian-chart-compressed/

Garza, Morgan, “Science Proves Meridians Exist & How You Can Sense This Energy,” in Wellness Guide, (February 24, 2017): https://www.changeyourenergy.com/blog/1892/20170227-science-proves-meridians-exist-and-how-you-can-sense-this-energy

Harvey, Eliana, “Shen Tao Acupressure,” Positive Health Online, No. 14, (August 1996). http://www.positivehealth.com/article/acupuncture/shen-tao-acupressure. Accessed 9 February 2019.

Hmwe, Nant, Subramanian, Pathmawathi, Tan, Li, and Chong, Wan. “The Effects of Acupressure on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” International Journal of Nursing Studies, Vol. 52, No. 2, p. 509-518, (February 2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.11.002. Accessed 9 February 2019.

“Jin Shin Do Foundation for Bodymind Acupressure,” Jin Shin Do Foundation, last modified November 2017, http://jinshindo.org/. Accessed 9 February 2019.

Mehta, Piyush, Dhapte, Vashwas, Kadam, Shivajirao, and Dhapte, Vividha. “Contemporary Acupressure Therapy: Adroit Cure for Painless Recovery of Therapeutic Ailments.” Journal of Traditional and Contemporary Medicine, Vol. 7, (June 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.06.004. Accessed 9 February 2019.

Motlagh, Farid, Ibrahim, Fatimah, Rashid, Rusdi, Seghatoleslam, Tahereh, and Habil, Hussain. “Acupuncture Therapy for Drug Addiction.” Chinese Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 16, (May 2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-016-0088-7. Accessed 9 February 2019.

Power of Positivity, (2018): “https://www.powerofpositivity.com/heres-what-happens-when-you-touch-these-points-on-your-hands/

“Soul to Sole: Holistic Therapy Centre,” International Federation of Reflexologists, (February 2019): soultosoleholistictherapycentre.co.uk

Yang, Man-Hua, Lin, Li-Chan, Chiu, Jen-Hway, Wang, Pei-Ning, and Lin, Jaung-Geng, “Comparison of the Efficacy of Aroma-Acupressure and Aromatherapy for the Treatment of Dementia-Associated Agitation,” BioMed Central Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Vol. 15, No. 93 (March 2015), 10.1186/s12906-015-0612-9. Accessed 9 February 2019.

Appendix

Figure 1[footnoteRef:38] [38: Retrieved from Garza, Morgan, “Science Proves Meridians Exist & How You Can Sense This Energy,” in Wellness Guide, (February 24, 2017): https://www.changeyourenergy.com/blog/1892/20170227-science-proves-meridians-exist-and-how-you-can-sense-this-energy]

The Body Meridians

Figure 2[footnoteRef:39] [39: Retrieved from Beauty Black Book, “Facial Meridian Points” (February 2019): https://beautyblackbook.com/acupuncture-facelift/face-meridian-chart-compressed/]

Facial Meridian Chart

Figure 3[footnoteRef:40] [40: Retrieved from International Federation of Reflexologists, “Soul to Sole: Holistic Therapy Centre,” (February 2019): soultosoleholistictherapycentre.co.uk]

Foot Reflexology Map

Figure 4[footnoteRef:41] [41: Retrieved from Power of Positivity, (2018): “https://www.powerofpositivity.com/heres-what-happens-when-you-touch-these-points-on-your-hands/]

Hand Reflexology Chart