Acupressure and other therapies

Hi Star

I use acupressure all the time in my practice. Very useful tool.

As for charts on-line, there used to be several websites that were very good, but I can't find them now??? There are several good books out there. Acupressure for Common Ailments by Jarmey and Tindell is a good start as they are cheap and ease to source.

Best wishes

RP

This is a good site:

RP thank you, we did a little during the Reflexology course.

Derek thank you for that link, its quite a good one, lots of info.

I often recommend the use of acupoints for patients between treatments, as it is often a useful way of maintaining progress. I looked at the link posted previously, and the given point locations are a bit indiscriminate. A good quality low cost textbook that we now use as a recommended text on a degree course is Chris Jarmey's Practical Guide to Acupoints,(about £15 on Amazon) which is useful as it gives directions for manual therapies as well as acupuncture.

I studied shiatsu as Chris's European Shiatsu School a few years ago, and his sense of fun was immense! His premature passing means he's sadly missed by many that met or worked with him.

I often recommend the use of acupoints for patients between treatments, as it is often a useful way of maintaining progress. I looked at the link posted previously, and the given point locations are a bit indiscriminate. A good quality low cost textbook that we now use as a recommended text on a degree course is Chris Jarmey's Practical Guide to Acupoints,(about £15 on Amazon) which is useful as it gives directions for manual therapies as well as acupuncture.

I studied shiatsu as Chris's European Shiatsu School a few years ago, and his sense of fun was immense! His premature passing means he's sadly missed by many that met or worked with him.

Thanks David, I have ordered the book suggested so cannot wait to receive it.
Can I just ask how long you hold the points for, what is safe and if getting clients to do this at home how many times a day etc should it be done for.

Hi Star

I tend to use different techniques according to the point being used, the condition being treated, and the constitution of the patient/client. As a general rule I'd suggest using a point for 2-3 minutes, using a firm pressure directed perpendicularly from the surface, 2 or 3 times a day. After about a week some of the points seem to stop responding, so it might be worth using alternative locations, or substitite the points for others in the same region, or with similar functions in other regions. I tend to alternate them every few days.

Normally I'd use a medium to deep pressure, often with a circular motion (avoid "twisting" the skin, especially on older patients with thinner skin). Protect your thumb joints by support from the first finger; you can even use your knuckles, but you won't feel much "feedback" this way. On bigger area like the gluteals you can use your elbows to (slowly!) go deep. By and large, I avoid using points over bony regions- they're simply too uncomfortable, but points like BL 2 or GB 14 can still be useful if used gently. Dont forget SJ 17 for ear problems, it's easily missed!

In pregnancy avoid using or recommending SP 6, and LI 4, along with GB 21, as these have been known to trigger spontaneous miscarriage.

The location of acupoints is a bit of a dark art, many practitioners vary in the precise location. It helps to develop a "feel" for them using your fingertips. My teacher at UEL could find them blindfolded, but then he was a professor from China! The points are often located in depressions between muscles, or between muscle and bone, bit they are not always visible from the oustside. I tend to use a gliding motion along the skin, as the fingertip often sticks in the depression. As an example strech apart thumb and 1st finger. Slide a finger from the other hand towards the body on the radial side if the first finger, onto the hand. Where it falls into a large dip between the carpals is LI 4.

Best wishes
David

Still waiting for my book :).I have a client on Monday with thoracic injury and symptoms of stiff neck, I would like to use some acupressure with my other therapies, which ones should I use and does it matter if I use these before or after the other treatments.

HI Star

For neck problems, I'd use acupressure AFTER any other treatments, as it may cause sensitivity that makes further treatment uncomfortable. Plus, doing it this way, your client is more likely to be able to remember the locations.

For upper cervical problems GB20, BL10 and DU16 are easily accessible, and easy for the client to find after. Also GB12, just posterior to the mastoid process

Lower neck problems can be linked to the levator scapulae. Useful points are SI 13, 14 & 15. Your client is unlikely to be able to find these without help. Stretching after would be helpful, by dropping the ear towards the shoulder.

SI 3 is a distal point for shoulder/neck problems- this would best be accessed with a probe with a ball end.

For thoracic areas, try the inner Bladder line, thats BL 12 to BL18, along the paraspinal muscles.

Always practice on yourself or a family member before trying these out on a patient!

Thank you so much David, really appreciate this, yes will practice first 🙂