Acupressure is a younger sister of acupuncture. Despite its lower effect, it has one indisputable advantage – it can be used anywhere and anytime. It is appreciated for its simplicity, harmlessness and easy realization after training. Unlike acupuncture, instead of inserting needles into the body acupressure makes use of hand force. The pressure can be performed by fingers, thumbs, or tools designed for this purpose.
Acupressure makes use of philosophical and theoretical basis of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Thanks to being painless, execution of acupressure is well received also by children, older people, and all those, who fear needle insertion at acupuncture. Although it is more time-demanding than acupuncture, its advantage is that it can be performed also as a self-curative method and can be used as first aid (at collapse or shock) by the time a qualified doctor arrives. It is often applied as pain control, and has immunity-stimulative and homeostatic effects. It is probably due to activation of the hormonal system that it enhances the lymphatic and blood circulation. The treatment is to a certain degree reminiscent of massage; the difference is that the therapist follows the acupuncture meridians, which are pressed in diverse ways. Sometimes, the ball of the thumb is used, other times, it is fingers, palm, heel of the thumb, knee, elbow, occasionally also soles, when the therapist steps on the body. Strength and type of the pressure applied depend on many factors, but mainly on how the therapist evaluated the particular person (whether they need a stimulating or calming effect). The therapist also adjusts the pressure to the patient´s reactions. Acupressure focuses on pain elimination and is suitable for various difficulties, including toothaches, headaches of any kind, and backaches. Excellent results are achieved also with people undergoing stress and after-disease convalescence for faster return into working process.
