About Acupuncture and Acupressure
An Ancient Form of Energy Healing
Acupuncture is among the most widely recognized, respected, and practiced form of energy medicine today. In 2024, over 10 million people in the U.S. reported that they had received acupuncture treatment in the previous year, according to the National Institutes for Health. Many conventional medical insurers will pay for it as treatment for back pain, deeming it's effectiveness sufficiently well documented.
Chi, Meridians and Acupoints
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, subtle energy is called qi, chi, or ki--variations on the same spelling.
This ancient form of energy medicine works with balancing the flow of qi through the body's meridian system.
Meridians are pathways for subtle energy in the body. There are 14 meridians (some experts say as many as 20). Learn more about the body's meridian system here.
Chi flows continuously through these pathways -- similar to blood through our blood vessels -- nourishing, maintaining and restoring all the body’s organ systems. However, chi can become blocked, stagnant, deficient, or otherwise imbalanced.
Along the meridians are some 500 tiny points near the skin surface — acupoints or tsubos — that can be stimulated with needles, physical pressure, or other means to balance and restore the flow of energy.
Using a complex process of diagnosis based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, acupuncturists insert extremely tiny needles into acupoints along indicated meridians to unblock qi and restore balance to the body's life energy. This is usually painless or nearly painless.
Acupressure uses finger or hand pressure applied to acupoints to accomplish the same purposes. While acupuncture requires years of study, acupressure is less precise and can be easily learned and safely practiced by the general public. Here's a good resource for learning acupressure:
- I love Michael Reed Gach's book, Potent Points, and his website, www.acupressure.com. It's comprehensive and his explanations are very good.
There are many other good online resources for learning about acupuncture in general and specific meridians in particular.
A Variety Of Acupuncture-Based Therapies
Meridian therapy been widely researched by Western scientists and found to be effective for a variety of physical problems, including various kinds of pain (especially lower back pain). It is considered to be very safe.
In the field of energy medicine, there are many techniques that are based on the meridian system. These include EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and many of Donna Eden's techniques.
You can learn more at http://nccam.nih.gov/health
Some Acupressure Techniques
Learn how to locate and use the Hoku Point here. The Hoku Point is widely used for pain, especially headaches, for releasing energy, and for bringing energy down (meaning lower in the body). It should not be used by pregnant people.
Learn some acupressure techniques for headaches. Acupressure can be a wonderful way to help yourself or loved ones with headaches.
Learn how to trace the meridians, a Donna Eden technique. This technique is very useful for self-care. It is an overall energy balancer.
And here are some acupressure points for two very common problems, neck pain and back pain. To perform acupressure, press the acupoint firmly with your
finger or thumb. If you’re working with a delicate area such as the
face, use lighter pressure. Hold the point until you feel relief, or for
about a minute.
Acupressure for Neck Pain
- A primary point to relieve neck pain and stiffness is GB20, two indentations on either side of the back of your neck, about two inches out from the spine (depending on the size of your head), just below the base of the skull. Placing the thumbs on these points, press up under the skull for at least a minute. It makes it easier if you do this lying down, or sitting on a sofa with your arms and head resting against the back of the sofa, tipping your head back into your thumbs. This point is great for relieving headaches, too.
- Another valuable acupressure point for neck pain relief is the GB21, located on the highest point of the shoulder, one to two inches out from the base of the neck. To work these points, I find it easiest to cross my arms and use the curled fingers of each hand to press into the tight area at the top of my shoulders. Hold for minute. You can use a lot of pressure here.
- You can work two more acupressure for neck pain points at the same time. GV16 is located in the center of the back of the head, in the hollow underneath the base of the skull. B2 is found in the slight indentation where the ridge of the eyebrow meets the bridge of the nose. To simultaneously work these points, place one thumb in GV16, in the hollow under the center of your skull, and use the thumb and index finger of the other hand to grasp the B2 points, on either side of the top of your nose, gently squeezing and pressing upward. Hold for one minute for neck pain relief.
These points are taken from Acupressure's Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach. It's an excellent resource book with very clear directions about how to locate the points.
Acupressure for Back Pain
- In the lower back, between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae (at waist level), two and four finger widths away from the spine on either side, are B23 and B47. Pressing these points can help to relieve lower back pain and sciatica. They can be tender, so a light touch is indicated to begin with. To work with these acupressure points for back pain, from a seated position put your hands at your waist with fingers wrapped around your sides and your thumbs on the paraspinal muscles, four fingers out from the spine on either side. The pressure should be directed so that it's angling in toward the spine. Hold as much pressure as you can without causing discomfort, for approximately one minute. Then switch to B23, approximately two fingers away from the spine and follow the same procedure. An alternative way to work these points is to lie on your back with knees up. Place your fists, palm down, under your back on either side of the spine at waist level, so that the knuckles press into your paraspinal muscles. If it feels good, you can sway your knees gently from side to side to increase the depth of pressure to these points.
- Another place you can use acupressure for back pain is in the center of the back of the crease in your knees. This point, B54, is good for relieving back pain and stiffness, as well as sciatica and knee pain. To work with this point, place your fingertips in the center of your knee creases, applying pressure for about one minute. You can do this either seated, or lying on the floor on your back with your knees bent toward your chest. You can add some side to side rocking, as well, if it feels good. This position helps to relieve stress on the lower back, so it gives you some added relief.
- Another effective acupressure for back pain point is B48. You'll find it one to two finger widths outside the sacrum (the large bony area at the base of the spine) and about midway between the top of the hipbone and the base of the buttocks.
Again, these points are taken from Acupressure's Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach.
The world of Traditional Chinese Medicine is complex. This page is intended as a brief introduction only. If you're interested, I encourage you to seek out expert training and advice!
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