Acupressure: Tips To Make This Practice More Effective
Posted on: 21 October 2016
If you have been seeing a massage therapist or acupuncture practitioner for regular, chronic pain, the sessions may give you a lot of relief. However, you might be looking for something you can do at home when you're feeling uncomfortable. Acupressure, the practice of manually applying pressure to certain points on your body, can be a way to relieve pain and release endorphins into your body so you feel better. You can typically find online diagrams about which spots are best for your particular condition. Make your own acupressure practice more effective with these tips.
Apply Pressure Directly
One of the most important things to ensure you do when using acupressure is that you apply direct pressure to the spot you want. You may think it's a better idea to massage the pressure points, also called trigger points, but direct pressure will provide quicker relief. Each pressure point is a little smaller than a quarter; you don't have to worry about not having have laser-sharp precision. Just find the area and apply firm pressure for a minute or two. Give your skin a break, and then apply pressure for another minute. Continue until you feel some relief.
Wait For A While After You've Eaten
Acupressure works in part because the pressure you apply to a trigger point encourages the flow of blood to the area. To be sure that can happen, you may not want to try pressing points right after you've had a big meal. The reason for that is that a lot of blood goes to your digestive system after you've eaten, so acupressure might not be as effective until your food has been digested. Just as you wait to go swimming after you eat, wait a while before doing acupressure too.
Use Acupressure with Other Natural Methods
For even more help with your pain, you may find it desirable to use other drug-free methods in conjunction with your acupressure practice. For example, you can apply a heating pad to the painful area before you do acupressure. The longer you're able to work on the area with pain-relieving action, the better you will feel.
Have Your Practitioner Watch Your First Attempts
During your acupuncture or massage sessions, your practitioner may use some acupressure. You may try to remember the points they press so that you can try it at home; however, you might not have the spot or technique exactly right. Ask your practitioner to watch you apply pressure to yourself so they can give you points on your technique.
Acupressure can be most beneficial when you use these suggestions. For more information, contact local professionals like Academy Spine & Physical Therapy.
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