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Acupuncture Pressure Points - How They Help

By: Barry Friedmann Throughout the body, there are many different pressure points. These pressure points are small areas that react to stimuli throughout the body.

Acupuncture works on the principle that an energy or life force called qi, flows throughout the body. Illness, pain or unwell feelings are usually caused by the natural flow of qi being interrupted, changed or altered in some way. To restore the natural flow of qi to our bodies, acupuncture points or 'acupoints' as they are known, are targeted.

We have specific acupoints in our bodies that need to be targeted to achieve the results that we look for. Specific points are used for each ailment. Acupuncture has been used by the Chinese culture for well over 3000 years. Pressure points used in acupuncture are the same, whether the treatment be laser acupuncture, acupressure or sonopuncture.

Our bodies consist of hundreds of acupuncture points. All these points are located on what we call 'meridians'. Meridians are points that correlate to various parts of our body. An untrained person may see these meridians not seem to connect, e.g. in order to relieve a headache, one would treat a part of a hand. In addition to meridian points there are numerous pressure points throughout our bodies. An acupuncture practitioner will treat the appropriate pressure points to relieve the pain or discomfort endured as a patient.

The stimulation of the flow of qi back to that part of the body that assists in the healing of the condition is achieved when the correct pressure points are treated. In order to be able to locate the correct points for required treatment, acupuncturists are trained to know which pressure points relate to which part of the body. A headache is a good example. One would need to know which pressure points to stimulate in order to relieve the pain and achieve the right end result. The pressure point could very well not be anywhere near your head and could be in your hand or your foot.

Qi flows throughout the body in a never-ending stream so the specific point could be located on the opposite side of the body from where the pain is felt.

Professionals use many categories of pressure points to treat different conditions and will choose the points connected to that part of the body causing discomfort. One of the most common methods used is the Five Transporting Point system. Other methods include the Five Points Phases, Xi-Cleft, Back-shu, Lou-connecting and a variety of others.