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Accupressure
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 1/12/2021 1:17:20 PM
HOW TO MASSAGE YOUR PRESSURE POINTS
When you have localized pain, what do you do? You reach for it. Often without conscious thought, your hand goes to the area of discomfort and massages it. Understanding the basics of acupressure could make this mindless self-massage even more beneficial, helping you to relax and even manage chronic pain. Acupressure has its foundation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where it has been in use for over 2,000 years. It’s a method of activating the body’s self-healing mechanisms to treat illness and alleviate pain. Like acupuncture, which uses tiny needles, acupressure stimulates the body at certain meridians, or pressure points. Getting Started When using acupressure to apply self-massage, it’s important that you be patient and consistent. Improvements may not be immediate, but regular massage can reduce pain as well as the likelihood of recurrences. When using acupressure: • Set aside several minutes. • Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. • Relax, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. • Use firm, deep pressure in a small rotating or up-anddown movement. For Shoulder Pain Neck and shoulder pain are often the result of stress and can lead to what are commonly referred to as tension headaches. Dr. Moreau says there are several pressure points to use in the relief of shoulder pain, beginning with one of the most commonly used points. “The first and easiest to find is between the web of the thumb and the first finger,” he says.