Want to get relief from pain and stress? How about amping it up in the bedroom? Master, Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D. Founder of the Acupressure.com & the Acupressure Mastery Program shares some simple ways for you to get immediate relief using acupressure.
Introduction to Acupressure
What is the history of Acupressure?
Acupressure was developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago. It’s an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to gradually apply pressure to key points on the body, which stimulates the body’s natural self-curative abilities. Using the power and sensitivity of the hand, Acupressure Therapy is effective in the relief of stress-related ailments and is ideal for self-treatment and preventive health care.
VIDEO: Michael Gach explains the history of acupressure from China and Japan. https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=0m43s
MORE: http://www.acupressure.com/articles/acupuncture_and_acupressure_points.htm
What is acupressure? How is acupressure different than acupuncture?
Acupressure predates acupuncture in its practices. Acupuncture uses the same points as acupressure, but instead of needles, our hands do the healing. Many acupressure points are instinctual so you may find that you’re already massaging these points naturally. By knowing where these points are on the body, you can add a little oomph to alleviating pains and aches more effectively and quickly. When these acupressure points are stimulated, they release muscular tension, promote circulation of blood, and enhance the body’s life force energy to aid healing. Acupressure therapy can be used to relieve pain, fortify the sexual reproductive system, detoxify the body for greater health and beauty, and tone facial and back muscles.
VIDEO:
How is yoga related to acupressure?
Several Yoga postures work many of the acupressure points. Michael Gach explains here: https://youtu.be/BgDWUr_xIZg
How does acupressure work with your energy?
Acupressure works on a system of energy that the Chinese call chi.It’s about using movement to get the energy flowing. Qi or Chi is a life force that has many names. It is the vital essence that flows through our body using specific pathways. In Japan, the life force is termed Ki, and channeling healing energy is called Reiki. Within all living animals are meridian pathways. These life-force channels govern the functions of all body systems, such as the nervous, digestive, endocrine, vascular, lymphatic, and reproductive systems. The way energy flows through the meridians presides over wellness or disease. Meridian blockages can cause all kinds of human suffering. However, when the life force flows through the meridians in a balanced way, health, harmony, and happiness results.
VIDEO: Michael Gach explains how acupressure works with energy: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=2m48s
MORE: http://www.acupressure.com/articles/acupuncture_and_acupressure_points.htm
Acupressure points: What is an acupressure point? Why are certain points more important?
A point has a high electrical conductivity at the surface of the skin. When the point is blocked the energy can’t go through, which means that your body can’t function optimally because your life force doesn’t flow through you.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=4m09s
How does the way you feel relate to the amount of energy or life force you have in your body?
When you are feeling depressed, your energy and its source is depressed. You’ll likely find that there is correlation between energy and breath. Having low energy will also stale your breath.Notice the connection yourself. Next time you are stressed, take a deep breath and hold for a few seconds to assimilate the energy. Oxygen serves as the life force and the life force runs through in specific pathways. During these stressed moments, your energy gets blocked at the acupressure points.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=4m19s
What is an energy blockage?
Energy blockages can be traced to the root of all health problems. Energy flow affects how you feel, how you think, and how you breathe. Positive thoughts increase your healing energy, whereas negative thoughts block your energy flow. Various emotional imbalances and physical symptoms often result from a body’s life-force energy that gets blocked. Acupressure points are where these blockages occur.
VIDEO: Michael Gach explains how an energy blockage is like a garden hose with a kink in it. The pressure of the kink represents the pains in our backs, shoulders, etc. https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=05m59s
What is the key to releasing pain? Why is breath so important in acupressure?
The acupressure points are keys to releasing and opening up this pressure. Breath is equally important. As you do acupressure, make sure to breathe slow, long, deep breaths to open the healing energy system.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=06m37s
VIDEO: Michael describes how we are given the gift to control one of our internal organs, our lungs. https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=08m50s
How is energy connected to spirit?
When energy flows through your body, it connects to your spirit. However, it becomes hard to connect with our spirits and healing spiritual energy if these points are blocked.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=07m19s and https://youtu.be/BgDWUr_xIZg?t=7m36s
Is there a difference between the acupressure points in your hands, feet, or body?
Michael answers in this video here: https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=08m45s
What does it mean when you rub a point and it’s sore?
Soreness is an indication that your point is blocked. https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=18m11s
How far should you push into your points?
Michael suggests that for most points, you should press about 1/4″ up to 1/2″up for each point. If you are REALLY healthy, then you can go more deeply using your breath.
https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=17m05s
How do you breathe properly while pressing a point?
Feel the pressure and breathe into it. As you press this point on your body, imagine that the spot is a hole that extends into the acupressure point.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=11m49s
Do you need other acupressure devices (acupressure wrist bands, acupressure matt, etc)?
Michael suggests focusing on using your fingers first.
https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=11m38s
VIDEO DEMONSTRATIONS: ACUPRESSURE REMEDIES
Acupressure for Anxiety
Michael explains that anxiety is likely to result in shallow breath. He demonstrates how to find the acupressure point related to anxiety, which is in between your throat and your stomach at the nipple line and center of your sternum. CV17, called Sea of Tranquility, is a point that is good for stress, but also PTSD, chronic fatigue, depression, hormonal imbalances, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, anxiety attacks, trauma, fear, recovery from an injury or surgery and Fibromyalgia.
Get more here: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=1463. Michael suggests using this exercise two or three times a day. He also suggests using this practice for a few months to see substantial health condition changes.
VIDEO Demonstration: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=09m05s%20
MORE: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=2400
What points would you press if you had low energy, a headache, or depression?
See above point. The Sea of Tranquility helps if you have low energy, headaches, or depression. Make sure to slow your breath to assimilate the oxygen. https://youtu.be/BgDWUr_xIZg?t=2m34s.
The Lung 1 point is great for depression as it helps you increase oxygen into your body. Lung 1 is called the point of letting go because it is connected to the large intestine and allows you to eliminate waste.
Learn more here: https://youtu.be/BgDWUr_xIZg?t=4m27s.
Resource: Lung 1 Point http://www.acupuncture.com/education/points/lung/lu1.htm
Acupressure for headaches and sinus
Michael Gach demonstrates how to unblock sinus pressure and alleviate headaches. https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=5s
Resources: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=529
ACUPRESSURE TO LIFT YOUR ENERGY lEVEL
VIDEO demonstration: Lifting your energy: Michael Gach shows how to elevate your energy by rotating your wrists and ankles. https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=06m15s
What is the difference in pressing points in your hands, feet, or body? https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=08m45s
Acupressure Power point
The Danitien (CV 6) is an area of the body approximately two finger-widths below the navel. In Chinese, Dan means the medicine of immortality and tien means field. It is referred to as the field of the elixir of life because of the many channels that pass through this point (Ren Chong, kidney, stomach, liver, and spleen channels). Michael refers to it as a vast storehouse of power.
https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=10m06s
Acupressure points for sleep
This power point (CV6) demonstrates the most powerful point for opening up the healing energy of your body including sexual energy. See acupressure Power Point Above.
Acupressure for constipation
What is a good point for constipation? Press this point daily and tone your colon https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=08m43s (see Power Point above)
Acupressure for PMS
Here are points when you have cramps or have PMS (SP-12, SP-13) Russian Door Points. https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=17m44s
Resource: More on Rushing Door points: http://www.acupressure.com/lovers/Articles/woman.htm
Acupressure for Sexual energy
Michael shares how to open up your sexual energy here https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=13m24s and here https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=15m00s
How to avoid premature ejaculation https://youtu.be/cA2JQ4G2HVQ?t=16m07s
Resource:
- Blog: Acupressure for lovers: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=2181
- Book: http://www.acupressure.com/lovers/
Acupressure for Allergies
Resource: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=1207
Acupressure for lower back pain and fatigue
VIDEO: Press your point at the Sea of Vitality. https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=09m47s
Resource: More information drawn from Michael’s website acupressure.com about the Sea of Vitality.
Sea of Vitality (B 23 and B 47)
Caution: Do not press on disintegrating discs or fractured or broken bones. If you have a weak back, a few minutes of stationary, light touching instead of pressure can be very healing. See your doctor first if you have any questions or need medical advice.
Location: In the lower back, between the second and third lumbar vertebrae, two to four finger widths away from the spine at waist level.
Benefits: Fortifies the immune system as well as relieves lower-back aches and fatigue.
Acupressure points for neck pain
Chronic stiffness and pain happens because all the points travel through the neck to the brain. Think of meridians as freeways that go through the back, arm, and neck. The points where the meridians cross is more likelihood where blockages occur. These points are called the Windows of the Sky.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tx9uYN9cz-I?t=12m24s
Resource: http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=1130
