TABLE OF CONTENTS General Directions ..................................................................................... 3 How Acupressure Works .......................................................................... 5 Headache And Migraine: ........................................................................... 7 Frontal Headache .................................................................................... 7 Headache In The Back Of The Head .................................................... 11 Headache On The Side Of The Head ................................................... 15 Headache On The Top Of The Head .................................................... 20 Headache Behind The Eye .................................................................... 23 Local Pain: ................................................................................................ 26 Pain In The Jaw ..................................................................................... 26 Toothache .............................................................................................. 29 Ear Pain ................................................................................................. 31 Neck Pain And Tension ......................................................................... 34 Shoulder Pain And Tension ................................................................... 37 Wrist Treatment ..................................................................................... 40 Hand Treatment ..................................................................................... 43 Lower Back Pain .................................................................................... 45 Hip Pain ................................................................................................. 48 Knee Treatment ..................................................................................... 50 Ankle Treatment .................................................................................... 51 Foot Treatment ...................................................................................... 53 Cold And Flu: ............................................................................................ 54 Sore Throat (tonsillitis) ........................................................................... 54 Sinusitis (both acute and chronic) ......................................................... 57 Earache ................................................................................................. 61 Loss Of Voice (laryngitis) ....................................................................... 64 Nervous System: ...................................................................................... 67 Anxiety Attacks And Nervousness ......................................................... 67 Depression ............................................................................................. 70 Relieving Insomnia ................................................................................ 76 Fainting .................................................................................................. 83 Hiccoughs .............................................................................................. 86 Memory And Concentration Improvement ............................................. 89 Cardiovascular System: .......................................................................... 92 Angina Treatment .................................................................................. 92 Palpitations Treatment ........................................................................... 94 High Blood Pressure Treatment ............................................................ 97 Abdominal Discomfort: ......................................................................... 100 Constipation ......................................................................................... 100 Diarrhea ............................................................................................... 103 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Heartburn And Stomachache .............................................................. 107 Women Only: .......................................................................................... 110 PMS And Painful Periods .................................................................... 110 Hot Flashes .......................................................................................... 115 Acupressure During Pregnancy ........................................................... 120 Urinary Problems: .................................................................................. 124 Bed-wetting .......................................................................................... 124 Incontinence ........................................................................................ 127 Urinary Retention ................................................................................. 129 Other: ...................................................................................................... 131 Nose Bleeding ..................................................................................... 131 Itching .................................................................................................. 133 Asthma ................................................................................................. 136 Allergy .................................................................................................. 139 Decreased Libido Treatment ............................................................... 143 Hangover Treatment ............................................................................ 147 Reviews ................................................................................................... 152 2 GENERAL DIRECTIONS General Directions (cid:137) Use deep firm pressure to massage every point. (cid:137) Usually acupressure points are more sensitive than surrounding area. (cid:137) The massage duration indicated with point description is only an approximation. Massage every point until numbing feeling is produced. (cid:137) You do not need to massage all active points included in the exercise. Some active points produce stronger effect than others. You may choose to limit the exercise to massaging these high potency points only. (cid:137) You can repeat active points massage as often as you want. There is no limit on number of exercises per day. (cid:137) When applying deep pressure the active point is expected hurt initially. In this case reduce the pressure to a “comfortably” painful level and persist with massaging the active point. Increase the pressure as the initial painful sensation begins to subside. Continue the massage until numbing feeling is produced (cid:137) When massaging acupressure points sit comfortably or lie down, close your eyes and breath deeply. (cid:137) It is not necessary to massage points on your own, you can ask somebody else to massage your active points. (cid:137) An example of stimulation of active point Li4 is shown below. Point Li4 is located between thumb and index finger. Apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction: Warning 3 GENERAL DIRECTIONS This acupressure guide is not a substitution for a qualified medical advice. If you do not know what is causing the pain or other symptom consult a medical doctor before you start treating yourself. 4 HOW ACCUPRESSURE WORKS How Acupressure Works Acupressure and acupuncture share the same active points (also called trigger points). The ancient Chinese developed system of active points stimulation over 5,000 years ago. The active points are located on imaginary lines called meridians. Accordingly, the points are referred to by the meridian they are located on and consecutive number of point on that meridian. Commonly used meridian names and abbreviations Meridian Names Abbreviations Other Used In This Abbreviations Book Urinary Bladder B BL Conception Vessel (also Ren Meridian) CV RN Gall Bladder GB GB Governor Vessel (also Du Meridian) GV DU Heart H HT Kidney K K Large Intestine Li LI Liver Liv LR Lung Lu Pericardium P PC Small Intestine Si SI Stomach St ST Spleen Sp SP Triplewarmer (also Sanjiao Meridian) TW SJ The ancient Chinese believed that life energy chi (pronounced chee) flows through these meridians. In a healthy person the energy flow trough meridians is unobstructed. The blockade of chi flow results in an illness. The Chinese believed that active points stimulation clears the meridians and improves the flow of energy. The western medical science only begins to understand the mechanisms responsible for positive effects of active points stimulation. Stimulation of active points is thought to lead to increased release of endorphins. Endorphin is a natural body painkiller. Endorphin and morphine are 5 HOW ACCUPRESSURE WORKS chemically different molecules but, by coincidence, they have very similar 3-dimensional shape. This similarity in shape allows morphine to bind the endorphin receptor, reduce pain, and induce feeling of happiness. Thus endorphin released by acupressure stimulation may lead to relaxation and normalization of body functions. 6 HEADACHE AND MIGRANE: Frontal Headache Headache And Migraine: Frontal Headache Headache is often due to build-up of stress and tension. Acupressure is an effective way to relieve painful sensation associated these conditions. Treat as soon as first sign of headache appear. Do not wait for full blown headache. Sit comfortably or lie down, close your eyes and breath deeply when massaging the active points. STEP 1: Acupressure Point B2 - Start with a less painful side Location: with the tip of your thumb or index finger probe the area where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min STEP 2: Acupressure point B2 - Switch to a more painful side Location: with the tip of your thumb or index finger probe the area where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min 7 HEADACHE AND MIGRANE: Frontal Headache STEP 3: Acupressure Point Yin Tang Location: with the tip of your thumb or index finger probe the area midway between the medial end of the two eyebrows as indicated on the picture until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside Duration: 1 min STEP 4: Acupressure Point GB14 - Start with a less painful side Location: with the tip of your index finger probe the area directly up from the pupil of the eye when looking straight ahead, approximately one finger-width above the eyebrow, until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min STEP 5: Acupressure Point GB14 - Switch to a more painful side Location: with the tip of your index finger probe the area directly up from the pupil of the eye when looking straight ahead, approximately one finger-width above the eyebrow, until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min 8 HEADACHE AND MIGRANE: Frontal Headache STEP 6: Acupressure Point Li4 - This point is forbidden for pregnant women - Start with a less painful side Location: between thumb and index finger as indicated on the picture. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 2 min STEP 7: Acupressure Point Li4 - This point is forbidden for pregnant women - Switch to a more painful side Location: between thumb and index finger as indicated on the picture. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 2 min STEP 8: Acupressure Point St36 - This point is forbidden for pregnant women - Start with a less painful side Location: with the tip of your index finger probe the area on the front side of a leg below the knee until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min 9 HEADACHE AND MIGRANE: Frontal Headache STEP 9: Acupressure Point St36 - This point is forbidden for pregnant women - Switch to a more painful side Location: with the tip of your index finger probe the area on the front side of a leg below the knee until you feel a slight dip. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in downward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min STEP 10: Acupressure Point Liv3 - Start with a less painful side Location: on the top of the foot in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min STEP 11: Acupressure Point Liv3 - Switch to a more painful side Location: on the top of the foot in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe. Direction: apply firm deep strokes of pressure in upward direction. The initial painful sensation will soon begin to subside. Duration: 1 min 10