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.
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.
- 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-and-down 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.
- Press with a firm pressure until you feel a mild ache.
- Hold for five seconds.
- Release and repeat three more times.
For Lower Back Pain
There are two main pressure points that can help with lower back pain, says Moreau. The first is on your waist:
- Stand up and lightly grab your waist with both hands so that your thumbs wrap around your back.
- With your thumbs in place, apply a circular motion using firm pressure for a count of five seconds.
- Repeat this three times.
Moreau says you can also find a pressure point to relieve low back pain about midway up your calf muscle:
- Using the same circular motion and pressure, hold for five seconds.
- Release and repeat two more times.
- Repeat this three times.
For Sinus Pain
The first point for relieving sinus pressure and pain is right between your eyebrows. He suggests using your index finger or thumb to apply pressure here using a circular motion for 5 seconds.
The second point is at your temples; use the same circular motion as before.
A third option is to trace your fingers from your temples to either side of your nostrils. Using a circular motion, apply pressure here for five seconds.
