Chinese Massage Points and Techniques

Acupressure is a massage art developed by the ancient Chinese. It focuses pressure on active points around the body in order to alleviate pain, decrease muscle tension and prevent against disease. The points are located on invisible lines, called meridians, where the Chinese believed life energy flowed through the body. The active points are thought to be the places where this life energy becomes obstructed, and acupressure is designed to clear the flow of energy through the body by applying and relieving pressure off these points.

Points

• Throughout the body there are hundreds of points where pressure can be applied for massage and acupressure to be effective. Each point on the body, when alleviated, is thought to release accumulated tension and energy, support specific bodily functions and curb disease and illness. For example, the "Large Intestine 4" point is thought to be the command point for the head, and alleviation of this point treats problems such as sinus congestion, allergies and headaches, and is defensive against common cold symptoms. To find a point on the body, a person must use the "cun" measuring system: one cun is equal in length to the width of the thumb, and this is the distance used to measure from certain parts of the body or meridian to specific acupressure points.

Pressing and Reducing

• Acupressure points on the body are triggered by the method of pressing to apply pressure to the point, then reducing to alleviate pressure from the point. To press and apply pressure to a point, you may use many different objects, ideally 3 to 4 millimeters thick, making fingers sometimes too thick to trigger specific points. In order to get the full effect of the massage, the point must be pressed for longer than half a minute, and preferably for 1 or 2 minutes. After the point is pressed, it must be reduced --- a finger must be turned over the point in a counter-clockwise direction for approximately the same amount of time it had been pressed. During the pressing and reducing process, pressure should not be too light, in case it does not properly affect the point, nor should it be heavy enough to hurt or cause damage.

Testing and Manipulation

• If the acupressure does not work the first time, it is necessary to test different spots around the same area, as points are only half a millimeter in diameter and therefore require accuracy in pressure and reduction placement. If the acupressure is working, it should allow for increased sensation in the area where the points massaged are located. Points can be manipulated to release a higher amount of tension by the application of heat before the pressing phase, which should only be done by a trained professional, and correct application of the reducing phase, which should remove tension blockage.