This book is different from previous acupressure books written for the lay public in that it focuses on health and preventive health care rather than just on disease. It clearly describes how to balance acupressure points, what the correct sensation is, and how much pressure to apply. It also explains the principles of direction of flow of chi along the meridians and includes complementary techniques such as breathing and visualization, both of which quite definitely affect the flow of chi.

It is an eminently practical book and is very simply set out, with very clear photos and diagrams on what points to use to both optimise health and to treat a whole range of conditions. It can be used perfectly easily without reading the whole book by simply reading the introduction, then looking up your area of concern in the index and turning up the particular part of the book which tells you how to approach it from an acupressure point of view. In each section there is an explanation as to what the points are actually doing, so making this discipline more understandable to the Western mind. This is of great importance, as the concepts underlying acupuncture and acupressure are foreign to the Western mind, making it difficult for us to think in terms of energy and flow of energy around the body. We are culturally pre-programmed to think in terms of organs that we can actually see.

Jacqueline Young has produced an eminently readable text which will be of benefit to anyone who buys this book.

Julian Kenyon, M.D., M.B., Ch.B.

Medical Director, The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine, London.

part one
Introduction

Nowadays there is so much you can do to help yourself to health and to stay healthy. Both ancient and modern wisdom and techniques for promoting health are widely available to guide us along the path. Modern research has demonstrated the importance of diet and nutrition, for example the importance of balancing proteins, carbohydrates and other foods and of reducing fats, or the effects of specific vitamins and minerals. Similarly, sports science has clearly demonstrated the importance of regular exercise, and it is now possible to know exactly how to combine different types of exercise and training for peak fitness. Work in psychophysiology and psychology has clearly shown the effects of stress on both the physical body and on the mental state: performance is impaired, chemical changes occur, concentration deteriorates and a sense of well-being is lost. This work has led to the development of a range of psychological techniques to promote both mental and physical health-techniques for relaxation, stress management, positive thinking and attitudinal change.

As we assimilate this wide range of knowledge and experience and try to put it into practice in our daily lives, our attention must also be drawn to the wonderful range of self-care practices advocated by ancient healing traditions. These traditions were based not on scientific research, but rather on long and patient observation of the natural cycles in nature and the rhythms of life. All the ancient Oriental medical systems of China, Japan, India, Tibet and Korea advocate thorough self-care regimes as preventive medicine and as a curative approach for simple health problems. In the same way, the Western traditions of folk and herbal medicine have always recommended specific actions alongside the ingestion or application of remedies in order to prevent ill–health and bring about cure.

Within the Oriental systems a common theme is the importance of the flow of ‘vital energy’ (known as chi or qi in Chinese and ki in Japanese) in the body to promote and prolong health. When this flow is blocked or depleted there is ill-health; when it flows freely and abundantly there is good health and well-being. The supply and flow of this vital energy, which courses through invisible channels in the body known as ‘meridians’, is dependent on diet, life-style, environment, posture, breathing, habits, body movement and exercise, mental attitude, personality and spirit. As a result, self-care approaches emphasize the importance of eating foods according to the seasons and according to what suits your physical constitution and body type. They also recommend behavioural changes such as the need to live a balanced life-style with regular sleep and exercise, living in a moderate environment (avoiding extremes of temperature for example), and the importance of keeping good company. There are also a wide range of exercises for promoting the flow of energy within the body and for both calming and strengthening the mind and spirit, leading to increased mental powers and heightened awareness.

One of the simplest and most effective of these techniques is acupressure, the application of fingertip or thumb pressure at specific points on the body (known as ‘acupoints’) to stimulate meridian flow and internal organ function in order to promote health and prevent, or ease, health imbalances. The technique dates back thousands of years and is both safe and effective. Acupressure is easy to learn and takes only a short time to apply. It is also very cost-effective as it requires no special equipment, creams or other materials, just a pair of hands and a developing sense of touch in order to locate the point accurately and determine the effect of acupressure on it.

Acupoints are located all over the body, close to the surface of the skin, and are linked together in a complex network of meridian channels. Each acupoint has specific effects on individual organs or body systems. Stimulating, or gently massaging, the points triggers a response within the meridians that leads to direct physiological changes in the body and can affect mental and emotional states too.

This book describes the acupressure technique, how it works and how it can be used to promote health as well as to prevent or relieve a wide range of common ailments. It gives clear descriptions of the location of each acupressure point, the techniques for applying acupressure and the functions of the points. It shows how to promote health in all the major body systems and organs and also links this with simple self-health techniques, including breathing, diet, nutrition, exercise, life-style, mental attitude and visualization, in order to provide an integrated approach to health in body, mind and spirit. The book is designed to appeal to all those interested in promoting and maintaining their own health and helping others do the same.

Acupressure for Health

Acupressure’s real use is as a health-care, self-care technique for promoting health balance and preventing disease and disorders. It can also be used as an effective tool for easing and curing common, minor ailments or as an adjunct to therapy for more serious conditions.

In line with this tradition, the focus of this book is therefore on health rather than on disease. It starts with a complete Acupressure Workout for promoting vitality and good health in the whole body. This routine can be performed daily and used to maintain good health and prevent disease. There are then sections focusing on each part and system of the body, showing how acupressure can be used to optimize body functions and well-being. Contained within each of these sections are general health-care tips¹ and also acupressure prescriptions for preventing and relieving common disorders.

Acupressure, used wisely, can give you real power at your fingertips: the power to promote your own health, to detect imbalances at an early stage through self-awareness and the ability to restore balance. However, acupressure is not a substitute for medical treatment in the case of serious illness, so if your symptoms persist or you are unsure what is causing them, you should always seek medical advice.

If you are in poor health, or have a chronic health problem, acupressure can be used in conjunction with whatever treatment you are currently receiving to assist the body in gradually restoring its natural healing mechanisms and good health.

DISCOVERING ACUPOINTS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS

Many years ago, before I had even heard of acupuncture or trained as an acupuncturist myself, I suffered from very bad low back pain. I used to rub my lower back to ease the pain and eventually began to notice that some particular spots were more tender than others. Pressing on these points felt comfortable and seemed to bring some relief. Gradually, I also noticed that at certain times, for example during menstruation or colds, other particular parts or points on the body also became more sensitive than usual.

To my great surprise, over a decade later when I began to study acupuncture, I found that many of these sensitive points corresponded exactly to the locations of specific acupoints. As I had already experienced their effectiveness for myself, I began to experiment further with acupressure. I also shared the technique with others and was able to witness their surprise and satisfaction at their health improvement. Later started to use acupressure in my clinical practice and found that not only was it excellent as a therapy in its own right, especially for those who were apprehensive about acupuncture needles or very sensitive, weak or frail, but it was also very effective when practised by patients themselves in between treatments. It enabled them to play an active part in their treatment and also often led to a reduction in the number of treatments required. Many continued to use acupressure to maintain and further improve their health after treatment had finished.

In my many years of clinical work I have given large numbers of clients acupressure points to use between treatments and to promote their general health and vitality. Their encouraging feedback and the good results they obtained, with very little effort or training, led me to establish classes and workshops in acupressure for both lay people and health professionals. These classes have now been offered in many different countries, and also with groups of children, the disabled and the elderly. Seeing the enjoyment and positive effect that participants gained from this powerful form of self-care led to the writing of this book.

The Acupoints

An acupoint is a point of increased sensitivity and powerful effect located along an acupuncture meridian. There are over 360 acupoints located on the meridians all over the body and new acupoints are constantly being discovered. Individual acupoints have a direct and specific effect on individual organs or body systems and some are more powerful, or potent, than others; it is these major points that are most commonly used during acupressure. This acupressure book includes around 100 of the acupoints that are considered most effective for promoting health and preventing or relieving common ailments. It also describes many combinations of points that are known to aid health balance. Some acupoints are local to the body part or organ which they regulate, while others are located on a different part of the body and affect the specific body part or organ from a distance.

The acupoints are numbered and named according to the meridian on which they are located and its corresponding internal organ. Most are bilateral, occurring on both sides of the body, so acupressure must be applied to both points of the pair. Other points, located on the midline of the body or spine, are single points.

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