Acupressure

Acupressure has been around for at least 5,000 years. It came to be when Chinese medicine workers started to find a correlation between adding pressure to pressure points and pain there lessening. Not only that, but they also found that it helped to make certain organs work better. Eastern medicine is an ancient practice, but it is still in use because it is successful.

Japanese shiatsu & acupressure

Shiatsu Acupressure, also known as Shiatsu Massage/therapy is the Japanese approach to acupressure for helping and ease physical and psychological ailments. During the twentieth century, Shiatsu distinguished itself from anma through the merging of Western knowledge of anatomy, koho anma, ampuku (abdominal massage), acupressure, Do-In (breathing practices), and Buddhism. Based on the work of Tamai Tempaku, Shiatsu established itself in Japan and worldwide. The Shiatsu Therapists Association was founded in 1925 and clinics and schools followed. Students of Tempaku began teaching their own brand of Shiatsu, creating branch disciplines. By 1955, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare acknowledged Shiatsu as a beneficial treatment, and licensing was established for practitioners.

Acupressure is much like acupuncture, simply without the needles. Practitioners use their fingers and hands to massage/press the trouble areas. This helps to ease the pain and/or illness. Like acupuncture, the Shiatsu acupressure relies on balancing the chi or qi of the body. This is the life force that flows through the body, and can be located on various meridians, and points, which practitioners are familiar with. If this energy is blocked in some way, illness can occur.

Before a Shiatsu Acupressure, your Japanese-trained Acupressurist at BiOrient Orange County will make you comfortable in a private and zen-like treatment room and ask you questions and examine certain visible areas of your body including your hands, eyes and ears, and will ask you questions on your well-being. You will be asked what particular ailments you have, if there are certain problem areas. Light pressure to these areas can very quickly relieve tension and stiffness. If the area is tender or possibly even stiff, it can be an indication of an area that is blocking the natural chi of the body. Once they find the problem areas, your skilled masseuse will start the massage.

Acupressure can be used as an alternative to Western medicine and of course it can be used in conjunction with it to help with various problems. Shiatsu massage therapy is a great alternative to western pain medications. The pain relief that it provides cuts back the need to take pain pills and other chemicals with potentially harmful side effects. While it may not be for everyone, acupressure like acupuncture has been proven time after time to be an effectual means of treatment. Not only that, but there are no negative side effects or damage to organs.

why people try shiatsu & acupressure

Most people try this treatment for a particular condition that they are seeking relief from. Common ailments our patients ask about include:

• allergies
• asthma
• insomnia
• morning sickness
• stress management
• tobacco and alcohol addictions
• stomach ulcers
• cancer-related fatigue
• nausea after surgery
• nausea due to chemotherapy
• headache
• motion sickness
• menstrual cramps
• muscle tension
• muscle pain
• anxiety
• depression
• high blood pressure
• carpal tunnel
• fibromyalgia

how you may feel afterwards

After a acupressure session some people report feeling light-headed and a bit dizzy. Others say they felt slight discomfort at the points that were treated, as is common after most massages. The length of time for a positive reaction will vary depending on the person and the ailment being treated. It is important to remember that acupressure is a stimulus-response form of medicine and each person will respond at their own speed.

Dr. Csoka, founder of Biorient Orange County integrative medicine, has been extremely successful in treating a wide variety of conditions and also in using acupressure and acupuncture as a maintenance tool for general health. She will be happy to answer your questions and provide additional information and detail specific treatment options. We look forward to meeting you at our convenient Orange County office.