Acupressure, sometimes also called needleless acupuncture, is a treatment very similar to acupuncture, but done without needles. Acupressure is usually done by applying firm pressure, either with the fingers or small devices on specific acupuncture points. The concept is the same as that behind acupuncture: it is a method of sending signals to the body to turn on its own healing and regulating tools. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, these signals will cause the body to clear the blockage of energy in various channels throughout the body.
Like acupuncture, acupressure has been successfully practiced for thousands of years. Medical studies in recent years have suggested that acupressure can be effective in managing nausea, relieving back pain, stomachaches, headaches, and other conditions.
At the end of the day, both acupuncture and acupressure achieve similar results with slightly different techniques. Acupressure is very cost effective, very safe, and does not cause drug related side effects. Some conditions may respond better to acupuncture, while others may respond better to acupressure. Furthermore, for certain patients, such as those with blood clotting disorders or those taking blood thinning medicine, acupressure may be a better choice. It’s important to have a licensed professional to determine which is suitable in which cases. Dr. Maryam Mansouri is a licensed acupuncturist with over 20 years of experience in both needle and needle-less acupuncture in the Irvine and Orange County area.
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