Acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is closely related to acupuncture. Both acupuncture and acupressure are based on the theories of traditional Chinese medicine which differs considerably from western medicine. Traditional Chinese medical theory states that the body is not merely a collection of parts, but is an organic whole that must be kept in continuous balance. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that energy flows through the body in channels that may become restricted or blocked which leads to an imbalance that causes illness. In acupuncture, illnesses are treated by using needles or similar implements to stimulate vital energy points to relieve imbalances. An acupressure practitioner uses the hands or blunt implements to directly stimulate the energy points without using needles. Interestingly, acupressure is also used in traditional Asian martial arts. The martial artist seeks to damage his enemy by striking energy points.
Clearly, the modern western medical community is skeptical about the efficacy of acupuncture and acupressure. While acupressure has been shown to be mildly effective in a few studies, it is possible that the improvements seen are caused by a placebo effect rather than an actually direct improvement caused by the application of acupressure. Nevertheless, acupuncture and acupressure are becoming more popular as many inhabitants of the west become more aware of eastern ideas and seek to infuse meaning into what many perceive as an overly mechanical way of thinking. The interest in acupressure and acupuncture mirror similar enthusiasm that is seen in other oriental beliefs such as I Ching, Taoism, and Feng Shui.
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