How does acupressure work?
A. Acupressure points are places on the skin that conduct bioelectrical impulses in the body. When these points are stimulated with pressure, needles, heat or cold, pain relieving neurochemicals called endorphins are released. As a result, pain is relieved in the affected area. As a point is pressed, the muscles elongate and relax, allowing blood to flow freely, and toxins to be released and eliminated. Increased circulation also brings more oxygen and other nutrients to affected areas.
Let me preface this answer with a little known fact. Even amongst the best “scientific” minds no one knows how an aspirin works. They know how aspirin effects the body and what symptoms it will help alleviate, but no one knows the mechanisms by which it functions. The same is true with acupressure. From studies done by Western scientists we know that the acupressure points can be measured electrically. Scientists have also shown that acupuncture and acupressure produces higher levels of important bio-chemicals. Other studies show that acupressure can increase blood flow in even the deepest body tissues. Some scientists have shown that electrically active fascia, the tissues that wrap and interconnect the whole body, could be the location of a sensitive communications network; the basis for which acupuncture and acupressure work. In terms of using acupressure for the purposes of relaxing muscles, it works by increasing the blood flow to muscle tissue surrounding the acu- point. Increase
Acupressure works in 5 ways to stimulate your body’s natural self-curative abilities. 1. Releases endorphins in your nervous system. 2. Controls the transmission of pain in thin nerves. 3. Improves the circulation and energy flow. 4. Directly elongates the abnormally contracted muscle fibers. 5. Triggers the self-curative neuro-humoral system. This is how acupressure works with your body, not against it.
