Touch Therarpies
Anne L. Strozier, Joyce Carpenter in Introduction to Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 2013
The theory of acupressure is a common thread through most Eastern healing systems. The Chinese refer to the pressure points as meridians and often refer to acupressure as needle-less acupuncture. In Japan, Shiatsu, meaning “finger pressure” uses hands, elbows, and feet to unlock the energy paths incorporated through a series of stretching techniques (Shiatsu Practitioners Association of Canada, 2005). Similarly, Thai massage integrates passive stretching, yoga postures, and pressure along energy lines to stimulate blocked energy and allow the body to recreate new energetic patterns and proper alignment. Finally, India’s system of health, ayurveda, refers to the body’s pressure points as “marma points” and applies acupressure, oil massage, aromatherapy, and energy healing to each point, opening the channels and restoring the body’s normal functions. Despite its reputation as a noninvasive therapy, acupressure is reportedly powerful enough to rewire the body’s central nervous system. In Pan Nain’s documentary Ayurveda: The Art of Being, a doctor demonstrated the power behind the technique by paralyzing a goat after touching a marma point on the back of his skull. Specialists in acupressure would argue that the healing power of all massage techniques come from some form of stimulation to pressure points.
How East Met West
Tricia L. Chandler, Fredrick Dombrowski, Tara G. Matthews in Co-occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders, 2022
Acupressure uses the same meridians that are energy centers corresponding to organs in the body in acupuncture but uses tapping (acupoint) on these meridians rather than using needles to activate a response. When Dr. Diamond was developing his understanding of applied kinesiology through muscle testing, he joined Dr. Goodheart’s team, leading to speculation that these techniques connected to acupuncture and meridians would be useful in working with emotional and psychiatric issues in clients (Diamond, 1997; Hawkins, 1995; Mollon, 2007). Dr. Roger Callahan, a clinical psychologist who was one of the pioneers of cognitive therapy, began working with Dr. Diamond and experimented with muscle testing with a client who had a long-standing phobia about water. He determined that the issue of the phobia was associated with the meridian of the stomach and had the client tap on one end of the meridian (under the eye). After a few minutes of tapping on the spot, the client jumped into a swimming pool, exclaiming that the anxiety was completely gone (Callahan, 1985). With continued research, Callahan called the technique thought field therapy (TFT), due to determining that a person’s thoughts are part of an information energy field that can be accessed through the traditional acupuncture meridians, which was the beginning of specific energy psychology techniques that use tapping (Callahan, 1985). TFT consists of tapping on specific meridian points in a specific pattern that has been found to provide long-lasting resolution of psychological and emotional disturbances by successfully neutralizing emotional reaction to trauma memories (Hawk, 1999).
THE PROGRESS OF USING CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES IN CANCER RESEARCH
Kevin Chan, Henry Lee in The Way Forward for Chinese Medicine, 2001
The philosophy, thus treatment of diseases, of Chinese Medicine is very different from that of the West. Chinese doctors adopt the principle of differentiating a syndrome according to the individual condition. Chinese Medicine is prescribed to the cancer patients based on not the disease entity but the overall symptoms, signs and health condition. The treatment objectives are to strengthen the host's defense on one hand, and to "weaken" the tumour on the other and to remove the tumours with surgery and radiation if necessary. Today in China, the physicians managing patients with cancer fall into three categories: (1) conventional therapy, (2) Chinese Medicine, and (3) integration of Chinese Medicine and conventional therapy. Chinese techniques of external therapy include acupuncture; acupressure, message, moxibustion, and internal therapy with a wide range of medicines consisting of herbal, animal and mineral products (Cheng 1990, Chi et al. 1995, Liu 1990, Li et al. 1994a, Wang et al. 1994, Zhu 1994, Zhang 1992, Zheng et al. 1997). Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin steel needles into vital-energy points along the meridians. Over 800 such points have been identified (Cheng 1990). Acupressure utilizes the same principles and points as acupuncture, but sharp finger pressure rather than needles is used to effect stimulation, both usually combined in therapy, help to improve the cancer patient blood circulation, immune function and pain reduction (Yang et al. 1995, Agliett et al. 1990). Chinese herbal medicine is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and/or surgery (Cha et al. 1994, Chu 1988, Yang et al. 1995, Zhu et al. 1994, and Zhang 1992).
Feasibility of auricular acupressure as an adjunct treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS)
Published in Substance Abuse, 2021
Heather J. Jackson, Cristina Lopez, Sarah Miller, Barbara Englehardt
A NOWS acupressure administration procedure was created and informed by the NTI to ensure optimum and consistent delivery in addition to current therapies (Figure 1). Standard of care for neonates experiencing withdrawal includes a variety of the following treatments to improve comfort: rooming in, breast feeding, swaddling, skin to skin, positioning, reduced stimulation, sound machines, and infant seats as needed and tolerated. Acupressure was administered as an adjunct to these standard therapies. Within 24 h of delivery, a certified and credentialed advanced practice provider applied acupressure stickers to one ear (left or right depending on access to site) in accordance with the NADA protocol acupuncture technique (Figure 2). Application occurred at designated points including, Shen Men, Liver, and Lung, with the neonate in the room with the mother. Acupressure administrators documented neonatal activity (such as breastfeeding, sleeping, skin to skin, swaddle, use of pacifier, environmental controls, or phototherapy) during acupressure placement in the medical record, and stickers remained in place for 24 h after the initial placement. Provider documentation was recorded by the PI following hospital discharge to ensure protocol adherence and fidelity.
Effectiveness of acupoint pressure on older people with constipation in nursing homes: a double-blind quasi-experimental study
Published in Contemporary Nurse, 2020
Mu-Hsing Ho, Hui Chen (Rita) Chang, Megan F. Liu, Lin Yuan, Jed Montayre
The results of this study inform evidence-based practice for nurses who have skills and training with acupoint intervention. Acupoint pressure as an effective complementary therapy of constipation among older adults living in nursing home provides a non-pharmacological, independent nursing interventions that nurses can use. This is relevant to nursing home settings where nurses make autonomous decision on important clinical assessments and interventions. Additionally, acupressure is a user-friendly treatment, individuals living with chronic illnesses yet are physically capable to apply pressure to acupoint sites could easily adopt and implement this intervention using a simple treatment protocol to relieve their symptoms and prevent common uncomfortable experiences from acute or long-term constipation.
Comparing the effect of acupressure with or without ice in LI-4 point on labour pain and anxiety levels during labour: a randomised controlled trial
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2021
Firoozeh Mirzaee, Fatemeh Esmaeilinejad Hasaroeih, Moghaddameh Mirzaee, Masumeh Ghazanfarpour
The findings of our study, consistent with the literature, showed that acupressure on L4 could decrease labour pain. Despite the limitations noted above, the findings of this study confirmed the role of acupressure as an effective tool for the treatment of labour pain. However, acupressure, without ice or with ice, was not effective on level of anxiety. Decreasing the significant anxiety level in the touch group might have led to these negative results produced. Considering the advantages, such as the growing preference of women, researcher and health care providers, physiological delivery, and the safety and simplicity, it is recommend to use this method for managing labour pain.
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