If you have an ailment like arthritis, migraine headaches, or indigestion, then acupuncture and acupressure may be able to assist you. For some people, acupressure is a better option. If you think this may be the case, then keep reading to learn about some of the similarities and differences between acupressure and acupuncture:
What Are The Similarities?
Both acupressure and acupuncture are techniques used to stimulate the acupoints across the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the acupoints are the areas where the body's energy runs through the body. This energy is called Qi and acupressure specialists say that the energy can become blocked or altered in some way. This can influence the body and the way the organs, blood vessels, muscles, and other parts of the body function. This can create a myriad of ailments and pain conditions. By stimulating the acupoints, the body's energy can be released and it can flow more naturally again.
Both acupressure and acupuncture techniques are used to stimulate the acupoints and to unblock energy. The technique also stimulates the flow of blood and encourages healing in areas that may be damaged by illness or injury. There are hundreds of acupoints across the body and most of them are a few millimeters apart from one another.
What Are The Differences?
Acupressure and acupuncture do have some differences even though they both involve the stimulation of acupoints. The main difference is the method used to stimulate the acupoints. Acupuncture uses small needles to stimulate the points internally. Acupressure uses direct pressure from outside the body. While the hands alone can be used to create body pressure, professionals will often use a variety of tools for stimulation. Rollers, rounded sticks, and more pointed tools may be used.
Acupuncture will involve the use of needles for a period of time. In many cases, the needles are inserted and left in the body for more than 20 minutes. When it comes to acupressure, stimulation will occur for one to two minutes along each acupoint. If you continue with acupressure over the course of several months, then a single point may be held for as long as 10 minutes. However, acupressure will involve more soothing massage motions that are intermingled with direct pressure on the acupoints. While some points may feel sore when pressure is exerted, most people find acupressure quite soothing. Acupuncture is often described as calming, so both techniques are meant to create a sense of well being, even if they are somewhat different from one another.
Contact a medical office like Academy Spine & Physical Therapy for more information and assistance.
