Acupressure and Meridian Massage Techniques

In this module you will be introduced to the main concepts and foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A basic understanding of the concepts of TCM will enable you to better understand the theory behind the practical applications you will learn later in the course.

A lot of the terminology and concepts may seem foreign to you. It takes many years to understand the theories of TCM; our goal is to introduce some of the concepts to make you aware of the history behind the use of meridians and acupressure points. The first six lessons are an introduction to how TCM works and the reasoning behind the use of acupressure points and meridian therapy which you will learn in the latter half of the course. Be patient, it will all come together!

Note: The red lines on the acupuncture illustrations are where the meridians run "internal". In this course we are concerned with the external meridians.

There are many differences between eastern and western medicine; but some important similarities as well. It is useful to explore these differences, strengths and similarities to understand the importance of both in the role of healthcare.

Yin-yang theory is an important concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine. You will learn the basic foundation of the theory in this lesson and how it relates to the practice of TCM. Please note the first part of this lesson is audio only; the power point presentation starts automatically after the first couple minutes. Enjoy learning about this very ancient concept!

Qi is considered to be the energy and life force within all living beings. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on the cultivation and circulation of qi in the body and the health problems that arise from the imbalance of qi. This module explores the different types of qi and related imbalances that lead to health issues in the body. Qi is a concept and word that is used frequently in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This video will give you an idea of what it refers to and how the concept is applied.

Note: "Shen" is loosely translated as "spirit" or life force.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) identifies different 'causes' of disease in the body. These causes are can be related to external and internal factors such as diet, emotions and constitution.

This module explores the TCM elements of disease causation in the body and how such factors impact our health. In this lesson, you will hear the word 'organ' used a lot and the functions associated with that organ. Keep in mind that the word 'organ' in TCM refers to a concept and pattern of related functions/systems rather than an actual physical organ. Each organ has a related tissue, emotion, and set of symptoms associated with it. Often these patterns and functions are different that the functions associated with the western definition/role of the physical organ. This concept is very difficult to grasp and we certainly can't do it justice in such a short course, but it is important to be aware of it.

In TCM, each meridian is named after a certain organ. Pain along the meridian reflects imbalance in the physical, emotional and mental functions associated with the pattern attributed to that particular 'organ' in TCM. For example, when you hear the word 'kidney' referred to in TCM, it does not refer to the physical bean-shaped organ in the lower back; it refers to a set of symptoms and patterns associated with the meridian that is attributed to the TCM concept of the kidney. A mistake many people make is to hear that they have a TCM "kidney deficiency" and then assume there is something wrong with their actual kidneys! This is not the case. In TCM, a kidney deficiency can simply refer to the grouping of the following symptoms: fatigue, low back ache, weak knees, cold extremities and forgetfulness. As you can see, the concept of organs in TCM is much different than in western medicine. It is important to remember this as you listen to the lessons and concepts presented throughout the course.

Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is much different than western medicine. In TCM, diagnosis is based on careful observation of signs, symptoms and patterns in the body. The diagnostic terms and techniques used in TCM are based on thousands of years of history, practice and observation. This module is just a short overview of the basics of how TCM diagnosis is made. This module will give you an understanding behind some of the treatment principles of TCM but is not intended for you to practice. Please do not apply the concepts of TCM to diagnose patients; the information is presented to give you an idea of where the practical applications you will learn later in this course are derived from. The practical applications you will learn will include acupressure points and different physical pressure techniques that you can incorporate into your massage treatment. The practical techniques will focus on the musculoskeletal aspects of the points and meridians to stay within your scope of practice.

In this module you will be introduced to the concept and function of meridians. Meridians traverse the body, connect acupressure points and affect various functions, organs and systems. This lesson will explain how and why meridians can be used to treat certain health problems. In the next lesson, you will learn how to apply massage and pressure to these meridians to reduce pain, relieve tension and affect certain areas of the body.

You are now at the stage where you will learn the practical application of the TCM concepts you have been introduced to. In this lesson you will learn how pressure techniques can be applied to the meridians to enhance your massage therapy treatment.

Note: The red lines on the acupuncture illustrations are where the meridians run "internal". In this course we are concerned with the external pathway of the meridians.

Don't get overwhelmed by the location of the meridians. This is just an overview of the general area each meridian covers. In this course we will only be focusing on the external section of the meridian found on the distal extremities (i.e. below the elbows and below the knees). The handout in this section will outline the anatomical location of this portion of the meridians - which is what you can use in your treatments.

*Later in this course, under the Handouts Section you will also find one for each meridian we focused on showing a picture of the areas it traverses on the body. 

In this lesson you will learn how acupressure can be incorporated into your massage therapy treatment to alleviate pain and tension and enhance the effects of your treatment.

Each meridian has an 'external' pathway and an 'internal' pathway. The internal pathways are shown in red on the diagrams presented. Internal pathways go deep into the body. Acupressure points are always located on the external pathways.

A summary of the location and function of the acupressure points that will be discussed throughout the next several videos is provided as a downloadable handout in this lesson (see below) and again in section 6.

Function and location of acupressure point LI4 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point LV3 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point KD3 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point LI11 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point SI3 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point GB34 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point PC6 is presented.

Function and location of acupressure point GV20 is presented.

In this video, we will review what we have learned about acupressure points and will focus on the use of acupressure points for the treatment of musculo-skeletal issues.

We will also introduce the use of ear massage for relaxation and promotion of overall health and wellness.

Please remember to download or print the acupressure handout for your reference. It summarizes the location and function of all of the points we have discussed. It can be found in Section 6.

In this lecture, we will review what you have learned and how can you use this knowledge for your own  treatments. A case study will be presented demonstrating how the  acupressure and meridian massage techniques can be applied.

Thank you for watching.  We hope that you will be able to incorporate some of the acupressure  techniques into your own practice. Please print the handouts and use them as a reference. The two handouts can be found in Section 6: Reference Material (if you haven't already printed or downloaded them).  Thank you for watching.

There is 1 handout in this section. Please feel free to print or download it if you haven't already done so. It may come in handy as a reference tool.

There are 7 handouts in the next section (Lecture 22).

NOTE - We no longer offer certificates for continuing education purposes and there is no longer a mandatory quiz at the end of the course. **Once you complete all sections of any Udemy course, then you will be able to get a certificate of completion at the end (from Udemy). If you have any questions about Udemy's certificate of completion, please reach out to Udemy directly.

Please feel free to print or download the handouts if you haven't already done so. There are 7 handouts in this section.

If you are interested in seeing more detailed illustrations of the meridians, you can visit the website 'Yin Yang House'. They are a good source for point location and meridian diagrams. Here is a link to the page where you can see illustrations of the meridians and points.
 

https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/acupuncturepoints/locations_theory_and_clinical_applications