Calm Kids Acupressure Part 2

Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but it is non-invasive, and we don’t use any needles. Acupoints are stimulated by finger pressure, or small tools.  In Traditional Chinese medicine we use acupuncture to regulate the flow of energy and restore equilibrium  to the nervous system and the body in general. 

There are several different theories as to why acupuncture works, but modern research posits that when we cause a tiny injury with an acupuncture needle, we stimulate the body’s own healing abilities. It causes the body to release endorphins and other hormones and chemicals that can bring about a general sense of wellbeing, block pain messages to the brain, and stimulate the immune system. 

 Acupressure is based on these same principles, we are just using pressure on the points, rather than a needle. And this pressure can cause the same type of reaction in the body.

Acupressure involves applying pressure to specific acupoints using your thumb or finger or Oftentimes small acupressure tools. Sometimes, you can even use a toothbrush to lightly brush the area around the point  (this technique works well for points on the top of the head). When applying pressure with your thumb or finger, apply moderate pressure to the point for 30 seconds to a minute.

In this lecture we will discuss how to find the acupressure points using a very specific measurement technique.

We can locate acupoints using a specific measurement technique that uses a measuring unit called the cun. It is similar to using the units inches or centimeters, but the concept is different. One cun is equal to the width of the joint on the thumb and this measurement is specific to your own body. One cun for you is probably going to be a bit bigger than one cun for your child, so when you are using this measurement technique, always use your child’s thumb and fingers so that you can get an accurate measurement.

Other measurements include:

1 cun is equal to the width of the thumb joint.

1.5 cun is equal to the width of the index finger and the middle finger when they are placed together.

2 cun is equal to the distance between that middle joint on the index finger, or the proximal inter-phalangeal joint and the tip of the finger.

3 cun  is equal to the distance of the four fingers when they are held closely together.

Acupressure therapy is not intended to diagnose specific conditions and should not be used to substitute any treatment that is prescribed by your doctor. 

Other precautions include:

Do not apply acupressure to skin that is infected, burned, or has a rash.

Pressure should be light to moderate, and should not cause pain.

Don't overdo it! You can start off with small amounts of time, and gradually work your way towards longer sessions. More is not always better. Give your child time to get used to the treatment.