In our previous blog, we explored the benefits that acupressure offers, as well as its specific effects on those suffering from chronic knee, back and neck pain, as well as its ability to reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. In today’s blog, we will explore some more conditions that can be countered using acupressure, like asthma, arthritis and alopecia. These treatments have been devised and evolved over centuries, reacting to patient input and changes in symptoms post-treatment to create a recommended course of action.
Asthma- Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects the breathing of millions of people across the globe. When a person suffers from asthma, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed or swollen, making them extra-sensitive to irritation due to external elements and allergic reactions. People suffering from this condition often experience symptoms like periodic attacks or episodes of tightness in the chest, wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing. The most challenging part about asthma for medical practitioners is that it cannot be cured, and can only be managed. Moreover, it is not age-bound- a small child can start developing symptoms, as can an 80 year old adult.
Western medicine recommends the use of inhalers and other anti-allergy medication to keep the symptoms under control, but many people are reluctant to use these options as a long-term solution due to the presence of steroids within them. Acupressure is a safe and easy option, with no side-effects or long-term repercussions that can reduce the severity of an ongoing attack and reduce the chances of another attack occurring in the future. Acupressure has been shown to reduce issues such as chest congestion, stimuli to substances that provoke an allergic reaction, coughing, breathing difficulty and wheezing.
Arthritis- Much like asthma, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic progressive condition that causes the joints in the body to inflame, resulting in acute pain and a loss of mobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, ankles, feet and knees. As we discussed in our last blog, conditions like arthritis that cause acute pain often result in the long-term use of pain-relieving medication, which can often create a whole new set of problems that are just as debilitating as the condition they are trying to cure, even if they are less visible.
While acupressure is not intended to be a standalone course of treatment, there are specific techniques in the field of acupressure that are designed to reduce the symptoms of arthritis, such as pain relief, joint inflammation, fatigue reduction, stress relief and toxin release.
Alopecia- Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes one’s hair to fall out, often in clumps that are roughly the size and shape of a small coin. The amount of hair loss is different in each case, but hair loss is the defining characteristic of the condition. Since alopecia is classified as an autoimmune disorder, the courses of treatment prescribed under Western medicine can be rather stressful on one’s body, often resulting in complications and side-effects.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes alopecia to be caused by a lack of equilibrium within the body, and believes that once the equilibrium has been restored, the condition will be resolved. The aim is then to speed up the process of recovery by stimulating hair growth by promoting blood circulation and stimulating the internal organs.
Acupressure has been practiced for millennia, and can help with a host of conditions. To learn if acupressure can help you, get in touch with our team today!
