Acupressure

Acupressure
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Acupressure is a technique derived from acupuncture. In acupressure physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points by the hand, elbow, or with various devices. Reviews of acupressure clinical trials have been conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration and according to the protocols of evidence-based medicine; for most conditions they have concluded a lack of effectiveness or lack of well-conducted clinical trials.

Traditional Chinese medicine's acupuncture theory predates use of the scientific method, and has received various criticisms based on scientific thinking. There is no known anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or . Acupuncturists tend to perceive TCM concepts in functional rather than structural terms, i.e. as being useful in guiding evaluation and care of patients. Neuroimaging research suggests that certain acupuncture points have distinct effects that are not otherwise predictable anatomically.

Background

Acupoints used in treatment may or may not be in the same area of the body as the targeted symptom. The TCM theory for the selection of such points and their effectiveness is that they work by stimulating the to bring about relief by rebalancing , and qi . This theory is based on the paradigm of TCM, not that of science.

Many East Asian martial arts also make extensive study and use of acupressure for self-defense and health purposes . The points or combinations of points are said to be used to manipulate or incapacitate an opponent. Also, martial artists regularly massage their own acupressure points in routines to remove blockages from their own meridians, claiming to thereby enhance their circulation and flexibility and keeping the points "soft" or less vulnerable to an attack.

Research

A preliminary randomized trial of Tapas Acupressure Technique found a possible weak correlation with weight loss maintenance using TAT versus Qigong or self-directed support, suggesting that TAT might outperform the other methods studied. The results were not , but a separation test indicated that further study is warranted. A full randomized trial of TAT versus standard weightloss management intervention is currently being conducted, funded by the .

An acupressure wristband that is claimed to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness and other forms of nausea is available. The band is designed to provide pressure to the P6 acupuncture point, a point that has been extensively investigated. The Cochrane Collaboration, a group of evidence-based medicine reviewers, reviewed the use of P6 for nausea and vomiting, and found it to be effective for reducing post-operative nausea, but not vomiting . The Cochrane review included various means of stimulating P6, including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, acustimulation device and acupressure; it did not comment on whether one or more forms of stimulation were more effective. EBM reviewer said that ''P6 acupressure in two studies showed 52% of patients with control having a success, compared with 75% with P6 acupressure''. One author of an article published in the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine disagreed .

A Cochrane Collaboration review found that massage provided some long-term benefit for low back pain, and said: ''It seems that acupressure or pressure point massage techniques provide more relief than classic massage, although more research is needed to confirm this.''

Criticism of TCM theory

Clinical use of acupressure frequently relies on the conceptual framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine , which some scholars have characterized as . There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or . Proponents reply that TCM is a prescientific system that continues to have practical relevance. Acupuncturists tend to perceive TCM concepts in functional rather than structural terms .


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