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Alternate Hemorrhoid Treatment: Acupressure

Although hemorrhoids can be treated with over-the-counter medications and a change in diet and exercise, self-treatment or massage therapy known as acupressure can aid in the healing process as well.

There are a vast number of hemorrhoid relief products on the market and one of the reasons is because hemorrhoids can cause discomfort in so many different ways.

Acupressure is sometimes used to relieve and treat either internal or external hemorrhoids. Acupressure is a form of touch therapy that utilizes the principles of acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Woman massaging man In acupressure, the same points on the body are used as in acupuncture, but are stimulated with finger pressure or smooth rock to put concentrated pressure on the area that normally would be punctured.

Acupressure is the non-invasive form of acupuncture, as Chinese physicians determined that stimulating points on the body with massage and pressure could be effective for treating certain problems.

Acupressure is practiced as a treatment by Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists, as well as by massage therapists. Most massage schools in American include acupressure techniques as part of their bodywork programs. Shiatsu massage is very closely related to acupressure, working with the same points on the body and the same general principles, although it was developed over centuries in Japan rather than in China.

Chinese medicine views the body as a small part of the universe, subject to laws and principles of harmony and balance. Chinese medicine does not make as sharp a distinction as Western medicine does between mind and body. The Chinese system believes that emotions and mental states are every bit as influential on disease as purely physical mechanisms, and considers factors like work, environment, and relationships as fundamental to a patient's health.

The goal of acupressure, and acupuncture, is to stimulate and unblock the circulation by activating very specific points, called pressure points or acupoints. Acupressure seeks to stimulate the points on the chi meridians that pass close to the skin, as these are easiest to unblock and manipulate with finger pressure.

Acupressure is easy to learn, and there are many good books that illustrate the position of acupoints and meridians on the body. It is also very versatile, as it can be done anywhere, and it's a good form of treatment for spouses and partners to give to each other and for parents to perform on children for minor conditions.

While giving self-treatment or performing acupressure on another, a mental attitude of calmness and attention is important, as one person's energy can be used to help another's. Loose, thin clothing is recommended.

To relieve the discomfort associated with hemorrhoids, try the following:

(1) Gently press and knead the point between the anus and the tip of the tailbone. Press towards to the tailbone until your anus has a sensation of soreness and distention, then slowly release. Repeat for two minutes.

(2) Gently press and knead the point half a finger's-width from the tip of the tailbone on both sides for one minute.

(3) Gently press and knead the point in the depression underneath the large muscle of the calf, about halfway between the knee crease and the heel for one minute.

(4) Using your index and middle fingers gently press and knead the points on inside of the forearm four thumb widths up from the crease of the wrist for one minute.

Tags: Chinese medicine, fingers, massage, pressure points, self treatment, stimulation, therapy, touch

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