Massaging the pressure points on feet and other parts of the body may benefit you more than you realize.
Acupressure is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that the Chinese have relied on for their well-being for centuries. Lifeadvancer will explain what it involves, and how giving the feet a thorough rub is a boon for your health.
What Is Acupressure?
You may have undergone acupuncture treatment before, and find the process familiar. Consider acupressure a relative of acupuncture. Both are techniques used in TCM and are similar in principle.
TCM practitioners believe that a person becomes ill when his ‘qi,’ or energy, is weak. Energy flows throughout the body. A person becomes sick when negative forces disrupt it.
Acupressure, like acupuncture, involves accessing meridian points in the body. Doing this restores ‘qi’ and promotes healing. Both practices work on the premise that positive thoughts generate good qi while negative ones destroy it. However, while acupuncturists tap on these points by inserting needles, acupressurists massage them.
Non-proponents such as Quackwatch state that acupressure has no rational basis in massage therapy. However, there are scientific reviews that conclude that it relieves many illnesses.
A 2011 Cochrane review of nine acupressure studies concluded that it might relieve labor pains, though more research is necessary. Another set of studies stated that it might ease back pain, though there is a need for more evidence.
How Massaging Pressure Points Benefits Health
Acupressure relieves pain, improves sexuality, and eases tension. It also enhances health and beauty.
1. Healing
Acupressure, first of all, relieves pain, balances energy, and maintains overall health. It also improves our resistance to disease.
2. Heightened Sexuality
Also, stimulating the acupressure points may increase sexual energy. It fortifies arousal and enhances pleasure. Stimulating acupoints may strengthen a couple’s spiritual relationship.
3. Prevents Aging
Furthermore, accessing acupoints may boost collagen production and strengthen the facial muscles. Therefore, it slows the appearance of wrinkles.
4. Heals trauma
Finally, acupressure therapy eases the emotional effect of trauma, which can cause the body to shut down. It corrects negativity and emotional imbalances.
15 Pressure Points on Feet for Mental and Physical Health Problems
According to the theory behind acupressure and foot reflexology, each part of the body connects with one of the foot pressure points. Foot massage on these 15 points will bring some relief.
1. Tai Chong
First of all is Tai Chong, which you can find by pressing the indent between your large and second toes. You will recognize it as the part which is the sorest when you apply pressure.
Doing so reduces stress and anger. It also eases physical problems like headaches, irritability, and menstruation.
2. Yong Quan
Another pressure point is a depression underneath the joint of the big toe at the bottom of the foot. It is the point where you feel the most pressure. Pressing the Yong Quan point relieves palpitations, sleeplessness, night sweats, and hot flashes. It also eases negative emotions like anxiety.
3. Da Dun
This acupoint is at the inner side of the big toe, about an inch from the corner of the toenail. Pressing it relieves dizziness, tummy aches, and hernias.
4. Tai Bai
The Tai Bai is in the middle, close to the ball of the foot. To find it, press along the side until you come to a place where you can feel the pressure. Applying pressure here eases bloat, stomachaches, diarrhea, dysentery, and vomiting.
5. Tai Xi
The Tai Xi is also one of the major pressure points on the feet. You will find it between the Achilles tendon and the bony bump of the ankle. Massaging the Tai Xi relieves sore throats, bronchitis, asthma, and arthritis.
6. Shen Mai
Also on this list of pressure points on feet is the Shen Mai. This acupoint is at the bony bump at the outside of the ankle. Rubbing it increases patience and reduces negativity. Furthermore, it relieves colds.
7. Qiu Xiu
The Qiu Xiu is at the bony bump on the outside of the ankle. Accessing this pressure point stabilizes mood, eases stress, and enhances coping mechanisms.
8. Kun Lun
The Kun Lun is at the highest point between the bony part of the ankle and the Achilles Tendon. It eases a host of physical problems such as lumbar (spinal) pain, headaches, high blood pressure, eye diseases, and diarrhea.
9. Xing Jian
Find the Xing Jian at the thick skin between the first and second toe. You’ll know that you’ve found the correct point because you’ll feel intense pressure. Massaging the Xing Jian point relieves a range of physical problems that include eye diseases, liver disease, sinusitis, and leg cramps.
10. Li Nei Ting
You will find the Lei Ning Ting between the 2nd and 3rd toe on the underside of your foot. You’ll recognize it because it feels sore after you give it a rub. The Lei Ning Ting relieves food poisoning and Urinary Tract Infections.
11. Xia Li
Do you sometimes experience diarrhea bouts? Massage the Xia Li pressure point. It’s underneath the connected web between the large and 2nd toe, on the upper side of your foot.
12. Zu Lin Qi
The Zhu Lin Qi is a third of the way along the exterior of your foot. Again, you can identify it because it feels sore when you apply pressure to it. It relieves muscle cramps, lumbar pain, apoplexy, and psychoneurosis. Moreover, it reduces eye conditions.
13. Gao Ya Xue Dian
The Gao De Yuan is in the center of your large toe, on its upper side, and on the middle joint. It lowers high blood pressure.
14. Di Er Li Dui
The Di Er Li Dui is another of the foot pressure points in the toe area. You’ll find it on the upper side of the second toe, just underneath the toenail. Rub it if you have a small appetite, nausea, or uncontrollable hiccups.
15. Di San Li Dui
Finally, the Di San Li Dui is just underneath the toenail of the middle toe. Massage this to ease heartburn and excessive burping.
.
In all, rub these pressure points on feet if you wish to eliminate a host of physical and mental problems.
