Acupoint Stimulation

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The body is covered with acupuncture points, each having its own set of actions and ways it can affect health. While needles are most Licensed Acupuncturists' preferred method of stimulating these points, we absolutely do not want our patients performing acupuncture on themselves at home! That doesn't mean that you can't utilize acupoints at all, though. Read on to learn a variety of ways that you can make the most of their healing properties.

Of course the easiest and most basic technique for working on acupoints is through manual acupressure, or using the hands to press on the points. We covered this a bit in our Acupressure 101 post, but as a review: You can use your thumb and/or fingers to press and hold a point, make little circles in it, wiggle back and forth...basically do whatever feels good! 

If you'd like something more advanced, Tuina is manual therapy within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves bodywork similar to massage and chiropractic. Included within it are finger and hand motions designed to work on acupoints, and many of them are simple enough to learn yourself, even if you never become a master at them.

Qigong - another TCM modality designed to promote the circulation of Qi and Blood - is often equated with Tai Chi, making people think of big movements based on martial arts. However, some routines also focus on acupoint stimulation by incorporating light tapping on the meridians or over general areas, such as the chest or low back.

If you'd rather not use your hands, tools are another way to practice acupressure on yourself, and they can often provide a deeper stimulation. Just be mindful of listening to your body, and backing off if the pressure is too intense!

Acupressure mats are arguably the easiest because they require no work except to lie down. However, mats are also the least targeted, prodding the skin across a large area and not hitting any points in particular. 

For work on a specific point, a probe or other reflexology tool can be helpful. We discussed ear seeds in our post about auricular acupuncture; they are basically small seeds attached to an adhesive similar to a Band-Aid. While they're best suited for the ears because of their size, they can also be applied to other points on the body and pressed for additional stimulation.

Acupoints - and the body in general - respond to more than just touch. Without diving too deeply into frequencies here - read our blog post on the subject if you don't know what they are - there are types of energy and vibrations that influence health on multiple levels. Acupuncture points can be accessed with:

• Tuning forks
• Magnets
• Essential oils
• Microcurrent machines and similar devices

The technique you use to practice acupoint stimulation should be comfortable for you, not causing extra stress or pain. You may need to try a few before you find what works best for you, meaning what you respond to the best and what feels the most natural for you to incorporate into your healing routines. Of course, you can also ask your Licensed Acupuncturist for advice and point recommendations at your next appointment!