To precisely locating an acupoint, needs to know about Cun. Cun is the standard unit of measurement for the body used in acupuncture/acupressure.
Cun
Everyone has different body dimensions; Cun is defining according to the person who is to be treated.
- One cun = width of the thumb, in the middle, at the crease
- Three cun = combined breadth of the four fingers, at the level of the pinky finger's first joint above the palm of the hand
- Twelve cun = the distance from the elbow crease to the wrist crease.
Acupuncture Acupressure
The acupressure system of therapy uses the same points on the body as does acupuncture treatment to prevent diseases. "Acu" means care or precision; therapist takes care to use the exact point. However, instead of using needles to puncture the skin, the therapist uses hands, fingers, palms, elbows or feet, or special devices to place pressure on the points. So, when reference is making to acupressure points, remember that these are the same as acupuncture points.
The primary difference between acupressure and acupuncture is that the latter uses thin needles in addressing health concerns, while the former does not break the skin. However, the two methods of holistic medicine have much in common, since they are both base on touching meridians that carry energy, or chi, throughout the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, illnesses are causing by blockages of chi somewhere along the meridians, so both acupressure and acupuncture encourage energy to flow freely once again.
One difference between acupressure and acupuncture arises in the specific application of the techniques. A practitioner experienced in it must perform acupuncture. Several pressure points in specific combinations are access at the same time. The acupuncturist needs to reach the bare skin; therefore, the patient usually to remove the clothing or covering prior to being treated.
Acupressure easy and safe
Anyone can easily learn acupressure from a handbook, especially pressure points that relieve common discomforts. You can perform the miniature massages on yourself, anywhere. An acupressurist only touches one or two pressure points at a time, since they use their fingers, thumbs, palms, and elbows. Since this is similar to massage, it can administer through loose clothing.
Are acupressure’s safe? Acupressure is generally reporting as safe when performed by an experienced practitioner. No serious complications have been publishing, despite millions of treatments every year. Self-administer acupressure is believed to be safe with proper training.