28 Trachea
29 Heart
30 Lung (round both sides of heart)
31 Brain Point
32 Clavicle
33 Nose
34 Testis (ovary)
35 Forehead
36 Tongue
37 Eye
38 Internal Ear
39 Tonsil
To Finish
At the end of the workout, stretch the arms above the head, stretch the back and legs and take a deep breath in. Breathe out as you relax the stretch. Repeat 3 times.
Shake out the hands and wrists to make sure they are relaxed. If you have been applying relaxed pressure your fingers should not feel tired or ache. In the beginning, however, when you are not used to the technique, it is easy to apply too much pressure or to have tension in the hands and fingers, causing them to ache afterwards. If you do have this problem, gently stretch each finger and, next time you do the workout, use lighter pressure and constantly check to make sure there is no tension in the hands.
At the end of the workout you should feel refreshed and vitalized in mind and body and all your internal organs will have been primed to function well. With practice you will be able to remember the points easily and will no longer need to keep referring to the text. This will enable your movements to be more flowing and your breathing rhythmical.
Regular use of this Acupressure Workout should lead you to feel both more energetic and relaxed. You will probably notice a decrease in minor ailments and an enhanced sense of well-being. Give the workout a try on a daily basis for a month and judge the results for yourself.
As you become more proficient your self-awareness and sensitivity will increase, making the workout even more effective. This will also enable you to select acupoints from other sections in this book, as appropriate, with skill and confidence.
Acupressure Health
In this section each part and major system of the body is covered in turn, along with mental and emotional states. For each, the acupoints that optimize health are given, together with general natural health-care tips as appropriate. Common disorders are also included, with acupoints for both preventing and relieving them.
Once you are familiar with the Acupressure Workout described in Chapter 1, you can start to select acupoints from the following sections according to the part or system of the body that you wish to strengthen, or the disorder that you wish to alleviate.
The points are best used to maximize health and to prevent disease, but they can also be used in conjunction with treatment or medication, whether complementary or orthodox, to speed recovery. However, if you have an acute infection or serious health problem or are pregnant, do seek the advice of a practitioner experienced in acupressure (see Useful Addresses section) to guide you in your selection and use of points. Acupressure is not dangerous and does not have side-effects, but the points do have powerful effects on the body and should be used wisely.
Do keep a brief acupressure diary to record your practice and progress so that you can accurately assess the effects of your acupressure and develop your skill. Record how you feel, the acupoints you use and the effects you observe after and between each treatment.
Acupressure is a joy to use and, as you become convinced of its effectiveness, it will become an essential part of your own health care.
The Head
The Face and Skin
Acupressure can be used as a simple, natural and effective facial health routine to enhance the complexion, firm and tone facial skin and muscles, enhance the function of the eyes, ears and nose and improve the health of the teeth and gums.
Facial Workout
For a complete ‘facial workout’, apply acupressure to the following set of 20 facial points in the order shown. (These acupoints can also be combined together with simple massage techniques to form a comprehensive and effective facial massage routine, as outlined in my book Self-Massage.)
Regular use of this facial sequence, together with sensible diet, exercise and sleep, and lots of water will make your face and skin positively glow with health!
1 Governor Vessel 20
2 Governor Vessel 23
3 Stomach 8
4 Gall Bladder 14
5 Forehead (extra)
6 Urinary Bladder 2
7 Eyebrow (extra)
8 Triple Heater 23
9 Gall Bladder 1
10 Stomach 1
11 Triple Heater 21
12 Small Intestine 19
13 Gall Bladder 2
14 Stomach 3
15 Large Intestine 20
16 Governor Vessel 26
17 Stomach 4
18 Stomach 6
19 Conception Vessel 24
20 Gall Bladder 20
Facial Workout Acupoints
Technique: The acupressure techniques for the face are just the same as for the Acupressure Workout. Use your index finger, middle finger or thumb to apply acupressure to each of the points, either perpendicularly below the surface of the skin or else with gentle, circular pressure angled slightly in the direction of flow of the meridian.
Acupressure can be applied to most of the facial acupoints on both sides of the face simultaneously. Pressure should be firm but light, especially around the eyes, and should be maintained for short periods at first. Begin with around 5 seconds for each point and build up to 10 seconds if you wish. Overall, the feeling should be comfortable and refreshing. Let your facial feeling guide your technique.
The facial acupressure points, in order of use, are as follows:
1. Governor Vessel 20
Location: At the top of the head on the midline between the tops of the 2 ears and in line with the top of the nose. Locate the point by placing the thumbs on the top of each ear and stretching the middle fingers out to meet at the top of the head.
Technique: Apply acupressure perpendicularly into the scalp, using the middle or index fingertip of one hand. For firmer pressure you can rest the middle or index fingertip of the other hand on top of the nail of the finger locating the point and apply gentle pressure with both fingers simultaneously. The point should be felt as a small depression in the