PC6 for insomnia, anxiety, & nausea; and some acupressure basics

I have training in massage therapy & Asian bodywork, with a focus on acupressure and Tui Na (Chinese medical massage). I am inspired & emboldened by fermentation Sandor Ellix Katz's transmission of late herbalist Frank Cook's words: ""Dont be an end user". Take what you learn and become a teacher. Spread valuable knowledge" (The Art of Fermentation). So here we go! A series of videos on self-acupressure.

Pericardium 6 (also PC6, Neiguan, Inner Pass), is located two thumb-widths down from the upper wrist crease, right between the two tendons in the middle of the forearm. It will feel most "sore" there.

You can hold this point firmly or massage it to lessen anxiety, agitation, insomnia, nausea, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, & chest pain, and to boost yin (nourishing) energy. Hold the point until you feel relieved.

Some Western studies on PC6, if it interests you: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmri.22006/full

http://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Abstract/1997/04000/Acupressure_Treatment_for_Prevention_of.23.aspx

Again, this is the first of my series of instructional videos on self-acupressure. Why do I feel this is important information to share? Because self-acupressure is...

FREE Self-acupressure only "costs" the time it takes to learn the point and its uses. Your hands are the the tool in this practice.

POWERFUL

Acupressure, like acupuncture, is based on the Traditional Chinese Medical understanding of channels (meridians) that run through the body. Energy (Qi) runs through these meridians. Over thousands of years, Chinese healers documented the specific function of stimulating certain points on these meridians. The aim of acupressure in a TCM standpoint is to move stagnation and nourish deficiencies in this energetic system of the body.

It is not necessary to understand the underlying TCM theory for acupressure to be effective and useful. Along with anecdotal evidence, Western medicine is documenting the effectiveness of acupuncture & acupresssure for chronic and acute conditions.

SAFE

No advanced training is needed in self-acupressure. There are no needles involved. If you have no training, is safest to do to yourself, with the understanding that acupressure can be very powerful. Physical and emotional shifts will result when using acupressure points, so approaching them with respect is important. Listen to your body and stop using a point if it doesn't feel right. Some points are contraindicated in pregnancy and for other conditions.

That said, I will be introducing generally safe, frequently-used points in this series, and it is very rare for permanent harm to occur with self-acupressure. It is safely used on infants, people who are ill, and elders, in proper circumstances.*

EMPOWERING

To get in touch with your own body's needs and intentionally creating shifts on physical and energetic levels is empowering. Acupressure is a way of literally taking your wellness into your own hands! Just having a small toolbox of acupressure points to use can be incredibly useful for acute illness or injury, emotional distress, and relaxation/ nourishment.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Because acupressure is immediately accessible, requiring no tools other than the hands, it is of utility in emergency situations. In this way, it is not only useful for individual health, but as a means of empowering community health.

Have a question about acupressure in general, specific acupressure points, or an issue you'd like to work on with acupressure? Ask me in the comments below.

*I cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions to acupressure points introduced here.As I mentioned, awareness of your response to the points is key. Listen to your own body first and foremost.