References: http://www.chiro.org/ACAPress/Meridian_Points.

html#Spleen_Meridian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupressure

Introduction

My name is Barbara Carter, Im nineteen years old and Im a student at Crumlin College. I have decided to write my thesis about the ancient chinese art of acupressure. I am writing about that subject because when I am not in college I work with a lovely woman who knows how to do this ancient technique and by watching her and listening to her I found myself fascinated and wanted to share this fascination with others. Acupressure was discovered by the Chinese over five thousand years ago. They found that by applying pressure to certain points on the body, the pressure would relieve the pain in the area or in other places of the body. As time went on they found that certain pressure points also influenced how certain organs in the body worked. These pressure points are called acupressure points or as they are called in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meridian points. Meridian points are very important in the art of acupressure. They are the bodys healing energy channels. Similar to the blood circulation system, they circulate energy around the body to connect our sensory, physiological and emotional parts of the body together. Not only do these points relieve pain, they can help major problems of the body such as asthma, osteoarthritis, neuralgia, respiratory problems, indigestion, bowel problems, labour induction and migraines to name a few. There are twelve meridians: The small intestine Large intestine Stomach Liver Spleen Kidney Heart Lungs Bladder Gall bladder Triple heater Heart Constrictor/Pericardium

By applying pressure to certain points on the meridian channels, you can benefit another part of the body for example, if you apply pressure to an acupressure point of the spleen, you can benefit and regulate a persons menstrual cycle. As you can see from the diagram below, there are hundreds of acupressure points but I will list the main points in each of the meridians and where they benefit.

Main Acupressure Points of the Spleen:

The main points of the spleen are SP-9 and SP-6

The point SP-6 is used in the treatment of people with gynecologic problems such as irregular periods, painful periods. It is also used to treat male sex problems. The point SP-9 is used to treat patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or sprains

The Main Acupressure Points of the Lungs

The major points on the lung meridian are LU-1 and LU-7

The point LU-1 is tender when there are any problems with the respiratory system, it is the main point for locating any chronic respiratory complaints because it is the main point for influencing the lungs. Applying pressure to this point may be used to treat shoulder disorders, especially when it hurts to move the shoulder.

The point LU-7 is refered to as one of the seven master points of the body. It is used to reduce localized edema or water retention of the muscular system or the skeletal system.

The Main Acupressure Points of the Large Intestine

The major points of the large intestine are LI-4, LI-11 and LI-20

The point LI-4 is another master point. It is often refered to as the most powerful acupressure point of the upper body, it is stimulated more than any other acupressure point of the body. It has also been known to have a connection with relieving pain in the upper extremity and the front of the neck or head. If you stimulate this point for a long period of time, it will trigger bowel movements in a person who is constipated and promote excretion of body fluids. When combined with other points, it can also influence other problems in the body. For example: LI-4 and LI-11 can help with dermatological problems LI-4 and ST-36 can help with gastrointestinal problems LI-4 and SP-6 can help any gynecologic problems The point LI-11 is connected to helping tennis elbow, lowering blood pressure and motor aspects of the nervous system. When combined with LI-4 it can help dertological problems and allergy problems.

The point LI-29 is connected with helping to drain sinuses of the nose and when combined with other points can help treat facial paralysis.

The Main Acupressure Points of the Stomach

The major points on the stomach meridian are ST-2, ST-7, ST-25 and ST-36

The point ST-2 helps promote drainage of the sinuses in the maxilla, it can also help facial paralysis, acupressurists must be careful when stimulating this area as it is very easy to bruise this area.

The point ST-7 helps people who are experiencing TMJ syndrome or Temporomandibular joint dysfuction is a term for acute, chronic pain and inflammation coming from the muscles of the jaw. It can also be effective in helping people who are suffering from facial nerve palsy The point ST-25 is the main point for locating any problems in the large intestine. It helps any gastrointestinal disorders.

The point ST-36 is another master point in the body. It is known as the most powerful acupressure point of the lower body. It is also known as a mojor point for lymph drainage. It can help in the localized area of the knee joint, it can help to treat anaemia and increase white blood cell counts in people with infections. When combined with the point LI-4 it can help treat gastrointestinal problems.

The Main Acupressure Points of the Heart

The major points of the heart meridian are HT-3 and HT-7

The point HT-3 helps treat golfers elbow and other problems of the elbow. It can also help people suffering from angina. The point HT-7 is used to treat people with symptoms of nervous disposition, irritability, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, insomnia and memory problems.

The Main Acupressure Points of the Small Intestine

The major points of the small intestine are SI-3, SI-9 and SI-19

The point SI-3 is used for patients who are experiencing pain in the lower back region and people who are suffering from different types of arthritis.

The point SI-9 is for people who find it difficult to reach with their arm or putting their arm behind their back. It is also used for people who have signs of degenerative joint disease of the shoulder joint. The point SI-19 is used to help earaches, people who are hard of hearing and tinnitus.

The Main Acupressure Points of the Bladder

The major points of the bladder meridian are BL-10, BL23, BL-24, BL-25, BL-51, BL-54, BL-57 and BL-60

The point BL-10 is believed to have profound effects on the autonomic nervous system. It can also suboccipital headaches, suboccipital myalgia (muscle pain) and suboccipital tenderness. The points BL-23, BL-24 and BL-25 are used to help people with lower back pain on both sides. The point BL-31 helps to treat IVD syndrome ( a degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine), any lumbar sprains and strains or any other problems of the lower back.

The point BL-51 helps to treat lower back pain again especially the sciatic pain to the thigh.

The point BL-54 is used to help people with arthritis of the knee or sciatic pain that radiates to the knee.

The point BL-57 is used to treat sciatica causing pain to the calf

The point BL-60 has been found to help clients with general body pain, foot problems, sciatic pains that come from the lower back and ankle

The Main Acupressure Points of the Kidney

The major points of the kidney meridian are KI-1, KI-2 and KI-27

The point KI-1 is one of the best points to help people with suffer with problems of the feet. It is also known to help patients with dry skin and people who complain of lacking strength or power.

The point KI-2 helps people who suffer from excessively moist skin.

The point KI-27 is often known as the reset buttin by kinesiologists (people who study human movement). Stimulation is thought to temporarily reset or rebalance the meridians before muscle testing or checking overall energy balance in the meridians.

The Main Acupressure Point of the Heart Constrictor/ Pericardium

There is only one major point of the heart meridian, HC-6. It is oftem known as the pericardium or circulation sex meridian

The point HC-6 is often used for helping to treat thoracic pain, for example rib pain. There are also studies at the moment to see if this point can help to treat hiccups but nothing has been confirmed yet.

The Main Acupressure Point of the Triple Heater

The major points of the triple heater meridian are TH-5 and TH-17

The point TH-5 is a major point of energy balance for the body. This point is thought to be able to balance the autonomic nervous system

The point TH-17 is used to people with hearing loss, tinnitus and earache.

The Main Acupressure Point of the Gall Bladder

The major points are GB-20, GB-21 and GB-34

The point GB-20 is another master point, it influences the autonomic nervous system, it is also excellent for suboccipital headaches

The point GB-34 is the best point to help muscle spasm especially spasm on the lower part of the body. It also helps people with pain in their thighs or legs.

The Main Acupressure Point of the Liver

The major point for the liver meridian is LV-3

The point LV-3 is used to detox the body and to help people with neurologic problems. It can also help severe migraines.