Both involve healing by stimulation. When certain parts of the body are stimulated, endorphin hormones are produced. This lessens pain and boosts blood and oxygen circulation. Muscles relax, thereby commencing the healing process. The traditional Chinese medicine believed that life energy, qi or chi, flows through fourteen ‘meridians’ in our bodies. As blockages in these ‘meridians’ are cleared, the body’s innate healing capacity is triggered and energy flow gets rebalanced.
Acupressure originated in Tibet prior to acupuncture. Acupressure, referred to as needleless acupuncture, employs firm physical pressure to massage acupoints. In this method of treatment, fingers, elbows or toes are used to press key points on the surface of the skin. People go for acupressure to bring down stress levels and brace up the immune system. Acupressure is a combination of acupuncture and pressure. On the other hand, acupuncture brings about a change in the physical functions of the body as thin, long and sterile needles are inserted right through the skin. The needles are then manoeuvred either manually or by electrical stimulation. When done by an expert, acupuncture is not painful.
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