Dos and Don'ts

• In order to restore balance, or "inner harmony," focus on eliminating pain. Relax by sitting or lying down in a quiet place. Avoid loud music, exercise, food, drugs or alcohol while stimulating your acupoints. Focus on slow deep breathing, for a minute or two, before applying pressure to pressure points. Don't use acupressure within 20 minutes of bathing. Don't use if you have a heart condition or are pregnant. Don't use in place of a doctor if one is needed. Don't apply pressure to broken skin, a bruise, cut, abrasion, wart, varicose vein or mole.
  
  

Acupressure

• Deep, probing pressure is applied using the end of your finger or thumb, middle knuckle or by placing a tennis ball between your back and a wall or floor. Apply firm steady pressure, known as acupressure, for 15 to 30 seconds to a pressure point. You will feel an immediate release of tension.
  
  

Relief

• If the pain is relieved, the flow of energy was restored to balance. In this case, apply pressure to the same point on the other side of the body. If pushing on a point increases pain, don't use that point and try another until you find the one that's blocked. It is normal for the pain to return less intensely after the first application. Continue acupressure three to four times a day or as much as once per hour if needed.
  
  

Location

• Acupressure is applied to pressure points between or around bones, ligaments and vessels. The locations are approximate and slightly different on everyone. Start at the base of the skull and move down the neck along the spine and across the shoulders until you locate your pressure points. Probe the area with deep pressure to find the spots on you that give you a jolt, sharp twinge, tingling or numbing sensation. Those are the spots on your body where you want to apply the pressure.
  
  

Other Pressure Points

• Most problems from the waist up are relieved by the pressure point found by pressing your thumb to your index finger's middle knuckle as if you're making a fist. This makes a ridge along the crease formed by your thumb and index finger in the middle of the ridge just above the end of the crease is the pressure point. Pressure points for back pain are on the crease behind the knees between the ligaments. For a tension headache, look on the wrist crease below the palm in line with the little finger. For a migraine or sinus headache place a palm on the back of the other hand with fingers facing the opposite direction, use your index finger to follow a line back from your thumb across your upper wrist to a small depression. If there is no improvement or the pain becomes more intense, you should consult your doctor.