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Massage Therapists Can Benefit From Acupressure Financially

In Taichung Taiwan, the China Medical University School of Nursing recently conducted a double-blind clinical trial involving premature infants who were administered acupressure (meridian massage) over a 10 ten period. The massage was given thrice a day 15 minute each session. The subjects in the treatment group received meridian massage, were rubbed on the tummies, and were given other acupressure kneading applications before they were fed.

Comparing the subjects who were given conventional care (the control group) to the treatment group the researchers saw some fascinating observations. Though there was no significant difference between the two groups during the initial week of the study, the next week revealed that the infants in the treatment group experienced a gain in weight that was significantly higher than the infants in the control group. The conclusion showed acupressure as a promising natural and effective treatment for premature infants that can stimulate growth and enhance health.

What is Acupressure?

A component of Chinese medicine, acupressure is a more ancient form of acupuncture that innervates pressure points along the energy channels of the body. It is a natural and noninvasive type of treatment that is known to eliminate blockages in the energy channels where life energy or Chi flows. This helps sets off the self-healing processes of the body and restores balance in the body.

Both a type of massage therapy and energy medicine, acupressure is a pain-free type of treatment. Unlike acupuncture, it does not use needles but only firm but gentle manual therapy.

Some Facts about Acupressure

Besides boosting wellness and health in premature infants, acupressure is an effective means of increasing blood circulation and immune system functioning, relieving stress, regaining balance in the body, ameliorating pain, and promoting the general wellbeing of children and adults.

Acupressure can help treat the following conditions:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Nausea (particularly for people with cancer)

People Who Practice Acupressure

Though basic acupressure methods for self healing are usually offered in community courses, acupressure certification programs are being provided by a growing number of Oriental medicine colleges and massage treatment schools. Teachings on acupressure typically include the application and history of this therapy as well as philosophies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regardless if they’re offered as an individual training program or as advanced studies. Additional studies that may be included in acupressure training include pathology, physiology, anatomy, meridian therapy, and the theory of the Five Elements.

A national level acupressure certification can be attained by passing the Asian Bodywork Therapy exam, which is provided by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Acupressure and other specialized and diverse training is now critical for both conventional and holistic health practitioners since massage therapy is increasing in demand day by day. Acupressure is now also being learned by vet technicians, veterinarians and other conventional medical practitioners to better serve their canine, feline, and equine patients. Certified acupressure therapists who are also massage therapists are much more able to provide more thorough bodywork procedures to clients, and can earn a significantly higher pay due to these techniques.

Steven Goldfarb, L.Ac. is a board certified and licensed acupuncturist and the founder of Goldfarb Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center in West Orange, NJ.