Some people do better under pressure.
It turns out that some pressure can help relieve certain symptoms of cancer and side effects of treatment
Acupressure -. a form of massage that have originated in China BCE. - Can relieve nausea, fatigue, pain and anxiety, research shows
It involves applying pressure to points called acupoints throughout the body to stimulate healing. It is a form of self-massage. Although acupressure is less widely known that acupuncture in the United States, acupressure is older than acupuncture.
Before the needles were invented, ancient cultures used sharp stones to acupuncture. Before sharp stones were used, people used fingers to apply pressure on acupuncture points.
Most studies on acupressure and acupuncture in treating cancer indicate the therapy is helpful to alleviate some symptoms.
Costs and Cancer Centers that offer acupressure
One benefit of acupressure is that it can be self-administered at any time, any place. Acupuncture requires a licensed practitioner and the use of needles, making it an invasive procedure, even if it is minimally invasive.
Acupressure is less often available in cancer centers that acupuncture, but practitioners are found throughout the country and books on acupressure teach people how to effectively self-applied therapy.
a number of cancer centers now offer acupuncture as complementary treatment. For example, the Institute Dana-Farber Cancer offered acupuncture since 00 and paves the way for the normalization protocols for oncology acupuncture.
The cost of acupressure is often lower as acupuncture, especially if you take the self-taught approach. An acupressure session with a trained practitioner can cost $ 50 to $ 95, while acupuncture sessions can cost $ 75 to $ 125. Once you learn the acupressure points that work for you, it's easy and free to apply the therapy yourself.
Do It Yourself
acupressure self-administration is easy and safe for people with cancer. You'll want to use your fingers to apply a stable prolonged pressure for at least three minutes each acupoint. By applying pressure in a circular motion can increase the efficiency for some people.
The degree of pressure that you will apply will vary acupoint. Want more pressure than the offers of light touch, but not too much pressure to cause bruising or pain. Acupoints living muscle tissue developed around will require more pressure. Some things may feel more sensitive than others; apply less pressure on sore or sensitive points. You can apply pressure as long as you want to control symptoms such as nausea, pain or anxiety.
Ideally, you'll want to sit or place in a comfortable position when performing acupressure. Take several deep breaths to relax before beginning. Place your attention on the breath and try to relax.
Acupoint in reducing nausea and vomiting
- Place your hand so your palm is facing you. Relax your fingers.
- Place the first three fingers of the opposite hand on your wrist, the alignment of your ring finger to the wrist crease (Figure 1). Then, place your thumb below and slightly under your index finger (Figure 2). The thumb should be centered on the wrist and you will feel two major tendons underneath. This acupoint P6.
- Apply firm pressure to the acupoint for at least three minutes.
- Repeat on the opposite wrist.
Acupoint for Nausea and Vomiting
Acupoint to reduce pain
- Place your hand with your palm down. Spread your fingers gently.
- Use your thumb in front and the middle finger to find the slight indentation between the base of your thumb and forefinger (see figure). That's the point LI4 pressure.
- Apply firm pressure to the acupoint for five minutes.
- Repeat on the opposite hand.
Acupoint to reduce pain
Acupoint to reduce anxiety
- Place your thumb and middle finger between your eyebrows at the root of your nose (see figure). This is additional acupoint 1.
- Apply light pressure on the acupoint for 10 minutes. Less time is fine if you do not have 10 minutes to spare.
- For added relaxation, focus on your breath and consider yourself to visualize a peaceful place, like in a garden, a stream or on a cloud.
Acupoint to reduce anxiety
complication management
side effects and complications acupressure are extremely rare. If someone presses too hard on the acupoint, bruising may occur. This can happen easier for people undergoing chemotherapy.
Although studies have demonstrated the benefits of acupressure and acupuncture for cancer patients, there are no standardized protocols for the use of therapy for specific symptoms.
different practitioners may use different acupoints to treat the same symptom, which could be further studied to see which items work best for different symptoms. Acupressure could play a greater role in the future of integrative cancer care promising research continues to surface.
For those who are interested in learning more about research on acupuncture points and acupressure, here are some specific conditions and studies on how to relieve these symptoms:
tired
- a clinical trial of 07 found acupressure and acupuncture generally effective for relieving cancer-related fatigue (CRF) after chemotherapy, but offered acupuncture more great improvement. The receiving acupuncture group reported an improvement of 36 percent in CRF, the acupressure group reported a 19 percent improvement and the placebo group reported an improvement of 0.6 percent.
- A 2014 Taiwanese trial reported that acupressure increased fatigue, sleep quality and functional status of people receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. Application of essential oils with acupoints including improved sleep quality.
Nausea and vomiting
- A 07 study found acupressure reduces the amount of vomiting and nausea intensity over time for those who received a chemotherapy. However, acupressure has not helped significantly vomiting or nausea immediately after chemotherapy. In fact it has delayed effect.
- A UK trial of 07 found that acupressure reduces the incidence of nausea, vomiting and dry uprising and reduced the severity of nausea and dry uprising after chemotherapy. Acupressure has been applied to a single point on the wrist with a strap, such as Sea-Band wristband available in American participants who received acupressure had to wear the bracelet for five days after chemotherapy began. The point, known as the P6 or FP6, is located inside of the wrist, three fingers down from the wrist crease in the center.
- An Italian study from 07 found that acupressure may help chemotherapy patients who did not respond to anti-nausea drugs. Pressure was applied to the point P6 and 68 percent of participants had a reduction vomiting.
- A 2015 Turkish study found the effective point for reducing chemotherapy induced nausea, vomiting and anxiety in patients with breast cancer P6.
- A 2015 review of studies reported acupressure effective self-administration to improve nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, reducing symptoms of respiratory illness, relieve fatigue and reduce sleep disorders.
Pain
- study
- A 1996 assessed the effects of acupressure on post-operative pain and found it effective. The group that received real acupressure reported pain scores significantly lower than the placebo group.
- A 2014 meta-analysis of auricular acupressure, acupressure is applied to the ear, found it effective to manage different types of pain, including postoperative pain and low back pain. Ear Acupressure also reduces the need for drugs against pain before and after surgery.
- It is interesting to note that acupressure may be less effective for pain associated with acupuncture for cancer. A 03 study of acupuncture applied to the ear showed a reduction of 36 percent in pain in cancer patients who still had pain after taking medicine against the pain.
- A German 07 study found acupuncture helped relieve peripheral neuropathic pain, nerve type pain that can result from chemotherapy, in 76 percent of participants.
anxiety
- A 05 Indian study found effective acupressure to reduce preoperative anxiety, but the effects Don 't last long after the pressure is removed from the acupoint. Pressure was applied in a circular motion for 10 minutes to 1 Extra point, which is located between the eyebrows at the root of the nose. Participants reported a significant reduction in anxiety, but anxiety returned to baseline after 30 minutes. The results suggest that anxious patients may use this acupoint temporarily reduce anxiety in medical circles and elsewhere.
