How To Perform Self Acupuncture - Acupuncture in Coronaviruse times
I have been practising acupuncture for 27 years now. Feeling lucky and privileged to be able to help people while doing something I really enjoy and love.
These last few weeks of cocooning at home (I prefer to call it cocooning and not lock-down…) allowed me to rest, self reflect, be creative, find my own rhythm and tune into/meet my needs at every moment from waking up (what I want to wear, eat, do that is really aligned with how I feel and need at this moment).
It also made it clear to me that although I can run my usual clinics, it is such a good opportunity for my clients to learn a bit more about how acupuncture works and what they can do themselves at home to relieve their symptoms.
There are many acupuncture points that are very effective and safe to use and you do not need to use acupuncture needles to activate them.
Traditionally, when going to see an Acupuncturist, we will use the acupuncture needles. They are very thin and are inserted skilfully to a few carefully selected acupuncture points. These are a combination of points to stimulate, move and strengthen the energy within the meridians so the body can re-balance and heal. This tailor made treatment uses information picked up from the pulses, body diagnosis, tongue and detailed case study. For more acute cases and for general maintenance between treatments and until we can see each other again in the clinic, there is a lot you can be doing from home.
There are other ways to stimulate the acupuncture points that do not involve the insertion of needles such as applying pressure on the points using your finger or a pointy object, massaging along the meridian or using special acupressure seed plasters and/or a Moxa stick to stimulate the energy.
Please read the information below carefully before giving it a go.
Acupressure is a technique similar in principle to acupuncture. Physical pressure is applied to the acupuncture points with the finger or pointy device (like the end of a pencil) in small clockwise circular movements for about 5 minutes on each point, with the aim of clearing blockages.
Acupressure Seeds Plasters* are each attached to an individual plaster to be placed on the acupuncture point which will then apply gentle pressure and stimulation to the points throughout the day. I recommend you leave them on for 3 days. If they fall out during this time replace them with a new one.
Moxibustion (using moxa stick)* is a traditional Chinese Medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort-moxa on particular points on the body.
Please note that not all acupuncture points respond well to moxa. Please get advice from a qualified practitioner.
Few tips for using a moxa stick:
• Light your moxa stick and hold it about an inch above the skin where the acupuncture point is located, wait for it to get hot, remove and repeat again 3-5 times on each point.
• Hold the moxa stick vertically over a candle to light it until the tip is amber red.
• Every so often you will need to clear the ashes from the tip of the moxa stick to expose the amber head for better effectiveness.
• Put it out by sticking it into a pot of earth or sand (do not use water).
• If you have a smoke alarm at home either use it away from the smoke alarm or get the smokeless moxa stick.
*You can get both moxa stick and acupressure seeds plasters on-line or if you arrange a session with me on a video chat I can post you one smokeless moxa stick and 60 plasters. Have a look at the end of this article for more information about how to book your session with me.
So now for the points. I think the charts are self explanatory as to where the points are located. When feeling for the points, your finger should when pressing on it fall into a dip in the muscle and you should feel a dull ache.
Below are 3 main acupuncture points you can use safely.
Colon 4: LI 4 is a very common and useful point.
• It is effective for headache and body ache, dizziness and relieving any feeling of congestion, irritability and when feeling tense.
• It is used also for gastric pain, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.
• It boosts the immune system.
• It is used in conjunction with Liver 3 (the Four Gates) to strongly move the qi and blood in the body in order to remove stagnation and alleviate pain.
• DO NOT use the moxa stick on this point.
• DO NOT use it if you are pregnant.
Liver 3:Liv 3 is a very important and commonly used point.
• It helps with headaches and vertigo.
• For redness, swelling and pain of the eye.
• Abdominal distension, hiccup.
• Weakness and pain of neck, shoulders, legs and lower back.
• Irregular and painful menstruation and mid cycle pain.
• Depression.
• It is used in conjunction with Liver 3 (the Four Gates) to strongly move the qi and blood in the body in order to remove stagnation and alleviate pain.
• DO NOT use it if you are pregnant.
