Acupressure (a portmanteau
of "acupuncture" and "pressure") is a traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM) technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture.
Acupressure involves placing physical pressure by hand,
elbow, or with the aid of various devices on different
acupuncture points on the surface of the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine does not usually operate
within a scientific paradigm but some practioners make
efforts to bring practices into an evidence-based medicine
framework. There is no scientific consensus over whether
or not evidence supports the efficacy of acupressure beyond
a placebo. Reviews of existing clinical trials have been
conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration and Bandolier
according to the protocols of evidence-based medicine;
for most conditions they have concluded a lack of effectiveness
or lack of well-conducted clinical trials.
Acupoints used in treatment may or may not be in the same
area of the body as the targeted symptom. The TCM theory
for the selection of such points and their effectiveness
is that they work by stimulating the meridian system to
bring about relief by rebalancing yin, yang and qi (also
spelled "chi"). This theory is based on the paradigm of
TCM, not that of science. Many East Asian martial arts
also make extensive study and use of acupressure for self-defense
and health purposes (chin na, tui na). The points or combinations
of points are said to be used to manipulate or incapacitate
an opponent.
Also, martial artists regularly massage their own acupressure
points in routines to remove blockages from their own
meridians, claiming to thereby enhance their circulation
and flexibility and keeping the points "soft" or less
vulnerable to an attack. Attacking the acupressure points
is one theme in the wuxia genre of movies and novels.
