Traditional Chinese Medicine

This traditional Chinese medicine practice, is based on the same thoughts as that of acupuncture. Acupressure is applied by placing physical pressure either through hands, elbow or with the help of various traditional and modern devices on different points of the body surface.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not work within any scientific standard but some of the professionals formulate hard work to bring practices into a facts based medicinal framework. There is no scientific consent over whether or not proof supports the effectiveness of acupressure beyond a placebo (non-specific effects or subject-expectancy effects). According to the protocols of evidence-based medicine, existing clinical trials' reviews conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration and Bandolier concluded that a lack of effectiveness or lack of well-conducted clinical trials.

Acupoints used in the acupressure treatment may be in the same area of the body as the targeted symptom, but it may not always be the same. 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. The combinations of points are said to be used to manipulate or incapacitate an opponent. For e.g. martial artists massage their own acupressure points regularly in order to remove blockage from their own meridians, which in turn enhance their blood circulation and flexibility and keeping the points "soft" or less susceptible to an attack.

Acupressure might work by means of release of endogenous opioid analgesics such as encephalin, endorphin causing reduction of pain. Acupressure is considered as a safe form of therapy and its side effects are rare.

There are various Acupressure instrument available in the market. An acupressure wristband is an example of that instrument. It is said that it helps to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness and other forms of nausea. This band is intended to give pressure to the P6 acupuncture point, a point that has been comprehensively investigated. The Cochrane Collaboration, a group of evidence-based medicine reviewers, proclaim that the use of P6 for nausea and vomiting which is effective for reducing post-operative nausea, but not vomiting. The Cochrane review includes various means of stimulating P6, including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, acustimulation device and acupressure; it did not comment on whether one or more forms of stimulation were more effective. EBM reviewer Bandolier said that P6 acupressure in two studies showed 52% of patients with control having a success, compared with 75% with P6 acupressure.

But still acupressure is considered as one of the growing sector in alternative medicines in various parts of the world. Even the modern physicians are tending to the applications of this therapy.