While Western medicine tends to treat illness and pain with drugs and procedures such as surgery, traditional Eastern medicine tends to be more holistic, making use of the belief in a strong mind-body connection, herbs and ancient techniques such as acupuncture. Another Eastern technique that is becoming increasingly popular among those who value natural remedies is acupressure. Although this remedy has been used for a wide variety of ailments, it can be of particular benefit to women who wish to improve their uterine health and fertility or ease their labor.
What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is an ancient Eastern medical technique similar to acupuncture that involves utilizing pressure on specific pressure points of the body to relieve pain and sickness. It is based on the belief that a balance of the body and mind can be achieved through these pressure applications. Particular pressure points are thought to correspond to assistance with particular complaints (for instances, there are pressure points for relief of headaches). It uses the fingers to manipulate the pressure points rather than needles.
What Points Help the Uterus?
There are several acupressure points that are thought to improve uterine health. These are located on the inside of the elbow near the crease of the arm, one palm width below the navel, near the rear of the shin about a palm width higher than the inside of the ankle bone, and in the depression between the shin and calf a palm width lower than the outside of the kneecap. These points are thought to improve uterine health mainly by improving blood flow to the organ and surrounding tissues.
Other Uterine Points
Acupressure can be used not only to keep the uterus healthy, but also to relieve uterine discomfort and to facilitate labor. Acupressure points related specifically to the relief of cramps, increase of blood flow, and descent of the baby into the pelvis include adjoining valley (in the webbing between the thumb and first finger), shoulder well (toward the neck about four fingers from the shoulder joint), and big and high (between Achilles' tendon and ankle bone above the heel). Other pressure points are located on the ear, eyebrow and scalp.
Do It
Some acupressure points related to uterine health can be manipulated without assistance, but others, such as those located toward the shoulders and back, may require the assistance of a professional or friend. If you opt to do acupressure yourself, do it on both sides of the body (remember, it is about balance), and manipulate the pressure point with your fingertip, knuckle or a pencil eraser for no more than 15 to 30 seconds at a time.
Cost and Session Content
Initial and routine acupressure treatments by a professional usually run around $50 to $95 as of 2009, depending on the acupressurist and location---the average is $60 per hour. Most insurance companies do not cover acupressure because it is considered to be an alternative treatment, but some do. A typical session includes the taking of patient history and lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. The acupressurist may suggest that you take supplemental herbs to increase the benefits of the session, and most people don't experience much, if any, pain from the session. You can be specific with your acupressurist and tell them you are particularly concerned about the uterus, and they will adjust your session according to your needs.
Tags: pressure points, uterine health, palm width, acupressure points, ankle bone, blood flow, improve uterine