Acupressure Meridians
What do they do?

Are you wondering what all the fuss is about over these acupressure meridians? Well here's the meat of it, easily explained. For more targeted pages about acupressure for women's health issues see the bottom links of this page.

The main job of these meridians is to transport prana, ki, qi, or chi whichever way you call it smoothly and effectively throughout the body.

The "Qi" is the vital-life-force energy that runs the body and makes sure all of the organs function properly (may the force be with you!).

Both acupuncture and acupressure use the same energy meridian philosophy. The meridians are energy lines, comparable to a gas pipeline.

You know they' re there but you can't see them! Meridians start at the fingers and toes and carry this "Qi" throughout the body to connect with each organ, each organ's husband or wife partner and of course to other meridians, like a spider web effect.

Meridians do the Following:

• carry the "qi" or vital life force around the body,
• connect to vital organs and have a direct impact on them,
• connect to husband and wife partner yin and yang meridians through "luo" points,
• have source points to rebalance the energy within the meridian,
• will have sensitive spots, or blockages leading to physical pain if they become imbalanced,

Blocked Qi Energy Forms Health Problem

Blocked Qi or Qi deficiency can make big poblems for your health. Often left untreated, chronic problems arise such as constipation, menstrual difficulties, digtion, skin problems or acne, heart trouble and even infertility!

How to stay connected and make sure your Qi is flowing? That is a true art.

Following tongue and pulse diagnosis an acupuncturist will insert fine needles on the shu points, mu points, tonification points or source points to manipulate the flow of energy and tell the qi where to go.

All too often there co-exists a deficiency in one part of the body with fullness in another. A classic example would be a woman with swollen ankles or edema.

The spleen, responsible for the transformation of fluids is deficient, while the edema or swelling in itself is the fullness.

The acupressure meridians are then balanced with specific points and a specific food and herbal recommendation is given as well.

Acupressure Instead of Acupunture

Many practitioners use laser instead of needles as well. Make sure to ask about this alternative if needles make you queezy!