Back pain is one of the worse types of pain one can ever have. It will not let you stand straight, will not make you uncomfortable while you are tossing on your bed and it will also not allow you to sit for long in the office. And if you are taking refuge to pain killers, then you are just inviting another major problem in your life.
Today, we will talk about a healing method to give you freedom from back pain and, i.e., acupressure for back pain. This age-old, noninvasive treatment cures the persisting pain at your back and gives you a normal life.
Back pain is becoming one of the worldwide epidemics due to increased stress, lifestyle issues, workload, and lack of workouts. Let’s have an idea about it in stats:
- An estimated 10% of the world’s population undergoes from pain in the lower back. As per recent research(1) by the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, one among ten people around the world is suffering from LBP making it the world’s leading disability.
- Back(2) pain accounts for more than 264 million lost work days in one year—that’s two work days for every full-time worker in the country. Experts estimate that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some time in their lives
[Also Read: Relieve Back Pain with Natural Remedies]
A Brief about Acupressure for Back Pain
Before explaining every necessary information about acupressure for back pain, we should understand what acupressure is?
Acupressure is an ancient oriental healing treatment and a gift of age-old Chinese wisdom. Acupressure is applying proper pressure on the specific points of our body to address trouble or ailment. As per traditional Chinese medicines, our body, nervous system and organ functions are controlled and maintained by 71 meridians. The vital energy or Chi is flowing through all these meridians, and any blockage of chi is the reason for a physical issue.
Acupressure stimulates certain points to release blocked chi and restore the balance. Acupressure can lower stress, relieve pain, and treat the issues from its core. And the best thing about acupressure is, it does not have any severe side effect.
If you think back pain can be a result of injury or muscle strain, then you are not wrong. Back pain can occur due to many reasons, and it can be the result of excessive stress, sitting for a prolonged, lifting heavy things, and extreme work pressure too. But you should never take back pain lightly.
Because internal inflammation or swelling can make matters worse with time, acupressure for back pain releases the toxins, increases blood circulation and eases the tension of that area by stimulating the pressure points for back pain.
[Read: Massage for Back Pain Relief]
What Does Research Say About Acupressure for Back Pain?
We tend to go with the flow, and the flow or mass always tends to use allopathic or common medications to treat back pain because we have a very little knowledge and understanding about the ancient treatment, healing process and wisdom.
Acupressure is a known term, but only a handful of familiar people are aware of how it works, its effectiveness. But scientific studies have already proved the effectiveness of acupressure for back pain.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, acupressure can reduce the back pain and its severity. The post-treatment(3) effector relief is a long term not temporary.
Another study published in 2012 by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that acupressure reduces chronic lower back pain.
How does Acupressure Relieve you of Back Pain?
The acupressure practitioners have a vivid idea about the pressure point map of our body. They know how much and what type of pressure is needed to cure a specific physical or mental issue.
As we have explained before, acupressure releases the meridian obstacles, lower stress, let you feel relaxed, increase blood circulation, and stimulate the nerves which trigger specific brain function.
Acupressure for back pain boosts the blood circulation in the affected area, help to relax the tensed muscle, enhances the energy flow and reduce stiffness. This noninvasive treatment uses the pressure in a controlled manner, and the type or the pressure points may vary from one individual to another.
Acupressure specialist applies needed pressure on the pressure points for back pain with fingers and elbows mainly to stimulate the points correctly.
[Read: Relieve Back Pain with Pilates]
Benefits of using Acupressure for Back Pain Relief?
Now let us talk about the benefits of acupressure for back pain in details. Acupressure may seem a simple and easy process, but its benefits and way of healing are multifaceted. Acupressure releases the blocked Chi triggers the brain, increases blood circulation and balances the hormones at the same time.
Acupressure changes the way your pain processes and releases endorphin. If you have internal inflammation which is the cause or effect of the back pain, then the good news is, acupressure can heal that too. Apart from that it increases the mobility of the joints and relaxes the stiff muscles. Acupressure also releases the clotted blood by enhancing blood circulation.
Effective Pressure Points for Back Pain Treatment
You can practice Acupressure for lower back and upper back pain at home. But to do that successfully, you need to know about those pressure points first. You need to understand the points because pressuring or stimulating wrong points for back pain will not give you any result. So here are the healing acupressure points for back pain.
[Read: Treat Back Pain with Acupuncture]
B 23 and B 47:
B 23 and B 47 are the most used pressure points for back pain. These lower back pressure points are known as Sea of Vitality in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicines). The location of these points is just beside your spine.
Which means, you cannot practice it all alone. The area is on the curve of the spine at your lower back, just above the hip bone. Both points are in pair and parallel with each other on both sides of the spine.
Stimulating these points can alleviate back pain and better your overall spine issues. You need to press downwards at these pressure points for the best result. If you do not have a friend or someone close to do this for you, then place a tennis ball at these points while laying on your back for a few minutes. It will give you the same result.
B 48 and GB 30:
B 48 and GB 30 are also located in the lower back area and precisely on the hips. If you draw an imaginary straight line from the tail bone horizontally, you will get B 48 just 1 inch away. GB 30 is beneath B 48.
Both points are there on both sides of your hip. Press the points inward and downwards with the thumb. These points are excellent for hip pain, lower back pain, and pelvic pain.
[Read: Treat Hip Pain with Yoga]
LI 4:
LI 4 is one of the most used pressure points in acupressure. LI 4’s location is on your palms. If you join your thumb and forefinger then just below the crease on your outer palm, you will get LI 4.
Stimulating LI 4 releases our body’s natural pain-killing hormone and that is Endorphins. Press the point for 10 seconds and then pause of 5 seconds, repeat this cycle for three times at a stretch to get the result.
TE 3:
TE 3’s location is on the groove of your 5th and 4th finger of your palm. Stimulating this point can ease shoulder, neck and back pain.
B 54 and B 53:
If you place your fingertip at the center of your knee fold, you will get B 54 in both of your legs. And B 53 is horizontally 1 inch away from the B 54. Hold these pints with your thumb for 30 seconds continuously to get the relief from leg, knee, back and hip pain.
Being doubtful about a whole new type of treatment is normal, but there is no harm in trying a healing process which does not have any side effect. Acupressure for back pain will not suppress the pain temporarily, besides it will address the issue from its core.
Our ancestor had the wisdom to align our spirit, mind, and body with nature; they have blessed us with the natural remedies which can increase our vitality. Trust their knowledge and enjoy a painless life with acupressure.
