Acupressure, or Tui na in Chinese, is an alternative medicine technique based on the concept of life energy which flows through "meridians" in the body. 
 
The method uses pressure that is applied to "ashi trigger points" (acupuncture points) with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure is usually applied by hand, elbow, or through the use of various devices.
 
Numerous medical studies suggest that acupressure treatment may help manage nausea and vomiting, tension headaches, stomach pains, and lower back pain, amongst a world of other things. 
 
In this article, we're going to dive into how acupressure treatment works, the benefits it provides, the history of acupressure, and maybe even fill you in on how a modern wristband uses the P6 point for motion-related nausea. 
 
Let's get started. 
 

How Exactly Does Acupressure Treatment Work? 

When attending an acupressure treatment session, the practitioner will stimulate acupoints that act as the valves for the flow of chi - often referred to as nerve endings along the meridians. 

This method releases tension in the fiber of the muscles, and clears energy blockages in the meridians. The effect that acupressure treatment provides goes far beyond the relaxation of muscle tissue and tension. Above all else, it releases endorphins and neurochemicals that have been known to provide pain relief. 

The Benefits of Acupressure Treatment 

Acupressure treatment has been long-known to help treat numerous ailments; however, patients also experience a world of additional benefits. 

Just some of them are: 

• Stress, tension, and anxiety relief
• Enhancing sleep
• Loosening muscles and joints
• Nausea issues

People use it for tension, sleep, and nausea; evidence varies by symptom. It does not treat disease.

Now that we know how it works and the benefits it provides to its patients, let's move on, and find out how it all started. 

The History of Acupressure

Acupressure has a rather exciting and colorful history, but much of it has been lost throughout the ages. Not to worry though, there's still much known about the history of acupressure - and some of it may even surprise you. 

The history of acupressure is thought to date back some 3000 years. It's derived from one of the oldest forms of medical methods - acupuncture.

Acupuncture, which is similar to acupressure (except you use needles in order to manipulate the pressure points on the body), has been preserved in a book that has been passed down throughout the centuries. 

The "Nei Jing" is one of the oldest medical writings that is still in existence. And, believe it or not, it is still the foundation for much of which modern-day acupuncture and acupressure has to give us. 

It's thought that during the time in which weapons of war still consisted of piercing instruments (such as arrows), some of the soldiers would see a reduction in pain or a total disappearance of some old ailments brought on throughout war injuries. This led to the belief that puncturing or manipulating certain parts of the body could produce desirable effects in other parts of the body. 

Through much trial and error, the practice of acupuncture and acupressure were born. 

The history of acupressure and acupuncture would have stopped there, had it not been for Jesuit missionaries that traveled into the area of China during the 17th century. They arrived with the knowledge of a Chinese art in which needles were pierced into the skin in order to improve the health of those individuals. 

In the early 20th century, much of Chinese writing was converted into French; thus, acupressure and acupuncture were introduced into the Western world. 

Modern Day Acupressure Treatment 

The modern history of acupressure is also fascinating. Although much of it is based on ancient medicine, some new techniques are being developed on a continuous basis. 

One of the latest developments of acupressure is what the internet has brought to the art itself. In today's world, you can purchase acupressure treatments for adults and children through a wearable bracelet. In fact, a specifically designed nausea relief bracelet that is reusable, fast-acting, drug-free, and all-natural.

P6 Motion Sickness Bands for Kids are a child-size band with a plastic stud that sits on the P6 point. They are drug-free and may help with motion-related nausea. Where the stud goes is covered in How to use P6, and the band-versus-patch question in Patches vs bands.

P6 Motion Sickness Bands for Kids

More parent guides: Kids car sickness · Cruise with kids · Patches vs bands · How to use P6.