client sitting comfortably in a chair with the practitioner using
thumb and fingers in small, creeping movements over the sole of
the foot. This manipulation prompts the nervous
system to speed up the body’s response to an
afflicted area by stimulating the flushing of tox-
ins from the area.Putting Pressure on Yourself: Therapies to Try at Home
Here are some simple techniques to help you
work with your pressure points to relieve discom-
fort or pain. Once you think you have located
one of the appropriate points, probe the area
with a fingertip or pencil eraser in a tight circular
motion in the general location. Points often feel
tender, sore, or tingling. Press the point for one
minute, then stop for a few seconds, and press
again. Work the point for 5 to 20 minutes. If you
are experiencing a headache, hiccups, or symp-
toms of carpal tunnel syndrome, experiment for
yourself and find which points work best for you.
Remember, only some of the points need to be
worked to achieve relief.Headache
Point 1. Hold your hand open, palm down, and find the point in the center of the
fleshy webbing between the thumb and index finger.
Point 2. Find the point on the top of the foot in the valley between the big toe and
second toe.
Point 3. Point number three is at the base of the back of the skull in the hollow above
the two large vertical neck muscles.
Point 4. This point is in the hollow above the inner eyes, where the bridge of the nose
meets the ridge of the eyebrows.
Point 5. Find the point between the eyebrows where the bridge of the nose meets the
forehead.
Point 6. This point is two finger-widths above the webbing of the fourth and fifth toes
in the groove between the bones.162 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Pressure point therapy is
not appropriate for every
ailment!People with acute or
infectious illness, fever, or those
needing surgery should seek con-
ventional therapy. Foot injuries need
to heal before the use of reflexol-
ogy. Tell your practitioner if you
have a pacemaker: They will avoid
that area. Likewise, if you have gall-
stones or kidney stones, those areas
should also be avoided. Finally, pres-
sure point therapy is not recom-
mended during pregnancy, as it may
induce uterine contractions.