Acupressure has been used in the Far East for many thousands of years to treat diseases, but the technique has only recently gained wider acceptance in the West. The human body encloses an ongoing flow of bioenergy or life force called "chi." This energy flows along specific pathways called "meridians" and is believed to control the functioning of all organs. In a healthy individual, this flow maintains a constant balance with the body and the external environment. When external or internal events disturb this balance, disease can ensue.
Along the meridians are a large number of controlling nerve endings, or "acupoints," which act as valves for the flow of chi. The proper stimulation of these points acts to restore balance to the internal environment.
For more information on these "acupoints," review the Acupressure Chart.