Acupressure Therapy in Pregnancy

Abstract

Since time immemorial, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have played a significant role in human health care. CAM is known to have a strong reputation and reliability within every culture to provide basic health-care treatment for patients. CAM acts as a better therapeutic option in human being for treating various diseases and improving quality of life with apt consideration to the economic aspects. Acupressure, one of the known CAM, originated in ancient China, is based on the principal of acupoints activation across the meridians which correct the imbalance between Qi. It showed superior therapeutic potential against numerous disease conditions. Acupressure is a type of acupuncture. Both acupressure and acupuncture are based on same fundamental principle of acupoints activation across the meridians. It is a pressure point, hand-mediated energy healing technique which is considered as useful strategy for the management of multiple symptoms, along with beneficial physical comforts, satisfaction, and economy. As a whole, acupressure is a manually operated, needle-free, non-invasive, cost-effective, and non-pharmacological healing intervention to promote patients’ well-being. From the last few decades, acupressure is widely used in pregnancy, like for induction of labor, morning sickness, and labor pain. CAM therapies are the real culture-specific remedies practiced throughout the world. Acupressure is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention with multidimensional roles and benefits. To support acupressure (CAM) in the near future and expand CAM therapies, we have to shed more light on therapeutic functionalities of acupressure and to encourage its practice across the hospitals.