Acupressure Points and Finger Pain
In traditional Chinese medicine, pain in the extremities, especially when it occurs in the joints, indicates congestion in the flow of qi, or vital life energy. Acupressure can help by restoring the abundant flow of qi, which in turn can reduce inflammation, warm the tendons and ease pain in your fingers. Consult your doctor if your pain is severe or recurring.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Theory
Your body derives qi from two main sources, according to TCM: food and your environment. Repetitive strain and injuries to the fingers can also block the smooth flow of qi.
Additional Causes
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TCM adds emotional stresses to the list of potential causes of pain anywhere in the body, notes Teeguarden. Fear, anger and frustration are emotions that can overtax the kidneys and liver. The kidneys are the organ responsible for drawing qi from our immediate environment, while the liver governs the smooth flow of qi. Any injury to either of these organ systems can cause problems in the joints and tendons, including the fingers.
- TCM adds emotional stresses to the list of potential causes of pain anywhere in the body, notes Teeguarden.
- Any injury to either of these organ systems can cause problems in the joints and tendons, including the fingers.
Method
Acupressure works by stimulating the flow of qi along the energy channels. Pressure points sit all along these channels, where they act like valves governing the movement of qi. If your fingers are tender, the good news is that you don’t have to work on them directly in order to gain the benefits of acupressure. 2”
- Acupressure works by stimulating the flow of qi along the energy channels.
- Pressure points sit all along these channels, where they act like valves governing the movement of qi.
Key Points
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If your fingers are swollen and hot as well as painful, it’s a sure sign that energy is trapped there, observes Shoshanna Katzman, vice president of the National Qigong Association and author of “Qigong for Staying Young.” Your best bet is to massage the kidney channel 3. This channel loops around the ankle bone on the inside of your leg. Probe these areas until you find a point that feels sore or tender. Press and hold each of these points for a minute or so, then do the other ankle. If your fingers are too sore to press the points, use the eraser end of a pencil.
- If your fingers are swollen and hot as well as painful, it’s a sure sign that energy is trapped there, observes Shoshanna Katzman, vice president of the National Qigong Association and author of “Qigong for Staying Young.” If your fingers are too sore to press the points, use the eraser end of a pencil.
Considerations
Some conditions are too severe for you to treat with self-administered acupressure. If your finger pain is intense or long lasting and your doctor has ruled out serious injury, you might benefit from seeing a TCM practitioner. A professional acupressure therapist or acupuncturist can give you a complete TCM diagnosis, deeply stimulate any relevant pressure points and recommend a dietary protocol that can help you restore the smooth circulation of qi to your fingers.
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References
- “A Complete Guide to Acupressure: Jin Shin Do”; Iona Teeguarden and Pierluigi Duina; 2002
- “Yoga Journal”; On a Roll; Karen J. Ohlson; September-October 2005
- “Qigong for Staying Young”; Shoshanna Katzman; 2003
- Yin Yang House: Kidney Meridian—Graphic
- Zhang WB, Wang GJ, Fuxe K. Classic and Modern Meridian Studies: A Review of Low Hydraulic Resistance Channels along Meridians and Their Relevance for Therapeutic Effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:410979. doi:10.1155/2015/410979
- Mehta P, Dhapte V, Kadam S, Dhapte V. Contemporary acupressure therapy: Adroit cure for painless recovery of therapeutic ailments. J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(2):251-263. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.06.004
- Movahedi M, Ghafari S, Nazari F, Valiani M. The Effects of Acupressure on Pain Severity in Female Nurses with Chronic Low Back Pain. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2017;22(5):339-342. doi:+10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_108_16
- Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ. Does Acupressure Hit the Mark? A Three-Arm Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Athletes With Acute Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries. Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378
- Greenlee H, Dupont-reyes MJ, Balneaves LG, et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67(3):194-232. doi:+10.3322/caac.21397
- Smith CA, Armour M, Dahlen HG. Acupuncture or acupressure for induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD002962. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub4
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Acupressure for nausea and vomiting. Updated October 24, 2019
- Greenlee H, DuPont-Reyes MJ, Balneaves LG, et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017 May 6;67(3):194-232. doi:10.3322/caac.21397
- Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ. Does Acupressure Hit the Mark? A Three-Arm Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Athletes With Acute Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries. Clin J Sport Med. 2017 Jul;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378
- Smith CA, Armour M, Dahlen HG. Acupuncture or acupressure for induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Oct 17;10:CD002962. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub4