Acupressure's Potent Points: A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments [Paperback]

Michael Reed Gach (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 1990

With your hands you have potential to relieve everyday aches, pains and ailments without taking drugs, to improve your health, and to increase your vitality. Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to stimulate key points on the skin that, in turn, activate the body's natural self-healing processes. With this book, it is a skill you can learn now--and use in your own home.

In Acupressure's Potent Points, Michael Reed Gach, founder and director of the Acupressure Institute of America, reveals simple techniques that enable you to relieve headaches, arthritis, colds and flu, insomnia, backaches, hiccups, leg pain, hot flashes, depression, and more--using the power and sensitivity of your own hands.

This practical guide covers more than forty ailments and symptoms, from allergies to wrist pain, providing pressure-point maps and exercises to relieve pain and restore function. Acupressure complements conventional medical care, and enables you to take a vital role in becoming well and staying well. With this book you can turn your hands into healing tools--and start feeling good now.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The technique of using acupressure to relieve pain has been around for 5000 years and even predates acupuncture. It is possible to learn to perform acupressure on oneself by following the well-illustrated instructions and diagrams in this book. Two clearly written chapters give the history, theory behind the technique, and some general instructions, followed by 40 chapters which cover specific disorders--acne, insomnia, shoulder tension, etc.--and how acupressure can help relieve them. There is also a glossary. Libraries that don't have other works on this subject will want this one; those that do will still want to consider this as a worthy additional purchase.
- Natalie Kupferberg, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., New York
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Michael Reed Gach, PhD, Dipl ABT, founded the Acupressure Institute in 1976, one of the leading international training schools in Asian bodywork. Gach is a national expert on acupressure therapy and has taught over 100,000 people from all over the world. He is also the originator of Acu-Yoga, a self-healing system of exercises that integrates acupressure and yoga. Gach received his PhD from Columbia Pacific University in health and human services.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1 edition (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553349708
• ISBN-13: 978-0553349702
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Acupuncture & Acupressure
  • #5 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Massage
  • #25 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Mental & Spiritual Healing

More About the Author

Michael Reed Gach, PhD, Dipl ABT, founded the Acupressure Institute in 1976, one of the leading international training schools in Asian bodywork. Gach is a national expert on acupressure therapy and has taught over 100,000 people from all over the world. He is also the originator of Acu-Yoga, a self-healing system of exercises that integrates acupressure and yoga. Gach received his PhD from Columbia Pacific University in health and human services.Beth Ann Henning, Dipl ABT, is the founder and director of Tao Institute Inc., located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She has studied with various teachers and spiritual leaders, and holds certifications in various modalities including Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, Reiki, acupressure therapy, herbology, Acu-Yoga, Shotakan karate, Shazen somatic therapies and esoteric theory.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

260 of 266 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Want Relief? Get To The Point! April 23, 2008

By Susan Nelson

Format:Paperback

In a nutshell, Acupressure's Potent Points: a Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments shows the reader how they can use acupressure on themselves to relieve stress related problems.

So what exactly is acupressure? Well, its an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press on key points on the surface of the skin- which in turn stimulates the body's natural self-curing abilities. More specifically, when these points are pressed on for several minutes, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force to aid healing. If at this point you're wondering how acupressure differs from ACUPUNCTURE, well, there's not much difference- the same points are used for both, its's just that one uses needles and the other uses your fingers.

And just what makes these acupressure points or "potent points" so special? Well, as the book explains, they are places on the skin that are especially sensitive to bioelectrical impulses in the body and conduct these impulses readily. So, by stimulating these points with your fingers, you're triggering the release of endorphins (your body's natural pain killers) which blocks the pain. This in turn increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area which promotes healing and causes the muscles to relax.

Neat huh? This kind of info is covered in Part I of the book. Part II, which is about 85% of the book, covers the acupressure points themselves and the techniques for the specific ailments- and boy do they cover the ailments! Just about everything you can imagine is covered from acne to fainting to shoulder tension. Pictures are a plenty and show you the exact areas to press on- it's a pretty easy process and the book makes it simple to do. Also of note is that there are two ways to use the book, you can look up a problem by system (i.e. digestive system, immune system, etc.) via a handy chart, or simply look a problem up by flipping around as the ailments are covered in alphabetical order.

The book ends with two appendices, one being a nice point location chart, and the other a summary of the potent points. All-in-all its a pretty clear and easy to use book that should help many put an end to their stress-related aches and pains. Other pain books that might be of interest include The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for readers suffering from plantar fasciitis.

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Clears away my sinus problems! November 30, 2004

By Joy Gatewood Fulton

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was skeptical of acupressure and only bought the book because my massage therapist uses it along with trigger point massage. I took it with me on a recent vacation. On the plane, I found that there were guided procedures to use for sinus problems and another set for earaches. I am always sniffling and my ears always hurt when the plane lands. I followed the procedures and found I could breathe out of my left nostril easily - for the first time in years (without any drugs). Also, my ears did not hurt when the plane landed and I could hear right away. These two things alone are worth the price of the book to me.

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very User Friendly and Helpful January 28, 2004

By J. Eure

Format:Paperback

This is a very useful reference for anyone interested in playing an active part in healing themselves. Just look up your complaint (headache, nausea, etc) and the book provides several points that may help, along with a description of the points, their names and what they are specifically helpful for. The book also provides detailed instructions and photos to help you get the proper position of the points. Very easy to use and understand.