acupressure

n.

[L. acus needle + premere, pressum, to press.]
(Surg.) A mode of arresting hemorrhage resulting from wounds or surgical operations, by passing under the divided vessel a needle, the ends of which are left exposed externally on the cutaneous surface. Simpson.

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For more information on acupressure, visit Britannica.com.

A form of body work which, as the name implies, is based in acupuncture. Acupuncturists apply pressure to the designated points on the body with the hand rather than using needles. A popular practice in Japan, it was severely restricted by laws against massage in the nineteenth century. That law was repealed in 1955. As acupressure revived, it found a receptive audience in the West. Acupressure is similar to but distinct from other body techniques like do-in and shiatsu. For further information, contact the Acupressure Institute, 1533 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709.

In the 1970s, Michael Reed Gach developed a variation on acupressure that he termed acu-yoga. It combines acupressure with hatha yoga. Individuals are taught to apply pressure on the points while assuming various yoga positions.

Sources:

Cerney, J. V. Acupressure: Acupuncture without Needles. West Nyack, N.Y.: Parker Publishing, 1974.

Chan, Pedro. Finger Acupressure. New York: Ballantine Books, 1975.

Gach, Michael Reed. Acu-yoga: Self Help Techniques. Tokyo: Japan Publications, 1981.

Compression of a blood vessel by inserted acupuncture needles.

• a. massage — see acupressure massage.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - akupressur

Nederlands (Dutch)
acupressuur

Français (French)
n. - digiponcture, shiatsu

Deutsch (German)
n. - Akupressur, (Blutstillung durch Nadeldruck)

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ιατρ.) πιεσοθεραπεία

Italiano (Italian)
digitopressione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - acupressão (f) (Med.)

Русский (Russian)
акупрессура

Español (Spanish)
n. - acupresión

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - acupressure (med.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
针压法, 指压按摩

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 針壓法, 指壓按摩

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 지압[술]

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 指圧

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) طريقه علاج بالضغط بالأيادي على الجسم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סוג ריפוי בו מופעל לחץ על נקודות שונות בגוף באגודלים ובכפות-הידיים, שיאצו‬

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