Re: Mike re acupressure and meditaion

February 4, 2004

--- In ceda , " Pedersen " <karenpedersen@h...>

I would love to learn more about accupressure my pain Dr is starting

me on it but I have to travel 3 hours to see him. ... I would like

it if you could e-mail me privately and you could answer some

questions and maybe help me find some more natural types of pain

relief. My sister in law is a Registered Massage therapist also so

any suggestions for message I will happily consider. I tried e-

mailing you privately with the address that comes up on the list but

every time it has been returned to me saying that is not an address.

----------------

There is some kind of trick to figuring out the email addresses on

the board (and I haven't succeeded yet myself). At any rate, it is

no secret what my personal email address is. At least it shouldn't

be - every time I turn around Barb cc's me with something she has

sent to one of the other boards where she gives them a brief " who I

am and my email. " So - here it is, spaces added, in case there is

some kind of block with Yahoo on it. (mike @ uggen . net) Just

remove the three spaces, and there it is.

You already know that I am a firm believer in acupressure. I

believe it is real, that it works, and that anybody can learn how to

do it on themselves and others. If you go to the EDS Today web

site, there is a section in it linked to amazon.com that has a bunch

of book recommendations I made. They include at least three or four

books on acupressure.

There are literally dozens of variations or modalities of

acupressure. Technically, even Shiatsu, Thai Massage and Hawaiian

Lomi Lomi are forms of acupressure. Most people, however, think of

it as applying pressure with a thumb or fingertip to a specific

acupoint or points. This is the most basic form. There are other,

more advanced, and consequently more effective variations.

What I have been suggesting to people interested in learning more

about it is to first pick up a copy of " Acupressure's Potent Points "

by Gach. I have about two dozen books in my reference

library on just acupressure and acupuncture, and over 90 if you add

in things like Shiatsu, Thai, Energy Work in General, Reiki and

Traditional Chinese Medicine. Given that frame of reference, my

number one choice for someone starting out is Gach. It is well

illustrated, comprehensive and user friendly.

Oce someone gets comfortable with the basics using Gach, I can then

start bringing them along with more advanced techniques and add in

things like Polarity. You don't need to actually feel the energy to

get results using acupressure, but you do need to feel it if you

advance to the point where you are trying to achieve a balance. And

just about everything in Polarity involves " holding for a balance. "

I have just about equal hours in training in Jin Shin Do acupressure

and Polarity Therapy. I probably spend more hours/minutes actually

using acupressure by about two to one, but at least half of the

results I get are when I add in the Polarity.

One of the things I am working on are some write-ups on the subject

that will eventually make their way to the CEDA files section and,

hopefully, eventually into a hard copy manual or book.

In addition to acupressure and polarity, I also highly recommend

cranialsacral therapy, lymphatic drainage therapy and myofascial

release as complimentary approaches for pain management.

Feel free at any time to email off list or hit me with an open post

question. I will help you on this any way I can.

February 4, 2004