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November 2017

Muskaan Sharma

Acupressure can prove to be the most effective self-care treatment for common reproductive disorders, discovers Muskaan Sharma

Sudesh Pant(name changed) was a 35 year old professional working in the IT sector. Since a long time he had been evading the topic of marriage whenever his parents raised it. They began to doubt that he was gay. These insinuations began to make his life hell. He could tolerate it no longer and finally with great reluctance shared with his closest friend his problem of erectile dysfunction. He thought that it happened to older men only and was baffled to see himself afflicted by it.

His friend advised him to meet Mr Ketan Shah, world renowned acupressure therapist to resolve this problem. Sudesh began to diligently practise the techniques taught by Shah in addition to making food and lifestyle changes. In a matter of two months his problem was eliminated from the root. Six months later he married a pretty girl and is now a doting father of a baby boy. 

Though modern living has made everyday life comfortable and easy, it has also made it sedentary. Food habits are formed on the basis of convenience rather than nutrition. Add to it the stress caused by hectic professional life and you have a recipe for disaster.  The increase in ovarian diseases in women and prostate problems in men is an example of how deeply our poor lifestyle choices can affect us. 

Michael Reed Gach, in his book Acupressure Potent Points, states, “Many of the health problems in our society are the result of living unnaturally. Stress, tension, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and poor posture contribute to the epidemic of degenerative disorders in our culture. Acupressure is one way to help your body fight back and balance itself in the face of the pressures of modern life.”

This non-invasive healing modality has constantly proven to be a simple yet effective way of healing a wide spectrum of ailments. Recent studies have found acupressure to be highly effective in treating fatigue in cancer patients after chemotherapy. People suffering from psychological disorders like OCD and ADHD have found significant relief by inculcating acupressure in their daily routine.

Master acupressure practitioner Ketan V Shah, whose book Acupressure for Total Wellness enjoys huge popularity, talks about the root cause of these disorders. “Our body requires optimum relaxation so that our hormones stay balanced. The right time to relax or sleep is from 11pm to 6am. But owing to modern lifestyle, people stay up late and cut short these vital hours of sleep.”

Talking about reproductive disorders, he says, “These disorders stem from the imbalance in the energies of the spleen, kidney and the liver. This imbalance can be caused by stress, both emotional and mental which affects the kidney, or by lack of hydration which affects the spleen. The spleen balances the hormones in both men and women, hence, spleen points are vital for treatment of reproductive complications.”

These complications if left unchecked evolve into disorders. Since they are associated with reproductive organs, these disorders often get stigmatised and patients are reluctant to seek medical help. However, these ailments can be treated by activating certain acupressure points. This article enlists a number of such disorders and ways to heal them through the application of acupressure. The process for healing includes identifying the pressure points and activating them.

Steps for activation of pressure points

• Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers for support when pressing with the thumb.

• With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

• Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes each time.

Hormonal imbalance 

 The hormones are responsible for almost every function of the human body — from growth, mood and behaviour to digestion and fertility. They ensure that you function properly and stay healthy. 

A high number of women, today, are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance like fatigue, migraines, mood swings as well as insomnia in their late 20s and mid 30s, way before menopause. These are caused by imbalance in the two major female hormones - estrogen and progesterone. This imbalance is caused due to a number of reasons like chronic stress, a daily diet high in fat content as well as environmental pollutants.

Points for treatment 

Spleen 1 and Spleen 6

Location

Spleen 1: On the outer side, beneath the bigger toe nail.

Spleen 6: On the inside of leg, just above the ankle. To find this point, locate the highest peak of your ankle and then move four finger widths up your leg.

Process 

1. Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers when pressing with the thumb.

2. With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

3. Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes in each session.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is caused due to elevated androgens (male hormones) in women. It has become common in women in their early 20s to mid 30s. Its symptoms include irregular or no menstrual periods, heavy periods, excess body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain and difficulty getting pregnant. A study conducted by All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), shows that about 20-25 percent of Indian women of childbearing age are suffering from PCOS. If allowed to progress, PCOS can lead to infertility as well as high chances of endometrial cancer in the lining of the womb.

Points for Treatment

Spleen 1 and Kidney 10

Location

Spleen 1: On the outer side, beneath the bigger toe nail.

Kidney 10: Located one finger width from the center of the back of the knee, on the inner side.

Process

1. Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers when pressing with the thumb.

2. With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

3. Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes in each session.

“Gynaecological problems are always related to the spleen. The spleen is not recharged if there is a lack of water consumption in the body. Points along the spleen meridian can be used to delay menopause or help prevent early menopause in women,” says Ketan Shah.

Infertility

The recent National Family Health Survey (2015-2016) suggests that infertility affects about 10 percent of people in India and is no longer confined to women alone. Changed dietary patterns that result in stress and obesity is the main reason behind the high cases of infertility today. These reasons are linked with disruption of normal, consistent and timely ovulation in women, and sperm motility and sperm count in men. Infertility experts say that there is a sharp increase in young couples reporting problems in fertility simply because of lifestyle issues.

Points for Treatment

Spleen 6 and Kidney 10

Location

Spleen 6: On the inside of leg, just above the ankle. To find this point, locate the highest peak of your ankle and then move four finger widths up your leg.

Kidney 10: Located one finger width from the center of the back of the knee, on the inner side.

Process

1. Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers when pressing with the thumb.

2. With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

3. Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes in each session.

Prostate problems

Problems like frequent urination, weak and  interrupted urine stream as well as difficulty in emptying the bladder are caused by BPH or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. It is becoming the most common problem in men above the age of 40. BPH causes enlargement of the prostate gland which in turn leads to loss of bladder functions. Patients suffering from BPH can find these issues highly debilitating to their daily routine.

Points for Treatment

Kidney 10 or K10 

Location

Kidney 10: Located one finger width from the center of the back of the knee, on the inner side.

Process

1. Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers when pressing with the thumb.

2. With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

3. Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes in each session.

Erectile dysfunction

One of the most stigmatised male genital disorders is erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a common ailment and can be caused by a combination of physical and psychological issues. It is expected to increase significantly along with the increase in various lifestyle diseases. ED is one of the early signs of cardiovascular disease. An onset of ED can strongly predict cardiovascular disease in next two to five years. According to a study published in The Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research in 2015, it is estimated that 320 million men in India could be dealing with erectile dysfunction.

Points for Treatment

Kidney 10

Location

Kidney 10: Located one finger width from the center of the back of the knee , on the inner side.

Process

1. Fold the thumb vertically at 90 degree and take the help of the other four fingers when pressing with the thumb.

2. With the tip of the thumb, gently press the point to ensure adequate pressure. Do not press with a flat thumb.

3. Activate the points three times a day by pressing them for about eight to 10 minutes in each session.

41 year old Vidya Nadig shares her experience with acupressure at the Academy for Acupressure and Acupuncture, Bangalore. “I developed the problem of irregular menses. For about two and a half months, I did not get my periods. Scan reports also showed a cyst in my ovaries. My gynecologist put me on hormone therapy for three months to regularise my periods. But within some time, I again started facing the same problem. My gynecologist told me that my menopause has started. While looking for other treatments, I discovered acupressure healing. After my sessions at the academy as well as self-administered acupressure sessions daily, I found significant relief. My periods regularised and to my astonishment, when I went for a check up again, my cyst too had disappeared.”

Ketan Shah, who has seen a number of his patients heal their reproductive issues with acupressure, advises, “Regular use of acupressure to balance the energies of spleen, liver and kidney and a change in the dietary habits can be highly effective for revitalisation of the reproductive system.”

So, reverse your reproductive issues with this simple but highly effective modality and reclaim your power. Happy healing!