Complete Idiot's Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure

DAVID SOLLARS is a homeopathic practitioner and acupuncturist. He is a member of the National Center for Homeopathy and a graduate of The New England School of Acupuncture s Herbal Medicine Program. He has been a practicing health-care provider for more than 16 years in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. He is the author of The Complete Idiot s Guide(r) to Acupuncture and Acupressure."

I. FROM MYSTERY TO MIRACLES. 1. What Are Acupuncture and Acupressure, and How Do They Work? What Are Acupuncture and Acupressure? Energy Channels: Go with the Flow. Acu-Points: Mini but Mighty. Finding Your Points-Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! Anatomy: The Thigh Bone's Connected to the! Finger Measurements: Let Your Fingers Do the Walking. How Does It Work-The Key to the Qi. Bioelectric Flow: What's the Buzz All About? Biomagnetic Flow Pulls You to the Point. Different Yet the Same. Healthcare Versus Self-Care. 2. What to Expect on Your First Visit-Does It Hurt? Looking: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. Tongue Diagnosis: Open Wide and Say "Aaah!" Your Pulse: Feel the Beat. Listening and Asking: The Hidden Arts. Smelling: Pass the Perfume. Physical Exam: Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Check Your Channels. Abdomen: The Bounty of the Belly. Is This Safe? Acupressure: Press Safely! Acupuncture: The Safer the Better. Your Treatment: Relax and Enjoy. The Power of Pleasing Pressure. Acupuncture: The Painless Truth. 3. The Origins of Oriental Medicine. Acupuncture: The Ancient Art. Types of Acupressure: Choices, Choices, and More Choices. Shiatsu. Reflexology: Foot Geology. Types of Acupuncture: More Pointy Choices. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Five-Element Tradition: Wooden You Like to Know. Japanese Acupuncture. It's an Acu-World After All. 4. Acupressure-Fingers, Hands, and a Whole Lot More. From Fingers to Feet-Using Your Body to Heal. Fingers and Palms!Hold On! Feet: Please Tread on Me. Pressure on the Point-How Hard Do You Push? Three Types of Pressure. Common Acupressure Techniques-Shake, Rattle, and Roll. 5. Acupuncture-Tools of the Trade. Needles: When Size Does Matter. Needle Knowledge. Moxibustion-A Real Warm-Up. Moxibustion: The Cherry on Top. Cupping: Trying to Horn In. Cupping Comments. Massage and Exercise: Movin', Movin', Movin'. Tui-Na: Push Me, Pull You. Medical Qi Gong-It's a Bird, It's a Crane, It's You! Magnets: What's the Attraction? Nutrition: Heal with the Energy of Food. The Healing Power of Food. Herbal Medicine-Plants Plus. 6. How You Get Sick-The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Yin and Yang-the Great Balancing Act. Qi and Blood: Building Blocks of Health. The Dreaded Excesses: Too Much, Too Fast. The Bothersome Barometer. The Directions of Disease: Follow the Yellow Brick Road. The Eight Directions: Which Way Did He Go? II. STOP THE PAIN DRAIN. 7. Pain from the Neck Up. Headaches: Riot on the Rooftop! Serious Sinus Relief. Pressure Points to Take the Ache Out. Dental Pain: Page the Tooth Fairy. Gentle Dental Acu-Points. Neck Pain: Release the Weight of the World. Stop the Neck Wreck. Fibromyalgia: Tired of Being Sick and Tired. Render Tender Points Painless. 8. Keeping Pain at Arm's Length. Bursitis: The Cursa the Bursa. Shoulder Bursitis: Play Ball (Again!). Move It or Lose It. Tennis Elbow: The Gripes of the Grip. Acupressure: The Match Points. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The Mouse That Made You Roar. Trouble in the Tunnel. The Terminator in the Tunnel: Acupuncture on the Scene. I'll Be Back: Acupressure Stretch and Press. Arthritis: Speakin' of the Creakin'. Causes of the Creakin'. Oriental Aids for Arthritis. 9. Pain Below the Belt. Oh, My Aching Back. Sciatica: The Nerve of It. Elbow Your Pain Out of the Way. Knee Pain: What's the Deal with Your Kneel? Capping Off Knee Pain. Plantar Fasciitis: A Step in the Right Direction. Electro-Auricular: I Hear It's All in the Ear. 10. Injuries-Taking the Ouch out of the Oops. Motor Vehicle Accidents: Putting the Brakes on Pain. End the Backlash of Whiplash. Slips and Falls: Stop Pain from Falling Through the Cracks. Sports-No Guts, No Glory. Work: Beyond the Job Description. Ergonomics-Getting the Right Position. 11. Nervous About Nerve Pain? Bell's Palsy: For a Winning Smile. Multiple Sclerosis: A Nervous Situation. Lighten the Load of Your Legs with Acupuncture. Shingles: Not Just on Your Roof. Stroke: A One-Sided Issue. Stroke: Are You at Risk? The Oriental View. Trigeminal Neuralgia: Facing Your Pain. Help with Acupuncture. III. RESPIRATION, PERSPIRATION, AND MENSTRUATION. 12. Respiration-A Breath of Fresh Air. Allergies: Aahh-Choo! Put a Close to the Runny Nose. Acupressure: Keys to End the Sneeze. Asthma: Ease the Wheeze. Common Asthma Triggers. Take a Deep Breath with Acu-Points. Bronchitis: Quit the Cough. Points to Cut Off the Cough. Nutrients to Neutralize Mucus. 13. Colds-Nosing Around for Better Health. Colds: Clearing a Common Condition. Oriental Medicine Calms the Cold. Cough: Expectorating to Feel Better. Acu-Points: Breathe a Sign of Relief. Nasal Congestion: Had Enough of the Stuff? Sinusitis: Inflammation in a Hidden Station. Acu-Pros Clear Your Nose. 14. Childhood Conditions-Pass the Owner's Manual. Colic: The Bubble That Just Won't Burst. Back Off the Gas: Foods to Avoid. Colic Massage: Rub a Dub Dub. Pediatric Asthma: Silence Is Golden. Trigger Checklist. Oriental Medicine's Answer to Asthma. Infant Massage for Asthma. Diarrhea: Squirts for the Squirts. Nutritional Support: Awful Dophilus and More. Add Just a Pinch: Pediatric Back Massage. Ear Infections: The Fear Not to Hear. Ending the Cycle of Ear Infections: Stopping the Drama. Vomiting of Milk. Determined Digestion: What Goes Down Can Stay Down. 15. Cancer-A Ray of Hope. Cancer: The Conventional View. Defining Your Cancer. Acupuncture: Improving Your Quality of Life. Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting. Pain, Pain, Go Away. Boosting Your Immune System. Healing Hands: Acupressure and Reflexology. Chinese Herbal Medicine. 16. Birthing Baby. Female Infertility: The Obstruction to Reproduction. Improving the Odds with Oriental Medicine. Acu-Points to Clear the Way. Morning Sickness: Easy to Be Queasy. Acu-Points to Bring Back Your Appetite. Childbirth: The Joy of Giving. Acu-Points to Help You Pop. Bounce Back from Giving Birth. Part with Postpartum Depression. 17. The Disappointment Down Under. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). Foods to Get You Back in the Saddle: The PMS Diet. Ready, Aim, Press These Points for PMS. Painful Periods: Dissing Dysmenorrhea. Oriental Medicine Helps the Flow Go. Menopause: The Hormonal Hostage. Press Acu-Points to Pause Your Menopause. IV. SILENT SUFFERERS. 18. Female Frustrations. Endometriosis: Oh, the Tangled Webs We Weave. Endo Risks and Symptoms: Could This Be You? Edging Out Endo: Acu-Points Plus. Ovarian Cysts and Uterine Fibroids: Double Trouble. Acu-Points to Block the Bleeding. Bladder Infections: Say Goodbye to UTI. Risk Factors: Keeping an Eye on the UTI. Acu-Points: Concerning Your Burning. 19. Gastrointestinal Conditions-A Glitch in Your Gut. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Moving Experience. Acu-Points for Bothersome Bowels. Constipation: Ready, Set, No Go! Acu-Pros Hasten to Relieve Constipation. Diarrhea: Runs for Your Life! Acu-Points to Slow the Flow. Indigestion: It's Easy to Be Queasy. Tips to End Indigestion. Acu-Points: Get a Break from Your Stomachache. 20. Skin-The Purpose of the Surface. Eczema: Ditch the Itch. Oriental Medicine Makes the Connection. Facelifts: An Uplifting Experience. Acu-Facelift. 21. Stress-Notions and Emotions. Stress: Burning the Candle at Both Ends. The Stress Show: Your Price of Admission. Had Enough? Let Go of Stress. Worry: Who, Me? Acu-Pros Relieve the Worry Wart. Depression: Leaving the Black Hole Behind. Depression Checklist: Are You at Risk? Lifting Your Spirits with Acu-Points. Anxiety: A New Dimension in Apprehension. Anxiety Checklist. Hold Down Anxiety with Oriental Medicine. 22. Driving Your Qi: The Passing, Middle, or Breakdown Lane. The Sobering Facts on Alcoholism. Acupuncture and Addiction. HIV/AIDS: A Helping Hand for the Immune System. Oriental Medicine Manages the Immune System. Hypertension: The Pressure's On. Acu-Points to Let the Steam Out. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!or Just Plain Tired. Chronic Fatigue Checklist. Acu-Points to Relieve the Fatigue. 23. Balancing Your Qi-Too Much Here, Not Enough There. Insomnia: Cruisin' for a Snoozin'. Acu-Points to Soothe You to Sleep. Better Sleep Checklist. Raynaud's Phenomenon: When the Cold Gets Old. Remedies for the Extremities: The Oriental Medical Viewpoint. Tinnitus: The Ring You Can't Answer. Turn On Your Acu-Points, Shut Off the Ringer. Weight Management: Motorize Your Metabolism. Acu-Points for Better Digestion and Food Cravings. The New Truth About Exercise. V. THE HOME STRETCH. 24. Expectations-Am I Better Yet? The Natural Healing Process. How Acu-Points Help. Limitations: How Far Can You Go? Time and Patience: Hard Medicine to Swallow. How to Tell If You're Better: Did It Work? 25. Building a Winning Team. Choosing Your Acu-Pro: A Needle in a Haystack. Informing Your Physician: What's Up, Doc? Do You Need More Help? Getting the Support You Need: A Family Affair. Support Groups Make a Difference. 26. And Then There Was You-Taking Charge. Responsibility: A New Point of View. Lifestyle: It's All in Your Hands. Healthful Lifestyle Tips. Fun and Laughter: Remember Us? Balance and Peace of Mind. VI. APPENDIXES. A. Glossary. B. Further Reading. C. Insurance Coverage. D. State and National Organizations. E. Acupuncture Schools.