Acupressure: 1. Any treatment that allegedly involves the surface stimulation of acupoints digitally, manually, or with tools held in the hand. Practitioners may be called “acupressurists.” “G-jo” is Chinese for “first aid.” 2. An ancient Asian art involving applied pressure to certain pressure points along the body to open energy flows, release tension, and promote balance.

Research Spotlight

The databases often return hundreds of medical studies for a single wellness approach. This section summarizes a sampling of five studies – providing just a taste of the available research. These Spotlights were not selected because they are the most favorable or the most recent, but to provide you an introduction to the more extensive research you’ll uncover searching the four databases found in the “Research” section of this site.

  • Labor Pains Relieved by Acupressure
    A Cochrane review (2011, 13 trials, 1986 women) found that acupressure may help relieve – and reduce use of pharmacological management – with labor pain, but also called for further research. 
    Access this research on Acupressure