NEUROSOMATIC ACUPRESSURE
By Anthony Johnson, M.S., L.Ac [6/10]
Acupressure is an ancient folk medicine tradition developed in China to deal with the day to day ailments and first
aid needs of an individual or the larger community. It is often thought of as Acupuncture without needles since it
utilizes the same meridian system, but treats acupoints using finger pressure techniques instead of needles. While
the two therapies have technical differences, they share a common theoretical background. Like Acupuncture,
health maintenance, or the preventing of an illness, is a core principle in Acupressure. In ancient times, practitioners
operated from a conceptual belief that the greatest way to preserve health was to treat an individual at the early
stage of an illness, before major symptoms of the illness presented itself. The Chinese refer to this stage as Mi Bing.
Today, we might equate this concept to our notion of stress and stress management. From this perspective,
Acupressure may be viewed as an allostatic therapy [one that achieves correctional balance through change] that
addresses the impact of too much stress, or inefficient stress management, on an individual’s health and wellbeing.
Neurosomatic Acupressure [NSA] is my contemporary interpretation of the
ancient healing practice of Acupressure. This approach goes well beyond just
pressing combinations of acupoints. Conceptually, I focus more on exploring the
relationship between the body and the nervous system in explaining pain and
dysfunction as opposed to the traditional concept of Qi imbalance. NSA can be
divided into two (2) categories of techniques. The first category is called
Reflexive Acupressure Procedures [RAP]. These are specialized manual
techniques designed to treat neural and muscular reflex imbalances. Basically,
these procedures are receptor based techniques that utilizes neuro-anatomical
structures like mechano-receptors, Golgi tendon organs, and muscle spindles to
normalize nervous system function by modulating the sensory input to the
Central Nervous System. RAP treatments utilize the 12 main meridians, the 8
extraordinary meridians, and the dermatome distributions as a guide for
assessing imbalance and for directing care.
The second set of techniques is called Myofacial Acupressure Procedures [MAP]. These
procedures utilize soft tissue manipulation of the tendino-muscular meridians. MAP
techniques affect local changes in the body [i.e., local pain relief] by influencing spinally
mediated neuro-muscular reflexes. One such reflex, commonly used to treat muscular pain,
is called reciprocal inhibition. NSA is an individualized therapy that is guided by the client’s
unique “felt” sense of illness or discomfort. During treatment, a client is first assessed to
identify patterns of relationships between his/her complaint and any up-regulated reflexes in
his/her body. This is done by a palpation exam of the client, where I look for areas of pain,
tenderness, constriction, and ticklishness along the meridian channels. Palpation serves as a
means of helping me to assess areas of imbalance while also confirming that a change or
correction of the client’s symptoms has occurred. A course of treatment is then determined.
The goal of treatment is to reset these hyper stimulated reflexes and restore appropriate
negative feedback loops. When the musculoskeletal system is no longer wired into a
guard/protect mode, it can directly signal the autonomic nervous system to turn off the stress
response and switch on to a healing response.
NSA techniques are safe and gentle, and usually cause no discomfort to the client. This method of treatment is
unique and innovative in the healing arts, and allows for an efficient application of time and effort that leads to long
lasting treatment outcomes. While not everyone benefits from NSA, it’s my observation that at least 75% of my
clients respond quickly and favorably. I incorporate NA into all of my Acupuncture treatments. It has dramatically
increased the effectiveness of my treatments, while also providing me with a means to treat clients who are fearful
of being needled. As a pain management specialist, many of my patients are reporting substantial reduction in their
chronic pain patterns after only one treatment. But what’s even more encouraging is that some patients are
experiencing a complete elimination of their chronic pain patterns after just 3 to 4 treatments, with results
continuing to last months after treatment. Experience NA for yourself, and see if it can become an effective healing
and stress management tool for you. If you have any questions, please contact me at Anthony@hwc-ct.com .