Table Of ContentOTHER SELF-HELP RESOURCES BY THE AUTHOR
BOOKS
Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips
Greater Energy at Your Fingertips
Acu-Yoga: Self-help techniques to relieve tension
The Bum Back Book: Acupressure self-help back care
ARTHRITIS RELIEF AUDIOTAPES
Tape 1: Morning & Evening Routines
Tape 2: Self-Acupressure Techniques
Tape 3: Self-Care for Relieving Hand Pain
FOR WOMEN ONLY AUDIOTAPES
Weight Loss: Decrease hunger & fatigue
PMS Relief: Relieve menstrual discomfort or cramps
Greater Beauty: Enjoy a natural, non-surgical facelift
Techniques for Greater Energy: Revitalize yourself!
REFRESHER AUDIOTAPES
The 5:00 Refresher: Revitalize yourself after work
The Traveler’s Refresher: You’ll arrive feeling great!
The Smoker’s Refresher: Extra energy to break the habit
The Rush Hour Refresher: Relieve stress while you drive
The Wake-Up Refresher: A boost of energy to start the day
Greater Energy at Your Fingertips: Relieve stress & recharge
ACUPRESSURE VIDEOTAPES
The Bum Back Video
Releasing Shoulder & Neck Tension
Zen Shiatsu Instruction (for practitioners)
Fundamentals of Acupressure
Acupressure’s Potent Points
A Bantam Book/December 1990
Bantam New Age and the accompanying figure design as well as “the search for meaning, growth and change” are trademarks of Bantam Books, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group,
Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1990 by Michael Reed Gach.
Cover art copyright © 1990 by Bob Ziering.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system
without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gach, Michael Reed
Acupressure’s potent points / Michael Reed Gach
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-307-79403-1
1. Acupressure. 2. Acupuncture points.
I. Title
RM723.A27G33 1990
615.8’22—dc20 90-464
CIP
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is
Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
RRH 40 39 38 37
v3.1
DEDICATION
To my grandmother who expressed to me as a little boy the greatest
unconditional love through her hands, eyes, and heart.
The depth and power of our affectionate exchange still fills me with the
determination to enhance other lives by teaching the ancient art of hands-
on healing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful for the love I have received from my parents, teachers, and
friends. I especially want to thank my students, clients, staff, and the faculty at
the Acupressure Institute — my extended family and community for over fifteen
years — for the professional support I needed to write this book.
I want to acknowledge all my teachers but particularly Iona and Ron
Teeguarden and Frank Chung, C.A., O.M.D., who taught me the practical
therapeutic applications of acupressure’s potent points.
The guidance and strong editorial contributions from Sally Zahner and Leslie
Meredith transformed my manuscript into a comprehensive whole. I appreciate
their insight, talents, and the tremendous amount of work they gave my book. I
also want to thank Gina Velasquez for handling everything from editorial details
to coordinating production.
I want to thank Paul Abell, Ph.D., Pamela Clarke, Joseph Carter, C.A., Alice
Hiatt, R.N., and Brian O’Dea, C.A., for their technical advice and suggestions. I
am especially grateful for the help of Cathy Hemming and Patty Leasure in
getting this book published.
In terms of producing the way the book looks, Mary Sanichas, with her high-
tech scanner and fully computerized desktop publishing expertise, did an
outstanding job with the book’s graphic design. I am also grateful for the
organizational and editorial computer work of Carrie Sealine.
I enjoyed working with David Lehrer again, who shot all of the fine
photography in this book. Joan Carol, Christel Busch, and Gordon Pagnello
certainly deserve acknowledgment for their anatomical drawings.
Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the models in the book: Molly
Beck, Joella Caskey, Pamela Clarke, Nathan Hiatt, Herb R. Jorgensen,
Alexander B. Levin, Takami Matsumoto, Bill Mathers, Frank Nuessle, Gene
Poferl, Mary Sanichas, and Jo Ann Turner.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part I
INTRODUCTION TO ACUPRESSURE: ITS ORIGINS, USES, AND GUIDELINES
1 What is Acupressure?
2 Practicing Self-Acupressure
Part II
ACUPRESSURE POINTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR SPECIFIC AILMENTS
3 Acne, Eczema, and Other Skin Problems
4 Allergies
5 Ankle and Foot Problems
6 Anxiety and Nervousness
7 Arthritis and Nonarticular Rheumatism
8 Asthma and Breathing Difficulties
9 Backache and Sciatica
10 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
11 Colds and Flu
12 Constipation
13 Cramps and Spasms
14 Depression and Emotional Balancing
15 Diarrhea
16 Earaches
17 Eyestrain
18 Fainting
19 Hangovers
20 Headaches and Migraines
21 Hiccups
22 Hot Flashes
23 Immune System Boosting
24 Impotency and Sexual Problems
25 Insomnia
26 Irritability, Frustration, and Dealing with Change
27 Jaw Problems (TMJ Problems)
28 Knee Pain
29 Labor, Delivery, and Nursing
30 Memory and Concentration
31 Menstrual Tension, Cramps, and PMS
32 Motion Sickness, Morning Sickness, and Nausea
33 Neck Tension and Pain
34 Nosebleeds
35 Pain
36 Pregnancy and Infertility
37 Shoulder Tension
38 Sinus Problems and Hay Fever
39 Stomachaches, Indigestion, and Heartburn
40 Swelling and Water Retention
41 Toothaches
42 Wrist Pain (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendonitis)
43 Acupressure Wellness Program
Appendix A: Point Location Charts
Appendix B: Potent Points Summary
Glossary
Acupressure Institute’s Trainings and Workshops
PREFACE
This book presents in easy steps how you can use acupressure on yourself to
relieve stress-related problems, both physical and emotional. These potent points
and self-care exercises will enable you to participate actively in your own
healing. At the same time, however, you should continue to see your doctor for
individualized examinations, advice, and treatment. I believe that this book can
complement your medical care by enabling you to take a vital role in getting and
staying well.
This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice of physicians. The
reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his or her health
and particularly in respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or
medical attention. Before utilizing acupressure, the reader should be certain to
read all of Part I and the entire chapter relating to the ailment and to observe any
specific cautions given in the book. Pregnant women should be certain to read
Chapter 36.
Part I gives you general information about acupressure, its origins, how it
works, what it is good and not good for, what a point is, how to find the points,
and how to apply finger pressure. Part II contains forty chapters of fully
illustrated self-care methods for relieving common complaints from acne to
headaches to wrist pain.
The ailments I deal with are organized alphabetically to enable you to find
your problem easily. First, I discuss each complaint, giving some of its causes
and tips for prevention. Then specific acupressure points that can relieve the
symptoms are shown in illustrations, so that you can find them easily. I then
present step-by-step routines for using acupressure and end each chapter with a
list of other chapters that contain additional points for further relief. The index
further guides you to find the potent points for relieving other problems.
It is a tremendous blessing to be able to help yourself and others, without
costly equipment, simply using your hands, at any time, wherever you are. I
hope that this book will lead you to a new dimension of well-being — not only
to be able to work actively to improve your health, but to expand your awareness
of your own healing energy and potent life spirit.
of your own healing energy and potent life spirit.
