Twenty-Years of Acupressure Research: What are the Findings?
Acupressure is the systematic application of manual pressure to various energy points located along the body’s energy meridians using fingers, thumbs, or a blunt hand tool. The practice aims to balance the energy flows in the body which are associated with various organs and emotional states. The World Health Organization confirms there are 361 points along 12 energy meridians. Acupressure is identified as a non-invasive procedure that mirrors the acupuncture method but without needling or inflammation. It is currently gaining a growing reputation because of its low cost, minimal side-effects, and ease of application by professionals or by individual patients (Xie et al., 2024).
One sub-type of acupressure is auricular acupressure which addresses pressure points in the ear. It has been applied to conditions such as hip and knee arthroplasty, fatigue, brain stimulation, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (Xie et al., 2024). Self-applied acupressure has been mainly used on family caregivers to improve conditions such as insomnia, nasal congestion, and hay fever.
A recent Chinese study sought to explore the quality and quantity of research into acupressure conducted between 2004 and 2024. It found 1,929 studies published in 770 publications. Researchers identified eight subject areas representing different areas of application.
Group 1. Insomnia
Sleep quality and insomnia.
Group 2. Nausea
Post-operative sickness and vomiting.
Group 3. Labor
Labor pain, duration, and depression.
Group 4. Management
Alleviating the disabling effects of multiple sclerosis, migraine, chronic pain, and cancer-related fatigue.
Group 5. Disability and other issues
Aspects of disability, clinical trials, inflammation.
Group 6. Weight
Obesity, waist circumference, weight reduction.
Cluster 7. Auricular Acupuncture
Applications of ear acupressure for pre-operative anxiety, vital signs, brain stimulation, coronary angiography.
Cluster 8. Cognitive Function
Cognitive processing, dementia, elderly agitation, cortisol levels.
The study showed that research into acupressure has been fluctuating over the years, but with a steady upward direction. The two countries in which most of the research has been conducted is China and the United States. Interestingly, the US has published more research because it has more advanced technology, funding, and international affiliations. American researchers also tend to focus on applications which improve quality of life more so than the Chinese (Xie et al., 2024).
Closing Thoughts
Acupuncture here in the United States is a key part of the Complimentary, Alternative, Integrative Medicine field. The Xie et al. study is important in several ways. First, it brings together all of the scientific findings in one place, so to speak, and from this, it confirms where acupressure is best applied and so may point the way for further research and new applications.
Paul Shane, Ph.D., LMT
Director, Academic Content
References
Xie, W., Ye, F., Yan, X., Cao, M., Ho, MH., Kwok, J., & Lee, J. (2024). Acupressure can reduce preoperative anxiety in adults with elective surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Nursing Studies 145, 104531, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104531