Selangor, Malaysia -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2015 -- Acupressure is an alternative medicine technique which has its roots in the ancient Asian medicine, the art of treating body from issues like pain, nausea and depression has been developing over 5000 years. In this method pressure is applied to various acupuncture point on the body to improve the flow of "life energy" as a way of relieving pain and nausea, Acupressure shares many similarities with acupuncture, minus the needles used in the later. There has been successful feedback of the recent Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day; which has also contributed in an increase in awareness among cancer patients about the different ways acupressure can benefit them.
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy have to suffer from many side-effects of this potential lifesaving treatment. Among the many different problems, one of the most stubborn side effects of chemotherapy is the weight loss as a result of nausea.
Terence Lim, PhD and associate professor at Brigham and Women's Hospital, believes that acupressure can be effective in suppressing the nausea of chemotherapy and as a result encourage patients to eat more. "Chemotherapy is literally poison", says Terence Lim, "The purpose of using such an invasive technique is to kill the cancer faster than it kills the patient, as a result almost every patient experiences nausea." Kim added: "Multiple studies conducted by National Institutes of Health confirm that patients undergoing an acupressure therapy have reported a decrease in nausea and increased appetite", says Lim. "Ten-percent of women undergoing chemotherapy reported no nausea while 40-percent more felt less nauseous than the control group."
Despite the evidence in favor of acupressure's effectiveness in relieving nausea, the practice of acupuncture and acupressure is still regarded with cynicism by some, including many of Lim's peers in the field of modern medicine; but this hasn't deterred Lim and others to continue and often convert the skeptics.
"Acupressure is the perfect addition to every pain management regimen, because it is designed to complement a patient's on-going treatment. Most doctors will certainly confirm that acupressure does not interfere with any other treatment a patient is undergoing. It has zero negative side effects", says Lim, "No aspirin can claim that."
Acupuncture, which is similar in its ideology but many people are apprehensive about the use of needles in this technique. Acupuncture also requires a skilled provider which may fall under local health regulations for sanitation and licensing.
"Acupressure does not use needles, which many people find reassuring", says Lim, "And you can perform acupressure in your own home. I founded JoyUps.com to provide acupressure mats that anyone can use safely."
About JoyUps
Terence Lim, the founder of JoyUps provides a provocative and informed interview and remains current in the medical literature. To schedule an interview on this or any other pain management / psychiatric topic, email him at contact@joyups.com.