Acupuncture vs. Acupressure: Which One is for You? What’s the difference?
Both acupressure and acupuncture are based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine idea of treating blocked energy, or qi. It is believed to help keep the balance of yin and yang in the body. The difference between acupuncture and acupressure is the use of needles. Acupuncture uses a variety of thin needles to pierce the skin at specific points on the body. Acupressure uses tools, fingers, or even elbows to hit those specific points.
What are the benefits?
For the purpose of discussing the benefits of acupressure and acupuncture, the terms are used interchangeably in this section.
The uses of acupuncture in medicine are vast. Having been in use for over 3000 years, acupuncture is well-studied. There are many applications for acupuncture.
Acupuncture has proven beneficial for the treatment of various types of chronic pain and dysmenorrhoea. [1, 2] Some studies have shown it has benefits for treating depression [3] It has also been shown to help with insomnia. [4]
Choosing between acupuncture or acupressure
There are a few things someone might want to consider when choosing either acupuncture or acupressure. Choosing a certified acupuncturist who uses clean needles is key, but in the event that one is prone to infection, they might still want to opt for acupressure.
Another consideration is bleeding conditions. While acupuncture is not supposed to cause excessive bleeding, clotting disorders (hemophilia), or different factor blood disorders (2, 11, 13, just to name a few). It is also important to be aware of certain medications or supplements that cause blood thinning.
A final consideration that might make one choose acupressure over acupuncture is trypanophobia or fear of needles. People with this phobia would definitely prefer acupressure over acupuncture.
Regardless of choosing acupuncture or acupressure, the science is there to support the use of both therapies to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is important to ensure the selection of a reputable practitioner regardless of methodology.
Massage is one way to practice acupressure, but not every masseuse is trained in acupressure. Once again, research is key to finding someone to treat the conditions of concern.
References
[1] Han, J. Acupuncture and Endorphins. Neuroscience Letters. 2004: 361 (1-3), 258-261. Doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.019. Times cited: 931. Journal Impact Factor: 3.046
[2] Smith, C.A., et al. Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Library. 2016. Doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007854.pub3 Times cited: 250
[3] Smith, C.A., et al Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Library. 2018. Doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4 Times cited: 529
[4] Zhao, F., et al. Can acupuncture improve objective sleep indices in patients with primary insomnia? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine. 2021: 80, 244-259. Doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.01.053. Times cited: 8. Journal impact factor: 3.586
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