Headaches, back pain, and even toothaches are just some of the most common body ailments that a lot of people, especially the working masses, experience on a daily basis. The fast-paced lifestyle sometimes forces us to resort to quick fixes like popping a painkiller without taking the time to reflect on the negative side effects it may cause in the long run.

Besides other pain management practices such as aromatherapy, acupressure is an alternative medicine technique similar in principle to acupuncture, which is an ancient Chinese healing practice that stimulates certain areas of the body to encourage a smooth flow of energy, providing long-term pain relief and strengthening the core.

Here are some tips for applying acupressure to certain pressure points in the body to help relieve 10 common body aches and pains. (h/t to ModernReflexology.com.)

1. To ease headaches, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) in the skin between the second and third toes; (3) one at the outer tip of the eyebrow; and (4) one thumb-width above the midpoint of the eyebrow.
2. To soothe neck pain, put acupressure (1) on the outer border of the forearms, two finger-widths above the wrist joint; (2) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; (4) on the wrist joint, in a shallow depression between the ends of the two forearm bones; and (5) between the two vertebrae that stand out prominently on the neck when bending the head forward.
3. For back pain relief, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) in the skin between the second and third toes; (3) on the back, directly opposite to the navel, two finger-widths to either side; (5) two thumb-widths vertically below point 3; and (6) at the center of the crease at the back of the knee joint.
4. To relieve abdominal pain, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) bend your knee joint by 90 degrees, then move three thumbs-widths downward from the lower end of the knee cap. There you will be able to feel a pointed bone. Point 2 is located one finger-width to the outer side of this bone; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; (4) the inner part of the ankle joint has a prominent bone. From the tip of this bone move four finger-widths upward. The point is at this level, just behind the vertical leg bone; (5) two finger-widths below the navel; (6) one thumb-width above the navel; and (7) four thumb-widths above the navel.
5.  For relief from toothache, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) clench your teeth and feel a prominent oblique muscle on the lower part of the cheek. This point lies on the most prominent part of this muscle; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; and (4) just beneath the cheek bone.
6. For relief from shoulder pain, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) at the center of the vertical groove that forms when the arm is bent at right angle on the front of the shoulder; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; (4) on the back surface of the shoulder, one thumb width above the end of the arm pit; and (5) in a shallow groove on the side of the shoulder just beside a pointed bone at the back of the shoulder.
7. To ease knee pain, put acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) at the center of the outer depression just below the knee cap; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; (4) at the center of the crease at the back of the knee joint; (5) at the mid-point of the upper border of the knee-cap; and (6) at the center of the inner depression just below the knee cap.
8. For relief from ankle and foot pain, apply acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) at the center of the front surface of the ankle joint; (3) in the skin between the second and third toes; (4) just before the Achilles tendon; and (5) at the outer aspect of the ankle joint is a prominent bone called lateral maleolus. This point lies in a shallow depression just below the lateral maleolus.
9. To soothe heel pain, apply acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; and (2) in the skin between the second and third toes.
10. Earache is a common pain in children, but can also occur in adults. To ease this, apply acupressure (1) in the flesh between the thumb and the index finger; (2) near the ear, on a prominent structure called the Tragus; (3) just above point 2; and (4) near the outer corner of the eye.

Did you know that acupuncture also helps improve digestion? Learn more about this tidbit at HealingArts.news.

Sources include:

ModernReflexology.com

EverydayHealth.com