Acupressure – What All Diseases It Can Cure?

Root Causes And Eradication Of Diseases

The treatment under acupressure therapy is based on the assumption that you are taking a balanced diet i.e. a diet containing seasonal fruits and green vegetables proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins in proper proportions.

Read And Learn More: Health In Your Hands Acupressure And Natural Therapies

• Any disease caused by the deficiency of such most required food for the body Cannot Be Cured Without Supplementing The Diet. For Indians, normal food of chapati or roti, vegetables, cereals, occasional rice, milk or curd or buttermilk, and seasonal fruits will form quite a balanced diet.
• In the same way, the diet of Europeans and Americans is also balanced except that they should reduce the use of fine flour, coffee (which causes constipation), and sugar. As explained in the third chapter, all the organs of the body can be activated or recharged by acupressure treatment.
• Almost all the parts of the body except the Lungs and stomach are autonomous and will function well so long as they get enough oxygen and proper blood supply.
• That is why the lungs-(respiratory system) and stomach the digestive system-play the most important role in the functioning of the body. It is quite likely that germs of a disease enter our bodies through them.

Respiratory system:

Lungs:

• From childhood, proper care of breathing and expansion of the lungs should be taken. Outdoor games, running and laughing, and even crying by children, give enough scope for the expansion of their lungs.
• However, pranayam should be taught from childhood, from the age of 5/6 years for proper breathing, for proper oxygenation, and for purification of blood.

Pranayam-The Easy Way:

Inhale the air counting 1,2,3,4; then keep the air in the lungs counting 1,2,3,4; and then exhale the air counting 1,2,3,4. Then pause, do not inhale counting 1,2,3,4. Please repeat this at least 10 to 15 times a day and with practice go on increasing the counting to about 10 to 12.

1. Nose,
2. Mouth,
3. Windpipe,
4. Lungs

During this pause only, the lungs get rest and are revitalized. This type of controlled breathing called Pranayam was tried on T.B. patients in a hospital in Chicago and the results were astounding.

Pranayam:

Once you reach counting 10 you may develop pranayam as under:

Inhale counting – 10
Retain counting – 20
Exhale counting – 10
Refrain counting – 10
i.e. in the ratio of 1:2:1:1

Control of five basic elements through Pranayam- Mudras:

While doing this pranayam, even five basic elements of the body can be controlled because they are represented by different fingers as under :

Thumb – Fire or Sun

Index finger – Wind or Air

Middle finger (4th finger) – Sky or Space

Ring finger – Earth

Small finger – Water

• Now, through different combinations of these fingers- mudras, we can not only control these elements but also cure many diseases. This can be done in any position but sitting in a lotus position or sukhasan is advisable for better results.
• They can be started for 10 minutes and performed for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Some of such mudras are shown below and are to be performed by both hands simultaneously.

1. Meditation Mudra :

Simply touching the thumb with index finger-pressing is not necessary.

Meditation Mudra Benefits:

This helps in increasing brain power, mental concentration, memory, etc., and cures problems of sleeplessness, tension, and lack of concentration.

2. Vayumudra (Air):

Keep the index finger on the base of the thumb at the mount of Venus and press with the thumb as shown in the figure.

Vayu Mudra Benefits:

It cures Rheumatism, Artha- rites, Gout, Parkinson’s disease, and blood circulation defects. For better results, also do Pran Mudra.

3. Shunya Mudra (Space):

Keep the middle finger at the mount of Venus and press it with your thumb as shown in the figure.

Shunya Mudra Benefits:

It helps in curing Earache, Deafness, Vertigo, etc., It is necessary to do this Mudra for 40 to 60 minutes to get the best results.

4. Prithvi Mudra (Earth):

Put the ring finger together with the thumb as shown in the figure.

Prithvi Mudra Benefits:

It cures the weakness of the body and the mind. It increases life force, (Chetna) and gives new vigor to an ailing person. It also gives peace of mind.

5. Varun Mudra (Water):

Put the tips of the thumb and little finger together as shown in the figure.

Varun Mudra Benefits:

It cures impurities of blood, and skin problems and makes the skin smooth. Useful in gastro-enteritis and any other disease-causing dehydration.

6. Sun Mudra :

Bend the ring finger on its outer side on the second fold, and press with the thumb as per Figure.

Sun Mudra Benefits:

It creates heat in the body, helps digestion, and helps in reducing fat in the body.

7. Pran Mudra (Life Energy):

Bend the little and ring fingers so that their tips touch the tip (front edge) of the thumb as shown in Figure.

Pran Mudra Benefits:

It increases life force and cures nervousness, and fatigue, also helps increase the power of the eyes and in reducing the number of glasses.

8. Ling (Shiv) Mudra :

Join both the palms and interlock the fingers, keep the thumb of the left hand vertically straight, and encircle it with the index finger and thumb of the right hand as shown in Figure.

Ling (Shiv) Mudra Benefits:

It increases the resistance power of the body against cold and bronchial infections and also against changes in weather, and fever due to cold. It gives power to the lungs creates heat in the body and burns up accumulated phlegm and even fat.

While practicing this mudra one must drink plenty of green and fruit juices and water at least 8 glasses a day. Now, when performing these mudras if pranayam is done, you will get better results.

Retention of Air:

When doing this Pranayam, after inhaling air press the upper part of Thumb no.1 with the index finger, you will be able to retain air easily in the lungs for a longer time than without such locking. See the figure.

• Now if, the middle of thumb No. 2 is pressed, the retention increases. Now if the base of the thumb is pressed, the retention is maximum. If there is more retention of air in the lungs it is fully utilized, giving better power to blood and the body. This will also mean that fewer breaths are taken.
• According to Indian philosophy, our life span is fixed and is measured not in minutes, days, months, or years but in the total number of breaths.
• Now by doing Pranayam and retaining air in the lungs for a longer time, we reduce the total number of breaths during the day. This will help us to increase our longevity.

1st Method (Sun Pranayam):

• For increasing heat in the body, close the left nostril, inhale through the right nostril, and exhale through it whilst counting from 1 to 4 as mentioned above. As the right nostril is connected with the Sun (known as Pingala Nadi in Yoga) inhaling and exhaling through it will produce heat in the body.
• Therefore, this pranayam is very useful in winter and monsoon and for diseases like cold, asthma, polio, paralysis, bronchitis, arthritis, T.B., etc. wherein heat is required.

2nd Method (Moon Pranayam):

• For increasing coolness in the body, close the right nostril, inhale, and exhale through the left nostril whilst counting as above. The left nostril is connected with the Moon (known as Ida in Yoga), so it produces coolness in the body.
• Therefore, this pranayam is useful in diseases like fever, sunstroke in summer, etc. wherein coolness is necessary.

3rd Method (For balancing heat and cold):

• Inhale through the right nostril and exhale from the left nostril and then inhale through the left nostril and exhale from the right nostril. During the period the breath is held inside, pull the stomach inside for more effective results as well as for reducing the tummy.
• Please see that while inhaling, your chest should expand by 5 to 7 cm. Better results can be obtained by breathing as above. Pranayam can be done in a comfortable posture, by sitting upright on the ground or on a chair or sofa, or can be done in a standing position or even while walking.
• Breathing from the desired nostril- right or left-can be affected by closing the other nostril. Otherwise, if you lie down on the left side of the body, the breath will flow from the right nostril.
• In India people are advised to lie down for 10 to 15 minutes on the left side after lunch or dinner so that the breath is linked with the sun, producing heat in the body and helping digestion.
• Similarly, if you lie down on the right side, the breath will flow from the left nostril which is useful during too much heat or fever.

4th Method (Kapalbhati):

Sit upright in a quiet place. Inhale and exhale very fast through the nostrils. Start with 10 times and go up to 50 times in a minute. Do this pranayam for 2 minutes/twice a day.

5th Method (Bhastrika):

• Open the mouth, inhale slowly through it, and then immediately blow out hard. Do it 10 to 15 times. Do this pranayam every time after you do Kapalbhati. Regular practice of Pranayam and breathing exercises will ensure proper oxygenation of all parts of the body and cure many diseases.
• Proper oxygenation helps in purifying the blood and removal of toxins and carbon dioxide from the body. This, in turn, will reduce the unnecessary burden on kidneys, reducing the possibility of skin diseases and failure of kidneys.
• Moreover, pure blood enables the proper functioning of all organs and thereby increases vigor and vitality.
• These breathing exercises are beneficial to all and should be practiced daily. However, these exercises are a must for the treatment of colds, coughs, Asthma, T.B., and mental disorders like Polio, Meningitis, breakdown, muscular dystrophy, etc.

Digestive System:

For good health, the formation of pure blood is most important. Pure blood is formed from the food and drinks we take and digest. Therefore, it is necessary to give proper attention to our digestive system.

1. Salivary glands
2. Gullet
3. Stomach
4. Pancreas
5. Colon
6. Small intestines
7. Appendix
8. Duodenum
9. Gall bladder
10. Liver

All the cells of our body get changed within a cycle of seven years. So by changing our diet, we can change the whole system-even Prakruti of our body. Thus a weakling or a patient suffering from a chronic disease can become strong and healthy with necessary changes in diet and exercise.

• “The case of Mr. Bernar MacFaden of the U.S.A. is very illustrative. He got T.B. at the early age of seventeen. The doctors lost all hope of curing him. He changed his diet completely.
• He began taking only fruits and vegetables. He started nature cure treatment including fasting, sunbath, exercises, etc. What he achieved was almost a miracle.”
• Please note that care of our digestive system should start from the mouth. Nature has given us teeth to chew. Therefore we should form a habit of chewing all food including liquid food and soft food like sweets, ice-creams, etc. at least 10 to 12 times.
• This is necessary to add saliva to the food, for it is only in saliva that the sugar is digested. That is why people eating hastily without chewing and eating more sugar invite Diabetes and fat.
• The modern dreaded disease of Diabetes can be conquered in your mouth. Chewing less means double work for the stomach. And over-exertion of the stomach will invite many diseases and even fat. Proper chewing gives better taste and satisfaction.
• Moreover, it enables you to listen to Nature’s signal that your stomach is full. This in turn enables you to stop eating further. Therefore discussions on dining table should be avoided as far as possible.
• Instead, soft music may be played. We should always remember that it is not more quantity or heavy food but the food that is digested gives us energy. If everybody forms the habit of chewing food properly, less food will be necessary which will incidentally help in solving the problem of food scarcity.

Diet:

The aim of eating and drinking should be to produce enough blood, produce sufficient heat and energy in the body and satisfy the taste.

There are six types of tastes

1. Sweet,
2. Salty,
3. Sour,
4. Hot (chilly),
5. Astringent and
6. Bitter.

It has been observed that we are avoiding more and more the last two types of taste with the result that it upsets the digestive system and balance in our blood, thereby leading to a number of diseases, including Cancer. These tastes nullify the effect of sweets and purify the blood.

• These two tastes increase the digestive power-the fire-and are like a starter in a car and therefore should be included in our diet. It may be observed that Mahatma Gandhiji insisted on paste of neem leaves in the daily diet.
• An English medical practitioner has observed that those Indian people who use neem leaves in their diet are healthier and are more immune to disease, including blood cancer than those who don’t use them.
• We take great care about the quality and quantity of coal or wood we put in the cooking furnace or fireplace. We also give it enough air to burn properly. This enables the fire to give a maximum of heat and reduce smoke and ashes to a minimum.
• We should not forget that there is a similar fireplace in our stomachs. We must think of the after-effects of the food and drink we take. The difference in the proportion of the three basic elements of water, fire, and wood in our body depends upon the food we eat.
• As laymen, we should see that the fire in the stomach is well maintained so that the normal food is digested. After the age of 35, we should be able to know what type of food does not agree with us. We should, therefore, avoid such unsuitable foods.
• We must know that a particular food that may be good for certain people may not be suitable for others Example. curd or yogurt, buttermilk is suitable for people having more elements of fire, but would not be suitable for people having more elements of water in them.
• Easy way to find out what food/drink is suitable for oneself: First stand straight, keep your left-hand fist closed on the Heart, and outstretch your right-hand parallel to the ground. Ask someone to pull down the right hand.

Resist as much as possible. Now, keep the eatable in your left-hand palm and keep it on your heart and outstretch your right-hand parallel to the ground. Ask someone to pull down your right hand. Now if this eatable is beneficial to your body resistance power will increase.

• If it is harmful, resistance power will be greatly reduced and the right hand will come down easily. In the case of a drink, you can keep it in a metal vessel preferably copper, and do as mentioned above.
• This method is based on the electricity of our body. Proper food and/or drink enhances the polarisation of electric flow and so increases the power of resistance. Improper food/drink depolarises the flow and so the resistance is reduced. This way, you can find out easily what to eat and drink and what to avoid.
• Because of differences in the type of Prakruti, it is very possible that something suitable to someone may not be useful to another person. Example. curd or yogurt mixed with sugar will be found more suitable to persons having more fire-pit but not to those persons having more water+ earth = (5) and less fire element.
• So everybody can try this method and find out what foods are useful and what foods are harmful. This way one can find out which one drug, out of many similar drugs, would be more suitable to him.
• It will be observed by this method, that just to satisfy the taste, we eat so many useless things which does not generate energy, but in order to digest such useless foods our energy has to be used and still more energy has to be used to throw out such useless dead food which many a time produces gases, constipation, etc.
• If we make a habit of eating and drinking only such things useful to our body and chew them properly the total requirement of food will be reduced considerably, digestion will improve and same way discharge of stool will be easy.
• Thus maximum energy will be obtained by the body from a minimum intake of food. If this principle is accepted by mankind on a larger scale the total requirement of food will be less and there will be minimum health problems.

How to get maximum energy from the food :

Recent experiments by nutrition experts in the U.S.A. have confirmed findings of the Indian philosophy that the best time to eat food is after one hour, we get up in the morning till sunset when internal temperature increases and the food is digested more easily and so more energy is obtained.

• They have maintained that eating late and taking heavy foods after sunset, tend to slow down digestion and produce more fat and problems in the stomach.
• In Ayurveda, the Indian medical system, a detailed description of the after-effects of all the different types of cereals, vegetables, spices, fruits, milk, curd, buttermilk, herbs, minerals, etc. is given.
• This shows a deep study and research over hundreds of years. Ayurved describes minutely what food to eat, how to eat, and when to eat, and also shows the effective use of kitchen spices in curing certain diseases.

It would be worth the effort to study the same and implement it. Out of so many important ingredients of kitchen spices, one is turmeric powder. It is very useful as described below:

1. On any cuts, bleeding, or burns, turmeric powder should be applied immediately. It is antiseptic and will stop bleeding and heal the cut or burn.
2. Whenever there is pain in bones or swelling due to a fall, this powder is to be boiled in water and a thick paste has to be applied for 3 to 4 days on that swelling or the part that is in pain and without any other medication the pain and the swelling will subside.
3. In case of tonsillitis, apply a paste of this powder and glycerine tannic acid, massage the tonsils with the tip of the finger, and then gargle with lukewarm salt water. In the case of small children, if they do not allow such a massage, globules of the size of green peas may be made with this powder and jaggery and 8 to 12 pills a day be given to children to eat.
4. Turmeric is a blood purifier and so can be taken with milk. It should be given this way to the mother after delivery; This helps faster contraction of the ovaries and inner parts.
5. A paste of turmeric powder and sandalwood powder mixed with a little edible oil be applied on your face as a Face Mask. Keep it for 15/20 minutes, then wash your face with tap water. Within 15/20 days your face will be bright and Gradient.
6. In diabetes, regular intake of turmeric powder and Amla powder has been found very effective.

Same way, one must learn the usefulness of other spices and use them accordingly.

To maintain a good digestive system we should see that

1. The food is well cooked and eaten warm or hot.
2. The use of whole wheat and rice is adequate. Please try to reduce or avoid the use of fine flour and polished rice.
3. The use of fried things should be reduced.
4. Enough buttermilk and curd should be included in the diet.
5. Enough vegetables, raw and cooked, and seasonal fruits should be taken.
6. The food should be properly chewed.
7. A time gap of 5 to 7 hours must be kept between two meals.
8. The habit of eating or drinking liquids except water or buttermilk between meals should be stringently controlled.
9. A stomach is also a machine and so it should also be given the rest of at least one or two meals a week. At that time, only fruits or fruit juices or boiled water may be taken.

To satisfy our palate is one of the greatest enjoyments of life; eat anything you like once in a while. But respect Nature’s signal which is given in the form of belching. Nature gives a first signal to say that the stomach is full.

• You should stop eating further at that point. It is an orange signal like the one at the traffic lights. If that cannot be done, you must stop at the second signal which is like a red light.
• If you continue eating even after the second signal, please be warned that you are inviting trouble. Necessary changes in the food, and diet, should be made according to the changes in seasons.
• Please observe the motto that the fire in the stomach should be well preserved and should remain capable of digesting the food you eat. Liberal use of ginger, pepper, eatables of bitter taste, sunbath, regular exercise, etc. helps this fire.
• While cold water, cold drinks, ice cream, etc. reduce the fire and increase the burden on the digestive system. Please note that Heat is Life while Cold is Death. Eat or drink accordingly.

Sprouted Pulses:

This may be taken by all people uncooked, but mixed with til (sesame), groundnut, raw, cabbage, dates, dried grapes, or a little jaggery. They have a vitamin B Complex, plenty of vitamins C and E, proteins, and minerals.

• Children, expectant mothers, and old people should be given this important food. Sprouted pulses are also very good for reducing weight. In that case, the use of dates, dried grapes, or jaggery should be avoided as far as possible.
• Test of proper digestive power and proper eating After the meals, you should feel energetic, light in body, and capable of work-even running if necessary. If you feel heavy, sleepy, or dull, it indicates overeating or fast eating or a weakened digestive system.

The assistance of Acupressure for the digestive system:

Sit on a chair. Keep the wooden roller on the ground, giving as much pressure as possible, roll the feet on the foot roller for five minutes-each foot. This will activate all the organs of the digestive system, kidney, lungs, etc. It is of great help to people above the age of 40.

Laxatives:

Laxatives are not necessary. Check up Solar Plexus and correct it if necessary. Give pressure or rub on the middle of the chin for 3 to 6 minutes in the morning or while in W.C. to ensure cleaning of bowels and thus avoid constipation which is the root cause of many diseases. For a long-term cure:

1. Drink lukewarm or hot water first thing in the morning. Lie on your back and roll the wooden roller on your stomach and abdomen.
2. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water during the day. If possible, drink buttermilk twice daily.
3. Include leafy vegetables in your diet.
4. Chew properly and roll your feet on a grooved wooden roller, for 5 minutes every evening to increase your digestive power.

In case of piles, fissures, etc. this treatment is a must.

Stools:

Occasionally observe the stool. Nature gives us a good indication of our digestive system. Odourless, properly formed dry stool floating in the water or easily cleanable, indicates proper digestion.

• Otherwise, it is advisable to drink lukewarm water, preferably healthy drinks or copper or silver or gold-charged water, first thing in the morning and take light food avoiding fried food and sweets.
• In case of long-term complaints about disorders of the stomach, digestion, biles, etc., it is found useful to take the following medicine for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Nux Vomica 200 x 8 Pills once a week.
• Nux Vomica 12 × 4 Pills twice daily.

Dental Care and Mouth Care:

After every meal, chew a little salt and gargle with water, Soft brush can be used to clean the particles caught between the teeth and the gums. Make it a habit to clean your teeth every morning and before retiring to bed.

• In India, people use thin sticks of a Babul, Banian, or a Neem tree (known as Datoon) as a brush. First, it is to be chewed to make it soft and use it like a brush. It is advisable to use a Datoon of Babul, Banian, or Neem tree at least once a day.
• It is reported by experienced Dentists that toothpastes available in the market are not much effective. Instead, the following tooth powder or paste which can be easily made at home has been found quite useful for the gums and teeth :

1. Tooth Powder:

A mixture of finely ground alum powder 40% and rock salt or regular salt powder 60%. For better results, a few drops of lemon may be added. In case of dental problems, adding a little of ‘Sudarshan’, a bitter Ayurvedic powder is also recommended.

2. Tooth-paste:

For dental problems like bleeding, pyorrhoea, toothache, etc. make a paste of
50% alum powder
10% rock salt or table salt powder
10% Sudarshan powder (an Ayurvedic preparation) and 15% edible oil (unrefined)
10% glycerine tannic acid
5% camphor.

The paste made of this mixture can be massaged on the teeth and gums in the morning and evening with fingers. It can be packed in collapsible tubes/jars and used as toothpaste.

3. Even massaging the gums:

Even massaging the gums with a mixture of 70% edible oil (sesame or groundnut or coconut un-refined), 15% glycerine tannic acid and 15% fine powder of rock salt or table salt is useful for good, healthy teeth and gums. Make it a daily habit. Please note that healthy gums are more useful than glistening white teeth.

4. Mouth Freshener:

Gargling with a little lemon juice mixed with water freshens the mouth. Take a quarter of a lemon, massage it on your teeth and gums, and then gargle with water. Even chewing of mango, tulsi or betel leaves after meals is good, and it is so advised in India.

5. Exercises for teeth:

Keep the lips closed. Pound the upper teeth on lower teeth 30 to 40 times twice a day. Then massage the saliva on the gums with the tongue. That will ensure proper blood circulation in teeth and increase the life of healthy teeth and gums.

6. Tongue:

It is necessary that the tongue is cleaned properly with a metallic or non-metallic tongue cleaner. This will clear the congestion not only on the tongue but also on the throat.

Moreover, as all the meridians pass through the tongue, a little massaging of the tongue with a tongue cleaner will activate all the organs below the diaphragm. The use of the tongue cleaner is recommended three times daily, especially in case of Tonsils, congestion in the throat, Diphtheria, etc.

Skin Care:

The Skin is porous and exhales toxins from the body. So it is very necessary to maintain its health. For the care of the skin, it is necessary to:

1. Drink plenty of water 6 to 8 glasses, and if possible healthy drink 3 to 4 times a day.
2. Eat groundnuts, til (sesame), or any type of nuts especially in winter, and plenty of seasonal vegetables and fruits.
3. Have an oil massage once a week or at least twice a month.
4. Take sunbath regularly early in the morning.
5. Practice Pranayam regularly.
6. Drink daily 2 to 3 cups of green juice.
7. Apply waste of green juice-like paste on all affected parts; also on the face as a face mask and observe the astonishing results.
8. Also, activate the Gall bladder and Liver if necessary three times a day.
9. When the skin becomes dry and there is a lot of itching, on the affected parts, apply or massage coconut oil which is to be prepared as under: Put garlic in a little quantity of coconut oil and boil it. Let it cool down. Then filter it and keep it in a bottle. This oil can also be used as Ear drops too.

Posture:

It is observed that most people complaining about digestive problems, backache and pain in the legs do not usually sit in an upright, straight position, especially when sitting on the ground. Upright posture is a must for good health.

• By stooping, the stomach and abdomen are not allowed to expand properly when breathing and that puts extra pressure on the lungs. Moreover, the spinal column is damaged.
• The total effect is an improper functioning of the stomach, abdomen, and sciatica nerve leading to less oxygenation. The first thing is to change the way of sitting. One must sit upright.
• Secondly, when seated on a chair with the back upright, take out the breath and then pull in and expand the stomach and abdomen. Do this for 8 to 10 minutes a day. This is a good exercise for all especially to avoid gas, indigestion, fat etc.
• But this must be done either before meals or at least two hours after meals.

Test of good health :

1. The head should be cool.
2. The Soles of the legs should be warm.
3. The stomach should be soft, which is possible if constipation is avoided and solar plexus is in order.

Now in case the head is warmer, and soles cooler, as is in case of cold due to heat, meningitis, brain problems, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, stroke, chronic disease, etc then do the following:

Take a nylon brush which is used for washing the clothes. Rub it under the soles for 3 to 5 minutes three times a day till the soles become warmer.

Germs:

1. The germs of disease enter our body
2. Through water and or the drink we take and or
3. Through the food we eat. Wherever
4. Purified water is not available, water should be boiled as is done by Jains in India and by most people in China,

When we eat food, proper care should be taken not to eat-

1. Fruits or eatables kept in the open
2. Overripe and spoiled fruits
3. Diseased fish or polluted meat of diseased animals.

If the above suggestions are carried out properly, the causes of diseases are reduced to a great extent. And minor ailments due to changes in weather, water, and food can be controlled with Acupressure treatment. The net result will be good health throughout life.