Feeling tired with migraines?
Or feeling bloated in the morning?
One local student has turned to acupressure to help cope with the strains and stresses of modern life.
Si-yeon Lee, a sixteen-year-old from Epsom uses ear acupressure, which is a natural treatment with deep roots in traditional Chinese medicine.
It is also embraced by countries like Korea and Japan.
Here, she explains the technique which involves applying pressure to specific points on the ear known as acupressure points, to promote health and beauty benefits.
Ear pressure includes blood cells located in various areas.
Each position is associated with a specific function, and these functions can be renewed through the ear acupoint.
It is a useful treatment that can control various functions.
The commonly known effects of ear pressure are, firstly, improving blood flow and promoting the supply of oxygen and nutrients.
This helps to activate cell activity and optimise organ function along with reducing bloating.
Secondly, it helps to relieve stress and stabilise the mind by regulating the body's energy flow.
In addition, it has immune enhancement and analgesic effects, allowing it to be effective in preventing and treating various diseases.
Ear acupressure and acupuncture are complementary treatments, which can bring more effective results when used together.
While acupuncture requires specialised practitioners and specific needles, acupressure can be performed at home.
This is because various types of acupuncture are used for different acupuncture treatments.
For example, a short, thin needle is suitable for one sickness, but a long thick needle may be ideal for another sickness.
Starting with applying pressure to the acupressure point of the ear, you can use the acupressure to strengthen the stimulation and achieve a lasting effect.
You can buy acupressure stickers like me online on platforms like Amazon.
Now, you might be wondering whether “acupressure” really works.
Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of both ear acupressure and acupuncture for treating a range of illnesses, highlighting their potential health benefits.
Siyeon Lee told us: I found this treatment to be very beneficial for reducing headaches before exams or being less bloated when I have a huge bowl of salty foods the day before.
When I was younger my mum would always use complementary medicine to treat migraines and indigestion.
Now I am older it is really helpful to be able to use this instead of relying on less healthy options such as tablets or other medications.
Try out 'Photo 1', which is said to help improve digestive problems or 'Photo 2', which is known to be effective in relieving headaches due to stress.
