Nicole del Cardayre | Staff Writer | Why is my liver connected to my face?
The answer to this question is simple; however, the human body itself is not.
For centuries, scientists and medical practitioners have been exploring how the different aspects of the human body interact with one another.
Acupressure is the ancient art of healing the body by using one's fingers to gradually press on crucial healing points throughout the body which stimulate natural self-curative abilities.
Pain reduction, release of tension, and the increasement of circulation are all benefits of acupressure. Dr. Mao Shing Ni is a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in general practice, hormonal and aging related conditions, as well as an elevated interest in the immune system.
“Recently, the 8-year-old daughter of one of my patients was suffering from a headache. I simply pressed the Valley of Harmony acupoint between her thumb and index finger, and the headache vanished within five minutes. Acupressure is that simple and accessible,” said Dr. Mao Shing Ni.
According to expert face mapper Shrankhla Holecek, if one is experiencing severe acne issues on the forehead, a light pressure applied to the sinuses located underneath the eyebrows for five seconds at a time will help restore health to the liver and gallbladder and attempt to cure one’s acne.
“It’s interesting to see how the body is all connected to itself. I myself have never had severe acne but new methods such as acupressure should be more publicized instead of drugstore medication,” said Kevin Mcgee, a junior. The art of acupressure not only includes specialized facial techniques, but also different points throughout the body, including the hand.
Reflexology hypothesizes that by finding key pressure points within the palm of one's hand, they correspond to various parts of the body.
Chinese reflexology charts that are used by practitioners of acupressure represent a mini body that forms throughout your face, ear, feet, and hands.
According to Dr. Mao Shing Ni, pressing the thumb point into the corresponding part of the hand for five seconds, releasing for three seconds, pressing again, and repeating this cycle throughout the day will release the tension of a headache. Similar to acupressure, acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal practice that stimulates specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin.
Carlmont parent Nellie Ancel was diagnosed with chronic arthritis and did not want to resort to western medical approaches. She has been seeing an acupuncturist for three years now.
“Originally I found out about acupuncture through an online search to help my chronic arthritis. I began to go see a specialist once a week and it had a very positive influence on my health; it relieved a lot of the pain I had building up in my knees and hips,” said Ancel.
According to the Center of Integrative Medicine at UC San Diego, acupuncture has become an increasingly popular medical practice.
“I think it is going to become very popular in the near future as there is a lot more interest in alternative methods of dealing with pain. Personally, I did not want to take a lot of drugs in order to cure myself,” said Ancel. Acupuncture is known to help improve the conditions of depression, strokes, Epigastralgia, and many other common diseases, symptoms, or conditions.
“I would recommend acupuncture to almost anybody because of the huge impact it has had in my life. It is a great alternative for women that are not able to get pregnant and it also deals very effectively with musculoskeletal issues,” said Ancel. Acupuncture and acupressure are both very similar in their practices. Both ancient Chinese arts aim to improve health by connecting points throughout the human body. And that is why your liver is on your face.