Stress Management

Alternative and Complementary Remedies for Hypertension

Shiatsu for Hypertension

Shiatsu is part of a holistic approach to health. Blockages in energy flow, and imbalances in the system, are often a consequence of personal habits in diet and activity, as well as our perceptions, thoughts, and emotional reactions. Shiatsu practitioners concentrate on stimulating the entire meridians rather than concentrating on individual acupressure point as in acupressure.

Shiatsu practitioners will work on the gallbladder and liver meridians for hypertension.

1. The Gall Bladder meridian is located in the space on the top of your foot, between the 4th and 5th toes. Start at the web margin and stimulate the channel. Press for 6- 7 seconds at the first point, release, move about 1/2 inch along the channel and press again. Continue like this about halfway up the foot to where you no longer feel a space between the toe bones.

2. Now stimulate the Liver meridian. Start in the center of the top of your big toe. Using the press and release technique as discussed above, proceed along the toe to the web margin between the big toe and second toe. Now move up the channel between the big toe and second toe. From the ankle, go up the inside part of the leg, along the bone. (Note: Use only mild to moderate pressure along the bone.)

About halfway up the leg, the meridian comes off the bone but continues up the middle of the inside of the leg. Stop around the knee.

3. Repeat on the other foot.

Next Topic: