Acupressure Health Article

Training and certification

There are two routes to becoming trained in the skill of acupressure. The first is training in traditional acupuncture and Chinese medicine, which has many schools and certifying bodies around the country. The majority of acupressure practitioners are trained as certified massage therapists, either as acupressure or shiatsu specialists.

The Acupressure Institute provides certification and resources for acupressure practitioners. Address: 1533 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, phone (510) 845-1059, website: www.acupressure.com.

The American Oriental Bodywork Therapy Association (AOBTA) certifies acupressure practitioners and has over 1,400 members. It also provides a list of schools and training programs. Address: 1010 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Suite 408, Voorhees, NJ 08043, phone (856) 782-1616, email: AOBTA @prodigy.net.

The Jin Shin Do Foundation for Body/Mind Acupressure is an international network of teachers and practitioners. Address: 1084G San Miguel Canyon Road, Royal Oaks, CA 95076, phone (408) 763-7702.

The largest organization that certifies massage therapists, with over 40,000 members worldwide, is the American Massage Therapy Association. It also has a member directory and lists of training programs. Website: www.amtamassage.org.

KEY TERMS

Acupoint—A pressure point stimulated in acupressure.

Chi—Basic life energy.

Meridian—A channel through which chi travels in the body.

Moxibustion—An acupuncture technique that burns the herb moxa or mugwort.

Shiatsu—Japanese form of acupressure massage.

Yin/yang—Universal characteristics used to describe aspects of the natural world.

BOOKS

Jarmey, Chris and John Tindall. Acupressure for Common Ailments. London: Gaia, 1991.

Kakptchuk, Ted. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. New York: Congdon and Weed, 1983.

Warren, Frank Z., MD. Freedom From Pain Through Acupressure. New York: Fell, 1976.

PERIODICALS

Massage Therapy Journal. 820 Davis Street, Suite 100, Evanston, IL 60201-4444.

OTHER

American Association of Oriental Medicine. <http://www.aaom.org/> (December 28, 2000).

National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance. <http://www.acuall.org/> (December 28, 2000).

Douglas Dupler