Basics of Trigger Points
Trigger points have been used for centuries as a part of traditional Chinese medicine. These points are located all over the body along lines called meridians. Those who practice traditional Chinese medicine believe that energy in the body runs along these lines. When you experience mental or physical pain, there is a disturbance in that energy. Stimulating the pressure points is a holistic approach to medicine that treats the core problem, not the symptoms. Trigger points can also be places on the body that can cause black outs, breaks or extreme pain when you apply pressure.
The Trigger Point Chart
Even someone who has studied Oriental bodyworks for decades uses a trigger point chart for reference. There are hundreds of points on the body, and a trigger point chart might show them all or just show a certain part of the body, like the hand or the back. Trigger point charts usually also show the meridians so the practitioner can see how the energy flows. There are multiple versions of the chart, dating back hundreds of years in some cases.
Who Uses the Chart
Oriental bodyworks trigger point charts are used with many different kinds of traditional Chinese medicine techniques. Most commonly, they are stimulated through massage, acupuncture, acupressure and fire cupping. Often, one or more of these techniques is also used along with Chinese herbs or aromatherapy. Non-professionals can also use a bodyworks trigger point chart to do self-massage at home, though it is important to avoid pressure points that could be dangerous.
Categories of Trigger Points
The Oriental bodyworks trigger point chart includes all of the points on the body. Professionals, however, commonly separate the points into categories that can be stimulated. Pain points can relieve or cause pain, as the name implies. Muscular points can cause muscle spams and affect your breathing. Break points and pressure points can cause injury and are studied in conjunction with martial arts. The most often used trigger points in alternative medicine are the energy points, which will change the flow of energy in the body.
Tags: bodyworks trigger, Chinese medicine, Oriental bodyworks, pressure points, traditional Chinese, traditional Chinese medicine, trigger point