The Healing Power of Acupressure: Utilizing CV 17 for Stress and Anxiety Relief

For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has been utilized as a method of treatment for various health issues. Initially, some people scoffed at traditional Chinese medicine, but today, this 2,500-year-old practice is a globally accepted form of treatment. One of the benefits of this ancient practice is its remarkable ability to alleviate stress and anxiety.

Traditional Chinese medicine relies on the belief that every individual has specific acupressure points scattered across their body. These points are located along energy meridians, and a person’s life force, or qi, flows through these energy points. If these energy points aren’t functioning optimally, acupressure can help stimulate them. Chinese theory identifies 12 of these energy meridians that connect major organs and keep the body balanced. When one of these energy points are not working correctly, a person’s body won’t work properly either.

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but instead of using needles, pressure is applied to specific areas of the body to ease the side effects of stress and anxiety. One of the areas that offer immediate relief is CV 17, also known as conception vessel 17 or the chest center. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is the seat of a person’s emotions, and when a person is stressed, the CV 17 area becomes sore and out of sync. Therefore, applying pressure to CV 17 can help in stress and anxiety relief.

Apart from relieving stress and anxiety, the location of the CV 17 area also balances the levels of yin (reflective, quiet) and yang (action-oriented, energetic) energy levels of the body, bringing the body’s emotional and physical senses back in balance. Many acupressure believers argue that imbalances in a person’s nervous system are remedied by applying pressure to the CV 17 area, even boosting one’s immune system.

To utilize CV 17 for stress and anxiety relief, follow these steps:

How to Find CV 17

– Located four finger-widths up from the base of the breastbone, almost at the center of the chest
– Place your fingertips on this area and gently rub up and down the center of the breastbone to find the spot
– Sit so that your spine is straight and upright, palms placed together with the fingers pointing upward. This is called the prayer pose.

What to do with CV 17

– Once seated in the prayer position, use the back of the knuckles of your thumb to gently press into the center of the CV 17 area for 2-3 minutes
– Close your eyes
– Inhale and exhale deeply and regularly
– Keep your head upright but not tense
– Another effective way is to gingerly place the middle fingertip on top of the CV 17, resting your index and ring fingertips just above and below that point.
– You can also gently tap this area with your fingers, which some say is a helpful manner in which to fall asleep at night.

Apart from the immediate relief, deep breathing during this treatment encourages the body to relax, aiding in stress and anxiety relief. Furthermore, manipulating the CV 17 pressure area can also help relax individuals with depression, chronic fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, hormonal imbalances, and during the recovery phase after an injury or surgery.

In conclusion, traditional Chinese medicine has contributed significantly to global medicine, and acupressure is one of the best examples of this. The CV 17 area helps in the relief of stress and anxiety in the body. In today’s fast-paced society, everyone needs to find ways to manage stress and anxiety, and utilizing CV 17 is an easy, natural, and non-invasive way to achieve this.