Alternatives and variations of acupressure

Zone therapy can be considered a variation of acupressure applied to the feet or hands. However, most forms of zone therapy have not been studied in detail yet, and scientific data are very limited. Adherents believe that stimulation of a specific part of the foot or hand affects other areas of the body. Types of zone therapy include:

• Reflexology, perhaps the best-known type of zone therapy, involves acupressure applied to the feet. It has been used to treat disorders ranging from migraines to abdominal pain to infertility to prostatitis. According to the Association of Reflexologists, reflexology can improve many acute and chronic conditions.
  
  
• Shiatsu, a Japanese method of massage used to treat illness, is another variation of acupressure. It also is based on the idea that energy flows through the body in meridians and that blockage of these channels causes disorders.
  
  
• Tuina is a Chinese technique similar to shiatsu but involving more manipulation of soft tissues.
  
  
• Jin Shin Tara, an acupressure-like treatment that originated in Japan, has been used to address trauma pain and, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), is being studied for possible use in stroke rehabilitation.

Acupressure and acupuncture are closely related treatments. Acupuncture, involving insertion of needles, has been more thoroughly studied and has demonstrated greater effectiveness.