Getting Pregnant Naturally (22 page)

Three to five minutes of steady, firm pressure works best, but as little as one minute can begin to promote healing and quiet the nervous system. At the end of an acupressure session, you should feel relaxed and invigorated, but don’t expect that the pain will subside and your symptoms will disappear immediately. Acupressure isn’t a matter of pressing a button and exacting a “cure.” For the best results, plan on spending fifteen minutes or so working through your acupressure points two or three times a day.

• Before starting your acupressure session, take a few minutes to relax and get focused. If possible, settle into a quiet, warm, and well-ventilated room. Start with some deep breathing to help you relax
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• If you are practicing acupressure on yourself, some points will be difficult to press without straining. To reach points on your back, place a soft tennis ball on a carpet and smoothly roll over onto it while supporting most of your weight on your elbows. If this is impossible to do without discomfort, either skip the point or ask your partner for help
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• Keep your fingernails short to avoid scratching or poking your skin
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• Make sure to smoothly and gradually increase the pressure, and smoothly and gradually release the pressure. Avoid sharp pokes or jabs
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• Remember that acupressure should not hurt. If a point feels painful to the touch, gradually release the pressure and move to another point
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• Avoid contact with areas that have been burned, bruised, cut, sprained, or infected. If the surrounding area is not too tender, consider applying pressure to the points near the injury to stimulate blood flow and to promote healing in the area
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• If you feel particularly stiff or tense before a session, consider soaking in a hot bath or applying a hot water bottle or heating pad to the affected area before beginning treatment.
  

• If possible, wait at least an hour after eating before practicing acupressure. Also avoid scheduling your acupressure sessions during times when you feel particularly hungry.
  

To help boost your fertility, use one or more of the following acupressure points.

Apply pressure on the midline of the lower abdomen, about one hand width below the belly button and one thumb width above the top of the pubic bone. In addition to improving fertility, this point helps to strengthen the reproductive organs, regulate menstruation, and reduce vaginal discharge.

This point is located along the midline of the scalp in line with the top of the nose and about one finger width inside your hairline. In addition to improving fertility,
this point helps to tone the uterus and balance the hormonal system.

Apply pressure to the end of the crease made when the index finger and thumb are pressed together. In addition to improving fertility, this point helps to ease abdominal pain and cramping and relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal complaints.

This point is located on the inside of the leg, four finger widths above the tip of the ankle bone and just inside the tibia (the leg bone). In addition to improving fertility, this point helps to regulate menstruation and ease genital pain.

Apply pressure on the inside of the lower leg four finger widths below the knee in the depression underneath the bone. In addition to improving fertility, this point helps to remove blockage in the lower abdomen and regulate menstruation.

This point is located on the inside edge of the top of the knee, where you can feel the muscle move when the knee is flexed. In addition to improving fertility, this point helps to improve blood circulation and relieve menstrual pain.

To help boost your fertility, use one or more of the following acupressure points.

Apply pressure on the center of the sole of the foot, at the base of the ball of the foot, between the two pads. This point helps to relieve impotency.