Acupuncture vs. Acupressure: What’s The Difference?

At the beginning of an acupuncture session, you have a brief conversation and evaluation. Expect your acupuncturist to take your pulse, look at your tongue and eyes, and ask about your mood and bowel movements, all of which provide information on which organs need to be stimulated or sedated.

Next, you lie down on a comfortable treatment bed that resembles a massage table. If you wear loose clothing, you can often remain fully clothed. The acupuncturist uses alcohol swabs to sterilize small areas of skin and insert one-time-use, hair-thin needles.

There should be no pain, but you may feel a slight prick or pressure at the needle sites.

The number of insertion points varies greatly from person to person and session to session. To help you get comfortable, the acupuncturist dims the lights and leaves you to relax with the needles inserted for a period of time—often around 20 to 30 minutes.

Most acupuncturists address points across the body—common insertion points include the feet, ankles, legs and hands—but some focus specifically on the ears or even just the hands and feet. Acupuncturists might also use other modalities to move stagnated energy. For example, they may add mild electrical stimulation to acupuncture needles using a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device or a special device made for electrical stimulation in acupuncture. They might also practice “cupping,” a procedure that involves applying suction cups to different areas of the body to enhance the flow of Qi, according to the belief. Some acupuncturists also recommend herbs and supplements.

One theory of the mechanism of action of acupuncture is that it is believed to stimulate the body’s autonomic nervous system. Through neuropeptides (small proteins that help neurons communicate with each other) it prompts the body to produce, the treatment attempts to decrease the sympathetic outflow—commonly known as the fight-or-flight response—and enhance vagal tone, or the ease at which the body returns to a non-stressed state, according to Hui.

Vagal tone can affect cardiovascular health, digestion, inflammation, mood and even the body’s pain response and immune system. For this reason, acupuncture is associated with a range of health benefits.

Acupressure is another Traditional Chinese medicine tool that’s similar to acupuncture, but it’s noninvasive. Acupressure is a needle-free treatment that exclusively involves applying pressure to the skin.

Massage therapists use acupressure points to teach patients how to use acupressure on themselves. The most exciting thing about acupressure is that it’s an inexpensive, safe and simple form of self-care and self-healing. Acupressure devices also exist—for example, wristbands that stimulate acupressure points.

Like acupuncture, Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners contend acupressure is effective because it increases the flow of Qi and rebalances the systems throughout the body. Scientists explain the effectiveness much like they explain acupuncture—applying pressure to certain points can stimulate the nervous system and brain to release a variety of neuropeptides that help with pain, anxiety and more.

Once you have your acupoint (or acupoints), simply use your fingertips or a device to hold and massage at the point. Try applying pressure for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat if needed. Some health complaints may be associated with several acupoints, and you can apply pressure to just one point and see if it works for you, or you may decide to apply pressure to several of them, one after the other.

Acupressure has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including the following:

Nausea and Morning Sickness

Studies dating back decades have found acupressure therapy works well for nausea, morning sickness and anxiety. In fact, one 1989 study concluded, “Acupressure therapy resulted in statistically significant reductions in anxiety, depression, behavioral dysfunction and nausea ^[1].”

Insomnia

A small 2013 study looking at sleep problems in adolescents found that after six months of treatment with a wearable acupressure band (a Sea-Band, which is designed to put pressure on certain points in the wrist), participants experienced a significant increase in the quantity and quality of their sleep ^[2].

Headache

A small 2010 study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine evaluated the use of acupressure versus muscle relaxant drugs for chronic headache sufferers^[3]. The researchers found using acupressure trigger points BL2 (above the eye), GV20 (top of the head), GB20 (back of the neck/skull), TH21 (where the ear meets the upper jaw) and GB5 (side of the head) worked better than muscle relaxants to reduce chronic headaches.

While acupuncture and acupressure are rooted in the same belief of improving Qi by stimulating certain body points, the two are not the same.

Acupuncture is administered by a licensed professional only. It can cost as much as a visit to a doctor or chiropractor, and it may or may not be covered by your health insurance. Think of it as a stronger and more professional treatment tool.

Acupressure, however, can be a do-it-yourself form of care. There are many books, as well as tutorials and videos online, that can help you learn how to apply pressure to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Both treatments work similarly, but if you have a more acute condition, you may want a professional to help you. For routine complaints, though, you might want to consider first trying acupressure on yourself before considering acupuncture, since the former is the more affordable and easier form of treatment.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any form of acupuncture or acupressure. Neither approach is a substitute for other necessary medical care.