Acupressure: No pins, no pain
By Sean Meyers
Of th« Emerald
We ve all heard the basic premise of acupunc
*ure poke a few pins in the proper junctions and
away goes the pain. In theory, at least.
what was largely overlooked in the early
1970s, when trade relations were normalized with
China and information about oriental medicine inun
dated the Western press, was a cousin of the curious
Chinese custom — acupressure.
^Actually, acupressure is older than acupunc
ture, says Malvin Finkelstein, who runs the Eugene
Center for Acupuncture and Acupressure. “Acupunc
ture is about 4,000 years old, but we don't even know
how old acupressure is. The reason it isn't as well
known is because it isn’t as dramatic as its
counterpart.”
A major advantage to acupressure, for
hemophiliacs and the squeamish, is that it doesn't
require that pins penetrate the patient's body.
Finkelstein, a native New Yorker who came to
Eugene four years ago to set up his practice, became
interested in acupressure seven years ago “when my
own body needed healing,” he says.
It worked, and he gave up a career as a typeset
ter and musician to pursue acupressure on a full-time
basis.
Accepting the premise that acupuncture and
acupressure are therapeutically beneficial, and not
all medical doctors agree that they are, Finkelstein
offers three basic theories on why the treatment
works. He qualifies the explanations, saying “there
is no one theory that satisfactorily explains it."
The “Chinese” theory’s major premise is that a
person has an energy system or "life force” running
throughout their bodies, like a network of rivers and
lesser tributaries. These rivers flow smoothly when
the body is healthy. The body becomes unhealthy
whenever the system gets blocked up.
In many instances conventional medicine will
treat the symptom rather than “unblock" the "energy
flow,” says Finkelstein. Acupuncture and
acupressure are the processes of opening up those
channels rather than just treating the symptom he
says.
The "Western" theory proposes that when there
is extreme pain, such as the leg, the body sends a
nervous impulse to the brain, which registers it as
pain.
Acupunture and acupressure work by closing a
•gate" along the nervous system, thereby blocking
the impulse to the brain that registers pain.
Another theory stresses stimulation of the pro
duction of endorphins, a naturally produced
substance within the body that acts as a painkiller,
by acupuncture or acupressure in specific areas. The
patient then feels a significant reduction in pain.
Finkelstein says he is not promoting
acupressure as a cure-all for whatever ailment a per
son might have.
"Acupressure is not used to treat disease," says
Finkelstein. “If you have a disease, you should go to
a medical doctor. It can be used as an adjunct to treat
disease in a lot of cases, but it does not actually treat
those disorders. It might be helpful in transferring
energy to help treat the disease."
Finkelstein says acupressure is highly effective
in treating hypertension, menstrual cramps,
whiplash, headaches, stress, stomach disorders and
backaches.
Dorm diners
opt for brunch
A new meal plan designed to save the
University housing department about $12,000
was approved by the Residence Hall Gover
nance Commmittee Monday.
The 17-meal plan for residence halls would
serve brunch and dinnner on Saturday and Sun
day brunch starting fall term 1963. The approv
ed plan replaces the current 20-meal plan that
allows residents to eat breakfast and lunch on
the weekends.
In other business, committee member
Donna Kietzmann said Housing director Dan
Williams has approved a proposed alcohol
policy. The policy would declare stairways and
hallways private areas, allowing 21-year-olds to
take their alcohol with them, which is not cur
rently allowed.
However, Williams will be seeking com
ments from other University administrators
before presenting the plan to Pres. Paul Olum,
said Fred Babcock, housing food services
director.
Some people fear the new proposal would
have an adverse effect on the behavior of resi
dent minors and cause the loss of mixed-class
residence halls or the abolishment of alcohol in
the dorms, Babcock said.
The committee also discussed electing
new RHGC members during spring term in
stead of fall term and having committee
members receive a stipend.
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