A Practical Guide to Acu-points by Chris Jarmey and Ilaira Bouratinos

This large trade-sized paperback, A Practical Guide to Acu-points by Chris Jarmey and Ilaira Bouratinos, published by North Atlantic Books, is a definitive work needed by anyone who practices any form of acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, cupping, or many other common Eastern modalities utilizing acu-points.

This impressive health guide covers every part of the body and explains in simple terms exactly how the pressure, needle positions, moxibustion (the burning of cones on the skin), cupping and other techniques should be applied.

In 343 pages, A Practical Guide to Acu-points provides information on every single part of the body. It includes realistic colorful anatomical illustrations which clearly show not only the surface where the applicable technique should be applied, but also the underlying tendons, muscles, bones, and body structure to help locate the exact acupoints for best results.

While the book assumes you have a good basic working knowledge of these ancient Chinese modalities which employ acu-points and why it is desirable to have a clear map to the best, most effective locations to apply those techniques to address health issues, it is not so complex that a beginner can not greatly benefit from this work by Jarmey and Bouratinos.

A Practical Guide to Acu-Points is not intended to teach you how to practice acupuncture, massage, or any other Eastern healing technique. It is an outstanding acupoint reference book that could easily go hand-in-hand with related textbooks or other learning material used for educating students in the art and science of natural healing. It’s also very useful as an acupressure guide for those who just wish to learn important points to relief pain.

One of the best features of A Practical Guide to Acu-points is that the book begins with one chapter per modality, which provides considerations and cautions about each of these eastern approaches to health and wellness. Locations where the technique should not be applied are listed as well as contraindications and potential adverse reactions of each.

For example, Chapter One, Needling Considerations, addresses issues regarding acupuncture, such as:

• Cautions about needle insertion depth.
• Sizes and quality of needles.
• Areas of the body and specific situations where needle insertion are not recommended.
• Areas where insertion of an acupuncture needle is always dangerous.
• Accidents which could occur because of needle misuse or lack of skill including broken needles.
• Possible adverse physical reactions.

By starting with these prudent cautions, a person will quickly realize that the practice of acupuncture is serious business and not something to take up on a whim with no preparation.

The page numbers of the 343 pages are located on the lower corner of each page and each is color coded to indicate the points or acupoint channel in that section. This well thought out feature makes it very easy to locate the section of the book to which you wish to refer.

Both the front and back cover of the book have a sturdy flap folded to the inside which can easily be used to mark a reference point to which you wish to return, or to mark where you stopped studying.

The wealth of resources in A Practical Guide to Acu-Points is incredible. Seldom do you find as many facts presented in an organized, ready to use manual. Perhaps, this is because both Jarmey and Bouratinos have studied many textbooks while earning their credentials in the bodywork methods presented and now teach others. Clearly, they have taken the good points and skipped the less desirable points of the many texts they have used in the past.

A Practical Guide to Acu-points is a resource that any practitioner of natural healing arts would greatly benefit from owning. Any student developing the skills to become proficient in eastern bodywork methods can benefit vastly. Western massage students and practitioners will also find this information quite useful as the blending of western and eastern approaches both incorporate knowledge of acupressure points or acu-points.

Traditional health care workers such as physiotherapists, nurses, doctors, and even empowered patients who wish to understand a variety of holistic treatments should have this important eastern healing resource in their collection. Even those who have no plans to become involved in any type of bodywork or healing science will better understand their body and how their body systems function as a result of exposure to Jarmey’s and Bouratinos’ latest health guide.

To learn more about this recommended health reference book, visit Amazon > A Practical Guide to Acu-points