Acupressure: an overview of theory and application

Treatment of pain is common to all nurse practitioners' practices. One treatment method appropriate for use by the nurse practitioner is acupressure. Upon reviewing the professional literature, a paucity of information on acupressure was discovered. This article uses acupuncture theory and research to provide a theoretical basis for the use and study of acupressure. A description of how to locate and stimulate an acupoint useful for the treatment of headaches resulting from shoulder muscle tension is presented.