Acupressure Research

With thousands of documented sessions over many decades of private and clinical practice, we know that Soul Lightening Acupressure is safe, effective, and profoundly transformative. We are very aware that establishing a solid research base is essential to substantiate what our experience tells us.

Our students and certified practitioners are nurses, massage therapists, acupuncturists, asian bodywork therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Every year more and more of these hands-on practitioners are joining our efforts to collect data at the bedside and in their clinics.

Because our method uses specific protocols to address specific conditions and symptoms, we are beginning to learn that our work has great potential for solid research design. As we study this more carefully, we are discovering that our positive outcomes are statistically very significant, and that our model is easily replicated.

Soul Lightening Acupressure Research

So far cohort studies involving Soul Lightening Acupressure have examined
the efficacy of acupressure in a variety of contexts. See abstracts of these articles, posters and dissertations below.

Beyond Pills: Acupressure Impact on Self-Rated Pain and Anxiety Scores Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2019. Elizabeth Monson, MA, MA, CRNP, Diane Arney, BSN, RN, Beth Benham RN, LMT, BSN, Rebekah Bird, BSN, RN, PCCN, Erika Elias, RN, Kami Linden, RN, Kimberly McCord, BSN, RN, PCCN, Cathy Miller, LMT, Tammy Miller, RN, PCCN, Lori Ritter, MSN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN-K and Deanna Waggy, OTR

Seva Acupressure to Reduce Stress among Patients Being Treated for Opioid Addiction 2019. Sand-Jecklin, Kari EdD, MSN, RN, AHN-BC  West Virginia University School of Nursing, Morgantown, WV.

Acupressure for Symptom Management: 2019 The Evidence to Date and Research Opportunities: Kari Sand-Jecklin, Ph.D., University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV

Use of the Seva Stress Release (SSR) Protocol with hospitalized patients receiving cancer treatment Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 2018. Victoria Reiser, BSN, RN, Kari Sand-Jecklin, EdD , MSN , RN , AHN-BC University of West Virginia, School of Nursing, Morgantown, WV

• Poster: 2015 Reiser_Sand-Jenklin Pts receiving Cancer Tx
• Nurses and Nursing students Seva for self-care Sand-Jecklin, K. University of West Virginia, School of Nursing program, Morgantown, WV.
• Sand-Jecklin, Kari (2015) SNA Article. WVU Nursing, page 22.

Creating Calm in the Storm: An Innovative Approach to Integrating Complimentary Therapies into Patient Care: 2014. Sisson, A., Miller, T., Monson, E., Bird, R., Ritter, L. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Corvallis, Oregon

• • 2014 AHNA Calm in the storm poster
  • 2014 AACN Critical Care Symposium – Preventing Nurse Burnout

Acupressure for ADHD: A Pilot Program to teach an Acupressure Protocol to Parents of Children Diagnosed with ADD/ADHD for Adjunctive Symptom Management: 2013. Elizabeth Monson, M.A., M.S., C.R.N.P. Samaritan Heart and Vascular Institute, Corvallis, Oregon

Acupressure in Hospital Setting: SLI_Newsletter Monson, E. 2013

The Use of Acupressure to Manage Anxiety in Hospitalized Orthopedic Trauma Patients Requiring Surgical Intervention: 2012. Cynthia Kerr Salmond, University of Maryland,  Baltimore, Maryland Doctoral Dissertation 

• • 2012 Anxiety in Hospitalized Orthopedic Trauma Pts

Employee Use and Perceived Benefit of a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Wellness Clinic at a Major Military Hospital: Evaluation of a Pilot Program Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011. Alaine D. Duncan, MAc, LAc, DiplAc, SEP, Janet M. Liechty, PhD, Lcsw, Cathy Miller, MSG (Ret), MM, LMT, ABT, Gail Chinoy, RNC, MSN, and Richard Ricciardi, PhD, NP, FAANP   2011 Poster

The Effects of Acupressure on Stress: A Self Help Approach: 2006. Carol L Wetherill, Jonathan Mattanah, PH.D., Towson University, Baltimore, Maryland

Other Resources:

• Miller, C & Waggy, D. 2018. Empowering Whole-Being Health. Over 90 Case studies and testimonials for Seva Stress Release, Clinical & Process Acupressure. 
• Rosenthal, Regina. (2016) Acupressure for Caregiver Stress: Abilities.com
• Letter of Recommendation for CA Dr Reed Letter 2015
• Seva & Acupressure Resources list

Current Published Acupressure Research

The Efficacy of Acupressure 
for Symptom Management: 
A Systematic Review,J Pain Symptom Mange. 
2011 October; 42(4): 589-603

Effect of acupressure and trigger points in treating headache: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(1):1-14.

Effects of acupressure on anxiety; a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med. 2015 Oct;33(5):353-9

The effectiveness of acupressure on relieving pain: a systematic review. Pain Manag Nurs. 2014 Jun;15(2):539-50

Older Published Acupressure Research

(Note:These articles can be found by searching PubMed or an equivalent online search engine.)

NAUSEA
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. Watcha, M. F, White, P. F., Anesthesiology 1992, 77:162-184.

Acupressure and Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting During and After Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section. Harmon D, Ryan M, Kelly A, Bowen M, et al. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. Jan. 2001.

“The efficiency of acupressure to prevent nausea and vomiting in post-operative patients.” Ming JL et al., Journal of Advanced Nursing 39(4), 343-351

Korean Hand Acupressure Reduces Postoperative Vomiting in Children after Strabismus Surgery Schlager, A., et. al. British Journal of Anaesthesia August 2000, 85(2): 267-70.

Effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Complement Ther. Clin Pract. 2008 Feb;14(1):46-52. Epub 2007 Sep 20. Can Gürkan O, Arslan H. Dpt. of Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing, Marmara University School of Nursing, Istanbul, Turkey. ozlemcangurkan@gmail.com

BACK PAIN
Hsieh LL, Kuo CH, Lee LH, Yen AM, Chien KL, Chen TH. Treatment of low back pain by acupressure and physical therapy: randomized controlled trial.
British Medical Journal 2006; 332(7543):696-700.

The effects of shiatsu on lower back pain. 48: J Holist Nurs. 2001 Mar;19(1):57-70. Brady LH, Henry K, Luth JF 2nd, Casper-Bruett KK. Drake University, USA. Both pain and anxiety decreased significantly over time. PMID: 11847714 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

MINOR TRAUMA
Alexander Kober, M.D., Thomas Scheck, M.S., Manfred Greher, M.D., Frank Liega, Roman Fleishhackl, Sabine Fleishhackl, Frederick Randunsky, and Klaus Hoerauf, MD., Anesthesia and Analgesia, 2002, Issue 95, pp. 723-727.

AGITATION AND DEMENTIA
Yang MH, Wu SC, Lin JG, Lin LC. The efficacy of acupressure for decreasing agitated behavior in dementia: a pilot study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, Feb. 2007; 16(2):308-1

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Felhendler D, Lisander B. Effects of non-invasive stimulation of acupoints on the cardiovascular system. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 1999; 7:231-234.

DIFFICULTY BREATHING
Ming, J.L. et. al, “Effectiveness of Acupressure in Improving Dyspnoea, in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,”Journal of Advanced Nursing 45 (3), 253-259.

HEADACHES
“Acupressure Therapy for Headaches,” by Dorothy Kroll, in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Nov/Dec 1995, pg. 357-359
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/act.1995.1.357

INSOMNIA
Quality of Sleep of Institutionalized Residents, Chen, ML et al., Journal of Gerontology: MEDICAL SCIENCES 1999, Vol. 54Q, No. 8, M389-M394.