Su Jok therapy is a form of alternative medicine wherein pressure is applied to the hands and feet of a patient. It is often referred to as Korean acupressure, as it was created by Park Jae Woo, a professor of Korean origin. People who practice Su Jok therapy believe it will treat and prevent health issues holistically, using the energy of the body instead of medicine to improve a person’s health.
Generally, Su Jok therapy practitioners believe that by applying pressure to certain areas of a patient’s hand or foot, an ailment can be treated or prevented elsewhere in the body. For example, according to Su Jok therapy diagrams, if a practitioner were to apply pressure to the base of a patient’s hand, it would treat ailments relating to the spleen. In another example, if a practitioner were to apply pressure to the tip of a patient's thumb, stress would be reduced — according to the practice, this would work even if a patient were to use her own fingers to apply pressure. The finger pressure technique primarily works because the tip of the thumb is related to ailments of the brain, and many practitioners believe that stress originates in the brain.
In many cases, Su Jok therapy treatment plans last for six to 12 sessions. Depending on the severity of the ailment, the number of sessions may increase or decrease. The number of sessions might vary for a patient who is using the therapy as a preventative measure as well. Many practitioners report that patients begin to feel improvement in their conditions immediately after the first session.
People who practice Su Jok therapy claim it is easier to learn than other forms of holistic treatment, such as acupuncture. Typically, a practitioner will start out by applying constant pressure to her patient’s hands and feet. While doing this, she will continually observe the patient. When she reaches a specific area on a hand or foot where her patient shows tenderness or pain, she will have found the source of illness of the patient. For example, if the patient winces or flinches when the practitioner applies pressure to a specific area on the patient’s hand, she can then check that area against the corresponding map to see what organ is affected by illness.
Once the ailing organ has been discovered, the practitioner may engage in other treatment plans. For example, she may apply acupuncture needles, magnets, or color rings to the person’s body. Many practitioners will recommend that the patient undergo a massage of her hands and feet as well, which can be done by hand or through the use of rollers or other massage accessories.
