Su-jok therapy: principle of action, implementation at home, massagers

Sujok therapy is an original way to work on reflex points of the hands and feet, allowing you to restore body functions, prevent the development of serious diseases and provide emergency assistance to a person whose health is at risk. Our contemporaries are increasingly turning to this eastern technique, trying to get rid of chronic illnesses, pain, depression, neuroses or banal fatigue.

The author of the method is a professor from South Korea, Park Jae Woo, who tried to bring together ancient Chinese and Tibetan techniques. What came out of this - judge for yourself.

Operating principle

“Brush-Foot” is the translation of the name of the popular procedure. Why are these particular parts of the body chosen for therapeutic massage? The structure of the hand and foot surprisingly resembles our body, and the sensory endings located here in large numbers have connections with all internal organs. Anyone with knowledge of basic anatomy can easily find the zones of correspondence identified by the Su-Jok technique. By influencing them, we send a sensitive impulse to the brain, indicating the presence of a problem, receiving in response a command to restore and regulate the functions of the diseased organ.

In addition, according to the canons of Eastern medicine, a person’s quality of life depends on the balance of Qi energy circulating in the body through a network of meridians that open on the surface in the form of sensitive points. The most significant of them are on the hands and feet. They are considered by the su-jok technique. By stimulating these endings, we harmonize energy flows, clear the paths for their passage, providing the basic conditions for maintaining health.

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Purpose and prohibitions

The breadth of indications for su-jok massage is surprising. It is prescribed both for mild ailments or colds, and for such serious chronic diseases as:

angina pectoris;
diabetes;
osteochondrosis;
hypertension;
intracranial pressure;
vascular spasms;
arthrosis;

Left: damaged hand joints. Right: healthy hand joints.
gastrointestinal pathologies;
bronchial asthma;
pneumonia;
neuralgia;
stroke;
paresis or paralysis;
plexitis;
disturbances of vision, hearing, taste perception;
stuttering;
abnormalities in the functioning of the genitourinary organs.

Su-jok successfully fights bad habits: craving for smoking, alcohol and drug addiction.

Massage effectively relieves shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, stops palpitations and panic attacks, stops hair loss, reduces high blood pressure, and allows you to quickly lose weight. The procedure is used in psychotherapy to treat emotional overstrain, stress, and depression. Su-jok becomes an indispensable tool during the rehabilitation of patients after injuries and operations; it quickly restores the body in case of physical fatigue, insomnia or impaired adaptive functions.

The technique is considered an effective means of developing mental abilities, fine motor skills and speech of preschoolers. Therefore, many teachers and parents actively use elements of therapy during speech therapy sessions with a child, unobtrusively weaving them into interactive games or exciting gymnastics.

Like other therapeutic methods, su-jok therapy has a number of contraindications. This:

oncology;
varicose veins;
increased body temperature;
acute inflammatory or infectious diseases;
fungal skin infection;
warts, moles, nevi located in the affected area;
tuberculosis;
purulent processes in soft tissues;
severe damage to bones and joints, accompanied by swelling.

Massage should be used with caution on young children, people over 70 years old, and those who are emotionally unbalanced. It is also better for pregnant women to refuse the procedure, since the reflex effect on the reproductive organs can greatly harm the fetus.

Application of Su-Jok therapy in the correction of speech disorders in children

"A child's mind is at his fingertips"

Vasily Alexandrovich Sukhomlinsky

"Fingers help you speak"

Maria Montessori

The key to a child’s assimilation of program requirements in a preschool institution is his well-developed speech. The richer and more correct a child’s speech, the easier it is for him to express his thoughts, the wider his opportunities for understanding the surrounding reality, the more meaningful and fulfilling his relationships with peers and adults, the more active his mental development is.

Our brain is structured in such a way that separate centers are responsible for certain operations. So, the brain centers responsible for the development of speech (Broca's Center - responsible for speech reproduction, Wernicke's Area - is involved in the process of assimilation and understanding of oral and written speech/information) and fine motor skills of the hand are located very close and closely interact with each other. By developing fine motor skills of the hands, we activate these parts of the brain and neighboring ones. And the neighboring ones are precisely responsible for the development of speech. Consequently, hand motor skills and the level of speech development are directly dependent on each other.

The relationship between fine motor skills and speech has been studied and confirmed by the research of many major scientists, such as Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, Alexey Nikolaevich Leontyev, Alexander Romanovich Luria, who noted that the development of a child’s verbal speech begins when the movements of the fingers reach sufficient subtlety. The development of finger motor skills, as it were, prepares the ground for the subsequent formation of speech.

Marionilla Maksimovna Koltsova established that the level of speech development is directly dependent on the degree of formation of fine movements of the fingers: if the development of finger movements corresponds to the age of the child, then his speech development will be within normal limits; if the development of finger movements lags behind, the development of speech is also delayed.

Nowadays, there are a large number of innovative techniques and technologies that turn the learning process into an exciting game. One of these unconventional technologies is Su-Jok therapy. Which today I want to tell you in more detail.

The founder of this interesting approach to therapy was a professor from South Korea, Park Jae Woo. Su-Jok therapy (“su” - hand, “jok” - foot) is a method of influencing biologically active points located on the hands and feet, which correspond to all organs and areas of the body. By correctly identifying the necessary points, you can develop the child’s speech sphere.

It is important that the incorrect use of this technology will not cause any harm to the child’s body. It simply won't give the desired result.

The use of Su-Jok massagers during correctional work allows you to normalize muscle tone, stimulate speech areas in the cerebral cortex, help reduce motor and emotional disinhibition, improve spatial orientation skills, develop memory and attention.

Su-Jok massagers are special plastic balls, inside of which there are two rings made of metal wire, which can be easily stretched and freely passed down and up the finger.

There is also a stick or rod and a ring (hand massager).

Since there are a large number of biologically active points in the palm of your hand, massage with a ball is an effective way to stimulate them. Children repeat words and perform actions with the ball in accordance with the text.

Spring rings are put on the child’s finger and rolled over it, massaging each finger until it turns red and feels warm, reciting a poem.

The peculiarities of using a Su-Jok massager are that it increases interest in the activity, which is necessary for preschoolers, who are characterized by rapid fatigue and loss of interest in learning; has a beneficial effect on fine motor skills of the fingers, thereby developing speech. Simultaneously with the massage, which develops fine motor skills, you can automate the sound in speech. Also, good results can be achieved by using Su-Jok massagers in the process of improving the lexical and grammatical structure of speech.

A large number of exercises have been developed that can be performed with a Su-Jok massager: holding each hand on the outstretched palm; on the outstretched palm of the ball, pressed from above with the palm of the right hand, and vice versa; squeezing and unclenching a ball in a fist; pressing the fingers on the needles of the ball of each hand; rolling the ball between the palms; rolling the ball from the fingertips to the base of the palm; rolling the ring over each finger of both hands.

Su-Jok therapy technology is carried out in three stages. The first stage is the stage of familiarization with the Su-Jok massager and the rules for its use.

The second stage is consolidation of working techniques in games and exercises for speech development.

And, the last stage is the independent use of the massager in the game.

Su-jok therapy is recommended to be used from early preschool age, preparing hand motor skills for subsequent complication of classes.

The advantages of Su-Jok therapy are:

High efficiency - when used correctly, a pronounced effect occurs.
Absolutely safe - incorrect use never causes harm - it is simply ineffective.
Versatility - Su-Jok therapy can be used by both teachers in their work and parents at home.
Ease of use - to obtain results, it is necessary to stimulate biologically active points using Su-Jok balls (they are freely sold and do not require large expenses).
Availability for any age - they are freely sold and do not require large expenses.

Rules of application

The impact should be pleasant and not cause a negative reaction in the child.
The massage is carried out until the skin appears slightly pink and feels warm.
Such classes can be carried out if the child feels well and does not have a fever, rash or other manifestations of skin or infectious diseases.
You cannot leave the elastic ring on your fingers in one position for a long time, so as not to disrupt the blood supply.
Avoid intense movements so as not to injure the baby's skin.

Thus, Su-Jok therapy is a highly effective, universal, accessible and absolutely safe method of developing fine motor skills and speech by influencing active points located on the hands with special massage balls, the use of which in combination with exercises for correcting sound pronunciation and developing vocabulary - grammatical categories helps to increase the physical and mental performance of children, creates a functional basis for a relatively quick transition to a higher level of motor muscle activity and the opportunity for optimal targeted speech work with the child, providing a stimulating effect on speech development.

Korean medicine: selection of massage areas

It is no coincidence that the human hand is considered the main object of su-jok therapy. After all, it is a reduced model of our body.

The central palmar zone corresponding to the body is also highlighted here, the head area is projected onto the thumb, the hands are projected onto the index and little fingers, and the legs are projected onto the middle and ring fingers.
The thumb, like the head, dominates the rest, the “legs” fall lowest, and the “hands” are located at the middle level.
The thumb, like the upper protruding part of the body, has only two segments that correspond to the head and neck. The remaining fingers have three components in their structure, which corresponds to the structure of the arms (shoulder, forearm, hand) and legs (thigh, lower leg, foot).
If we talk about functional significance, then the thumb plays a major role. After all, without it, the full functioning of the hand, grasping and holding objects becomes impossible.

To determine the object of massage, Su Jok therapy specialists also often use the insect system. According to its canons, each finger is the embodiment of our body in miniature. In the nail phalanx there are areas corresponding to the head and neck, the middle one is responsible for the chest and arms, the lower one is responsible for the stomach and legs.

The structure of the foot also shows a clear resemblance to the human body. It is not for nothing that nature has located especially important reflex zones here. Their natural stimulation when walking helps maintain health. Horace also said: “If you don’t run while you’re healthy, you’ll have to run when you’re sick.” The required points are found using the same matching features as on the brush. The only difference is that the first finger is adjacent to the rest, the phalanges are miniature in size, and the foot is much longer and narrower than the palm.

Therapy for the elderly

According to Eastern philosophy, the body of an elderly person is dominated by cold energy. It personifies the completion of activity, a state of rest, withering, compression, and therefore brings with it weakness, lethargy, illness, inhibits physiological functions, and reduces motor activity.

Su-jok therapy increases the energy level of heat and sun, and, as if turning back the years, gives strength, vigor, well-being, and allows you to fight many “age-related” problems:

For high blood pressure, headaches, nausea and vomiting, stimulating the Bai Hui point on the top of the thumb can help. Punctures in this area are considered the best prevention of stroke.
Massaging the lower third of the muscle roll, located under the thumbs of both hands, relieves pain in the heart.
With bradycardia, the points responsible for the work of the heart are worked clockwise, with tachycardia - in the opposite direction.
Fatigue, weakness and drowsiness can be overcome by rubbing the nail plates one at a time.
Massaging the middle joints of the third and fourth fingers and toes helps increase the mobility of worn joints.
Tapping your fingertips against each other helps improve vision and get rid of eye diseases.

Such simple techniques help stop the aging of the entire body, stimulate brain function, strengthen the immune system, and give activity.

Contraindications

Despite the large number of positive aspects and safety of su jok, this practice also has contraindications:

Early pregnancy.
Tendency to excite the nervous system.
Blood diseases.
Respiratory dysfunction.
Cardiac dysfunction.
Rheumatism.
The presence of malignant or benign neoplasms.

Sujok therapy is a safe practice because it was not invented by man, and its essence is to activate natural processes in the body.

Good to know! It is best to practice su jok in parallel with taking other measures to combat excess weight - increasing physical activity and following suitable diets, which will allow you to achieve maximum results.

Sujok for weight loss

Against the backdrop of new methods of gaining harmony, Su-Jok finger therapy seems too simple and even banal. In fact, it is a surprisingly effective procedure. Observations of those losing weight using the Korean system showed that in a month and a half, patients lose about 20 kilograms of excess weight. It's all about an integrated approach to the weight loss process. With the help of Su-Jok therapy it is possible to:

Speed up metabolism - to do this, just massage the area in the palm of your hand corresponding to the endocrine glands, as well as the stomach and esophagus. This is often done using grains of rice, buckwheat or apple seeds, gluing them with a band-aid to the inner or back surface of the palm for a day or more.
Cleanse the intestines of waste and toxins, manually or using massagers, stimulating the areas corresponding to the large intestine, indicated in the photo.
Read also: Breathe freely, or how to deal with nasal congestion
Take control of the feeling of hunger by pressing on the areas associated with the navel or pituitary gland.

Left: Brush matching system. Right: insect system.
Improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines by working clockwise on the Lau Gong point, located in the center of the palm.

By combining massage of these and similar areas using the su-jok system with a strict diet, we trigger physiological processes in the body that are necessary for losing weight, improving mood and well-being.

Thematic material

Segmental reflex massage
Chinese acupressure foot massage

Pros and cons of su jok

Giving preference to the Su Jok technique, the question arises as to what its advantages and disadvantages are. Any method for losing weight has its pros and cons, let's talk about them. Sujok for weight loss is characterized by many advantages, among them we highlight:

Complete safety when using. Its safety is confirmed by the fact that the technique was developed by a person through personal experience. Therapy allows you to quickly achieve the desired results due to the characteristics that were inherent in us by nature. If you apply the technique incorrectly, without following the recommendations for the level of impact on the points, the body will not receive anything bad. Just therapy will not give the desired weight loss results;
Availability. It is carried out at home and does not require preparation or spending money on specialists. It is enough just to understand the essence of what is happening once and apply its methods in any situation;
Efficiency and speed of action. If you carry out the technique correctly, focusing on all the features of its implementation, you can achieve changes in just a few minutes. Of course, a minute after the procedure, a person does not lose kilograms, but feels light in the stomach, squeezing sensations disappear, and an increase in energy is observed;
Versatility of therapy. Su Jok is effective not only in losing weight, but also in the fight against various diseases. It is best to use the technique for those diseases that provoke weight gain;
No need to spend money on specialized centers. You can even learn the technique from a video.

The method has no disadvantages. Even if it is not used correctly, Su Jok therapy for weight loss does not cause side effects or cause discomfort.

Instructions for performing massage at home

Along with high effectiveness, the advantages of Su Jok therapy include absolute safety, accessibility and ease of implementation. All together, this makes it possible to carry out Korean acupressure at home yourself.

The principle of finding the right point

To prevent the session from being useless, it is important to correctly determine the area of influence. In addition to the correspondence zones, special auxiliary lines serve as landmarks:

Symmetry: in the palm it starts between the middle and ring fingers, goes to the wrist joint, and from there turns to the pad of the thumb. There are two lines on the foot. The first runs down the center of the big toe and ends at the base of the metatarsal bone. The second divides the sole in half, starting between the third and fourth toes and heading towards the center of the heel. The zones corresponding to the lower extremities are located closest to the axes of symmetry, and at some distance to the upper extremities. The thumbs and toes are responsible for the head and organs in its area.
The diaphragm, which separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. There are also two correspondence zones on the surface of the hands and feet. On the palm, the area of the diaphragm coincides with the line of life, on its back side it is located at the border of the first metacarpal bone. On the sole, the line follows the contour of the metatarsus, on the back side it coincides with the outlines of the non-phalangeal joint of the big toe.
Yin-yang surfaces: all internal (yin) zones are projected onto the palm and sole, and external (yang) zones are projected onto the backs of the hands and feet.

Using known landmarks, it is not difficult to find the point of interest to us. To do this you need to proceed according to the following scheme:

Determine the area corresponding to the problem organ on the hand or foot.
Choose a yin or yang projection.
Narrow the search area relative to the aperture line and symmetry.

To find a specific point, novice massage therapists use a special atlas, which clearly shows all possible zones of correspondence.

The technique provides different ways to influence active points: massage, acupuncture, cauterization, even biting with teeth. But at home, they most often resort to manual techniques, combining techniques:

pressure;
pinching;
friction;
vibrations;
circular or longitudinal massage.

Pain, burning, pulsation, numbness will indicate that the point has been found correctly. While working on the problem area, the unpleasant sensations will weaken and then disappear altogether. It is not difficult to master basic methods of influence: a series of video lessons allows you to undergo distance learning under the guidance of a therapist, member of the international su-jok association Tatyana Evgenievna Sokolova.

Training video

In the life of every person, sometimes health problems arise that require emergency care. Su-jok therapy is precisely the remedy that will alleviate the patient’s condition while waiting for a doctor, stop a painful attack and prevent the development of complications. Korean massage techniques are great for:

Headache: pressing on the painful point located on the top of the distal phalanx of the thumb, gets rid of unpleasant sensations in the forehead. Pain in the temples is relieved by stimulating the areas at the upper edges of the nail plate. And spasms in the back of the head are removed by massaging the center of the thumb pad. The video tutorial will tell you more about the techniques.
Toothache: step by step, walking around the nail plate of the thumb, feel the most sensitive place and stimulate it for 1-2 minutes. In this way, you can even numb your mouth before going to the dentist. Watch the video for details on how to perform the technique.
Radiculitis: back pain is relieved by massaging each finger with a spring ring, exerting, according to the “insect” correspondence system, a reflex effect on the spinal area. Another method is seed therapy - placing seeds of medicinal plants for several hours at painful points in the area corresponding to the spine on the hands and feet.
Pain in the heart: apply pressure for a minute on painful points in the area of the muscle ridges located under the thumbs.

Do not forget that these techniques are just a method of prevention or first aid. Massage should not replace the main treatment prescribed by the doctor.

Tools and techniques for losing weight

When conducting Su Jok therapy, it is possible to use a variety of instruments: probes, magnets, acupuncture needles, magnetic balls and arrows, natural stones, massagers, etc. In Su Jok therapy, there are various methods for losing weight:

Acupuncture. A very effective method. But only an experienced and qualified specialist can carry out such procedures. Otherwise, serious problems may arise.
Use of magnetic balls with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 cm. Can be used at home. Using an adhesive plaster, such balls are fixed in the area of the previously listed points for a period of 30 minutes to 2 weeks. From 1 to 10 such balls can be used at the same time.
Massaging active points. The procedure can be carried out not only with the help of fingers, but also with nails, special probes, toothpicks, natural stones, matches, and Su Jok tools. Massaging each zone lasts up to 3 minutes (until a pleasant feeling of warmth appears).
Magnetic therapy is a fairly effective method. You won't be able to use it yourself. Various magnets and magnetic needles are used for procedures. The poles of these auxiliary tools must be correctly oriented. You can't do this without a specialist.
Color therapy. Each organ in the human body is subject to the influence of a certain color: the small intestine - red, the stomach - yellow, the large intestine - white and brown, etc. The procedures are carried out by painting the active points with the corresponding colors or using applications made of colored paper.
Plant applications. To reduce weight, plants and their parts (fruits, seeds, leaves, petals, etc.) are most often used. They are fixed on active points for 3 days, repeating the procedure until the desired effect is obtained.

Seeds promote weight loss:

buckwheat;
rice;
apple;
millet;
flax;
grapes

Su-jok massagers

A set of special massagers will help you conduct a professional su-jok therapy session yourself. The kit includes a small, about 4 centimeters in diameter, plastic ball covered with spikes. Having unscrewed it, you will find inside two rings made of an elastic steel or copper spring.

All these simple items are used during the procedure:

The ball is rolled with the palms or soles and clenched in a fist. At this moment, the thorns have a stimulating effect on reflex points, relieving fatigue, swelling, improving well-being and mood.
The ring is put on each finger in turn and moved up and down, especially carefully working on the painful areas. As the lymph flow flows, the ring is rolled with force, and in the opposite direction the pressure is released. It is not recommended to leave the ring on your finger without moving. Contraindications to the use of a finger massager are inflammatory or purulent processes, as well as blood diseases.

You can learn more about the technique of using su-jok balls and rings by watching the instructional video or reading the attached memo describing the basic exercises.

The massagers are available in six colors, each of which symbolizes a specific energy:

green (wind) – it controls the work of the liver and bile ducts;
red (warmth) – regulates the functions of the heart, intestines and the circulation of fluids in the body;
orange (heat) – affects the brain, spinal cord and pituitary gland;
yellow (humidity) – responsible for the spleen and pancreas;
white (dryness) – controls the functioning of the colon;
black (cold) – associated with the activity of the urinary tract, supports the skeletal system.

Color therapy allows you to replenish the deficiency of one or another energy in the human body and establish the balance of the six elements, which is so necessary for health.

There are other variants of the classic su-jok massager: a ball with a built-in magnet that has a soft relaxing effect, spiral sticks for the feet, special stars for working out reflex zones. Traditionally, during massage it is customary to use needles, probes, sharpened sticks, pebbles, magnets, seeds, fruits and plant branches.

Prices in showrooms

Most often, su-jok massage is prescribed for neurological problems, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, injuries, emotional or physical fatigue. Therefore, it is important that assistance in these situations is provided by a qualified massage therapist. You need to look for this in a specialized clinic or specialized medical institution. Salons in Moscow and St. Petersburg offer several options for su-jok therapy: acupressure, acupuncture, laser puncture and even auriculotherapy (working out the reflex areas of the ear). Prices range from 1000 to 3000 rubles per session. The full course includes 7–10 procedures.

When creating the human body, nature put into it great powers that can resist diseases and independently restore damaged organs and systems. Su-jok helps to put them into action: by pressing on the reflex zones of the hands and feet, as if on computer keys, we create a special program that ensures health, activity and good mood for life.

Mechanism of action of therapy

The direction of sujok therapy came to us from China. There, the technique received its first positive results and allowed us to get rid of not only certain diseases, but also excess weight. Since then, su jok has often been used to improve metabolic processes and accelerate weight loss.

If the technique is performed correctly, the following mechanism of action is observed:

The feeling of hunger is suppressed;
Metabolic processes are restored;
The psycho-emotional state is normalized;
The functioning of organs and systems is stabilized;
Toxins and waste are removed from the body.
Weight loss occurs.

By combining this technique with sports and proper nutrition, you can easily get rid of extra pounds that do not leave for a long time. The main problem of fat people is the lack of a sense of proportion when consuming food. Stimulation of acupuncture points will eliminate this deficiency, control appetite and speed up the weight loss process several times.