Deep from the files of Korean medicine comes an intriguing hands-on treatment called “Koryo Hand Therapy.”

Koryo Hand Therapy (KHT) uses the main idea from acupuncture — placing pins in the skin at specific points — and applies it directly to the hand. It is performed to improve a person’s overall health or to treat a specific condition. KHT is gaining in popularity all around the globe, with training centers housed in 50 different countries, and counting.

Created by a Korean acupuncturist in the early 1970s, KHT uses theories from reflexology to heal a patient. In reflexology, a practitioner presses on specific points in the feet and hands — points that correspond to organs and systems in the body. The same principle applies in KHT.

Points all over your two hands provide direct links to places inside the body. By simply using your two hands, healing can be spread virtually anywhere. You need a qualified practitioner who knows exactly where these points are. If you look at your palm, and draw a straight line from the tip of your middle finger down to the base of your hand, there are 15 invisible points that directly correspond to points on the front of your body — a straight line from the tip of your head to your pelvic area.

There isn’t a ton of Western research on the subject, but one study stands out. It addressed migraine headaches to see if KHT could remedy them without side effects. Researchers examined 100 people with migraine pain, looking for all tender points, tightness, and stiffness in the head. They also carefully took down each patient’s medical history. Then KHT was performed on their left hand, right hand, or both. They found it led to significant symptom relief, fewer migraines and no side effects to speak of.

KHT practitioners generally agree that their treatment is useful for improving many health complaints, including digestive problems, skin rashes (e.g. eczema, dermatitis, shingles), migraine, headache, diabetes, swelling, toothache, inflamed gums, and virtually any type of pain experienced in the body.

A brand new study has uncovered evidence that KHT appears to help minimize symptoms of menopause in women as well. Food for thought!

Tags: acupuncture, headaches, migraines