Denis, welcome to thebestofOswestry interview.  

1. You've been a practising healer for some year Denis - how would you outline your journey from the approaches you started with to where you are now?

Although over the years I have trained in various healing modalities - Massage, Acupressure, EFT, Applied Kinesiology - I always had a certain awareness of energies and always had a natural healing ability.  Where I am now is that over the 30 + years I have been practicing I have brought together the natural abilities and training into a coherent whole.

2. So is Acupressure a new approach to an ancient system?

Yes and No, Many ancient practices continue today - Shiatsu is a direct descendant of Anma which in turn is a form of the oldest applications of Acupressure.  EFT and other 'Energy Psychology' therapies are new applications of Acupressure (or have they just been rediscovered!:-))

3. What kinds of symptoms and conditions respond particularly well to Acupressure?

Wow, thats a big list!  In my own experience I have had good results with: Pain, Spasms, Digestive disturbances, Frozen Shoulder, Sports performance, Insomnia, Phobias (of all sorts), Lack of confidence, Slow healing of wounds, Poor circulation, Period pain, PMT, Hicoughs, Neuralgia, Dental pain, Muscle weakness, Food intolerences, Behavioural problems in dogs, horses etc.  Co-ordination problems in Dogs, Horses and Humans...... and so on.

4. Would you have a short case example that could illustrate how Acupressure might provide relief to a patient?

There are many examples I could give, but this is a good one: An active man in his 40s came to see me with chronic lumbar back pain.  He had this pain for around 15 years since sustaining a rugby injury. We talked about the different types of treatment that I could give him and decided to try Seated Acupressure Massage.  This consisted of a 20 minute treatment on the meridians of the back, neck, arms and shoulders with him sitting on a special chair.  This is based on Anma a very ancient form of Acupressure. After the 20 minute treatment his pain had gone and has not returned since (over ten years).

5. It's a great book by the way!  Very clearly laid out and full of practical suggestions that anyone could do.  Why did you decide to write the book?

Several reasons.  I have thought for a long time that I should try and record some of what I have learnt and 'Acupressure the Essential Guide' is a start.  Also my wife Nicky and her friend Caroline had written a book in the same series 'Fatigue the Essential Guide' and I could see how a book on Acupressure could fit that format.  

6. If people wish to buy the book or want to find out more about acupressure treatments, where can they go?

'Acupressure the Essential Guide' is available from www.need2knowbooks.co.uk as a paperback, a large print edition or an e-book.  There is also a kindle version available from Need 2 Know Books or Amazon.co.uk.  The book is also available from many of the major online bookstores.  I give a lot of background information in the book, including types of Acupressure available today.  There is of course a lot on the internet.   I am available for treatments in Oswestry and always happy to talk to people about treatment options for humans, dogs and horses.  

I can be contacted by email: denis@spiritofdragonfly.co.uk phone or text: 07773225370.  I am developing a website very soon www.spiritofdragonfly.co.uk as well as a facebook page.  Last but not least I am on Twitter @DenisJevon where I tweet Acupressure tips and Haiku (Short poems) amongst other things.