Marma, Varma and Acupressure methods - Aadhibhauthikam

Aadhibhauthikam - To cure the sorrows caused by our own body and mind which is made of the 5 elements and are influenced by the five elements.

Acupuncture and Acupressure Are Chinese methods 
Marma is part of Ayurveda in Sanskrit 
Varma is part of Sidha in Tamil

Similarities

1.     All the three systems are vital body energy based.

2.     All of them use energy points as the base.

3.   All of them use the five elements (pancha bhootha) concept for identification and treatment methods.

4.    All the three systems use external pressure and other ways to treat the points.

5.   All of them say that blocks in the energy points affect the internal organ and cause diseases in the body.

6.    All the three systems are non internal medicine based systems, but suggest medicines as per the need.

7.  For each energy point they use naming convention and identification methods.

8.      All of them use the naadi (hand) observation for diagnosis.

9.   All the three systems divide the body to group the points. For example – hands, legs etc.

1.    All the three systems mainly use fingers to treat the patient.

Differences

Topic	Marmas	Varmas	Acupressure
1. Number of points	Total 107 points	Total 108 points	Total 360 points
2. Medical system	Part of Ayurveda	Unique and is used Partially in  Siddha	Unique Chinese treatment method
3. Documentation	In Sharira sthanaani of Sushrutha samhitha	More than 120 manuscript groups are available till today	Chinese documentation is followed, but they don’t have suthras the way marmas and varmas have.
4. Information about the points	Only location is given	Tells about length, width and depth of the points	Only location is given
5. Nadis and the points	Nadis are dealt as a part of ayurveda	For each point connected nadi details are clearly given.	Nadis are called as meridian and the meridians are named based on the internal organs. There are 12 meridians used.
6. Vitality of the points	Mainly says vitality in terms of when the death can occur. Also tells which internal parts are affected.	Says vitality in terms of which internal parts are affected.	Says vitality in terms of which internal parts are affected.
7. Classification of points	107 points are classified as - in hands – 22, legs – 22, stomach – 12, back – 14,  above chest - 37	108 points are classified as padu varmam/primary points – 12, thodu varmam/secondary points - 96	Hands to chest– 125 points, legs to head – 184 points, central meridian front – 24, back – 27
8. Diagnisis	Nadi pariksha is used based on vata, pitha and kapha. prakrithi and vikrithi diagnosis is done.	Same as marma	Both hands nadis are used based on the five elements and 12 organs diagnosis is done.
9. Treatment methods	Treatment methods are part of ayurveda like hand massage, medicated oil massage etc.	For the specific problem based on the point and body type pressure measurement and application methods specified.	Needles are used in acupuncture and application of pressure is used for all the points in acupressure.
10.          Application	Methods of massage and pressure are specified based on the body type of the person.	There are 12 types of application methods and 4 types of pressure.	Standard pressure is used in all the points.

The major conflict found was , Marma says the points should never be pierced. But Acupuncture treatment is done with piercing the points only.