Since time immemorial, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have played a significant role in human health care. CAM is known to have a strong reputation and reliability within every culture to provide basic health care treatment for patients. CAM acts as a better therapeutic option in human being for treating various diseases and improving quality of life with apt consideration to the economic aspects. Acupressure, one of the known CAM, originated in ancient China is based on the principal of acupoints activation across the meridians which correct the imbalance between Qi. Activation of specific points on the meridians is known to facilitate reduction of pain at the local sites. It also reduces the pain from other body parts. This review outlines various types, devices and mechanisms involved in the acupressure treatment.

Zinc oxide (ZnO)-polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite films were prepared by blade coating method by using pre-synthesized spherical ZnO nanoparticles of 15-20 nm size and pre-dissolved polycarbonate. The blend was homogenized by sonication and the films were dried in an oven at moderate temperature. Various films with different % loading of ZnO nanoparticles in PC were prepared and their effect on antibacterial properties was studied. It is observed that increasing wt-% loading of ZnO nanoparticles in PC leads to enhanced antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The freshly prepared ZnO nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy before their use in preparing nanocomposite films. Contact angle measurement of the films was studied to ascertain their hydrophobic behavior. Such nanocomposite films have potential in various packaging applications because of their effective antibacterial and UV-blocking properties and hydrophobic nature.

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