Self-Care Tips: Acupressure Points

Lung 1 (Central Palace or Zhong Fu) is a useful acupressure point, excellent for breathing problems, asthma, sore throat, and shoulder and upper back pain. It is known to clear the chest and emotions, and strengthen the lungs. First find the depression just below the outside end of your collarbone, then go about an inch below that depression onto the muscle (pectoralis major). It is usually tender on most people. Use your thumbs to hold this point while taking deep, slow breaths.

LI 4 (Joining Valley or He Gu) is a very powerful acupressure point. Do not use this point during pregnancy. Some of the many uses for Large Intestine 4 are: headache, toothache, pain, cough, sore throat, constipation, and delayed labor. It is found on the hand, in the middle of the second metacarpal bone, on the radial side. That means the edge of the hand bone to which your index finger attaches, about halfway between your finger and your wrist.

LI 20 (Welcome Fragrance or Ying Xiang) is an excellent point for nasal congestion. Press this point on both sides while trying to breathe deeply through your nose to relieve congestion due to allergies, colds, and sinus problems. Large Intestine 20 is located at the outside corners of the nostrils.

ST 36 (Leg Three Miles or Zu San Li) is a wonderful acupressure point for nausea, dizziness, and bringing strength to the legs. It is located about four fingers-width below the kneecap on the outside edge of the shin bone (tibia).

Press this point on both legs with your fingers, or use your knuckles to create some friction in the area around the point.

SP 6 (Three Yin Meeting or San Yin Jiao) is a great point for menstrual problems, as well as digestive disorders, headache, dizziness, and insomnia. This point should not be used during pregnancy.

Spleen 6 is located four finger-widths above the medial maleolus (the round bone protruding on the inside of the ankle), and right behind the leg bone (tibia).

HT 7 (Spirit Gate or Shen Men) has a wide variety of uses, including the treatment of irritability, headache, palpitation, amnesia, insomnia, and epilepsy. It is located on the inside of the wrist crease, just to the inside of the tendon on the little finger side.