One acupoint fixes everything?

Gentle pressure can help you relax and ease minor everyday discomfort. Persistent, severe or unusual symptoms may have other causes and need a professional assessment.

What can acupressure do?

The best thing about acupressure is that it is simple and you can do it anytime. When your head feels tight and your shoulders stiff at the office, pressing Hegu, kneading your shoulders and taking a few deep breaths leaves many people feeling more relaxed. Pressing a few calming points before bed is also a small routine that helps you slow down.

Beyond easing minor discomfort, acupressure is a chance to notice your body. Where is it especially achy or tight? That can be a reminder that you have been sitting too long, are under stress or are short of sleep.

Why one point is not enough

You will often see claims online that "pressing this one point clears everything". TCM itself rarely relies on a single point. A practitioner chooses several points that work together for the person in front of them, and adjusts them as things change.

Take three popular points. Hegu (LI4) is traditionally used for everyday head and face discomfort, such as tension headaches. Neiguan (PC6) is often used to ease nausea and motion sickness. Zusanli (ST36) is used to support digestion and ease tiredness. Each has its own range, and none covers everything. Discomfort has many causes, too: a headache can come from poor sleep, eye strain, a stiff neck or another health issue, and one point may not reach the real cause.

How to press safely

Once you have found the point, use your thumb or fingertip and press or circle with enough pressure to feel achy, full and slightly sore but comfortable, for about one to two minutes per point. Slowing your breathing while you press helps.

A few reminders. Avoid broken, inflamed or bruised skin and varicose veins. Wait an hour after eating before pressing belly points such as Zhongwan and Qihai. Older adults, people with thin skin and people taking blood thinners should press very lightly to avoid bruising.

Safety first

Some points are avoided in pregnancy, such as LI4, SP6 and GB21. Read the cautions before you start.

Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Jianjing (GB21) are the ones to know. Every point page in PANguin lists pregnancy and other cautions, so take a few seconds to check. For more on each one, see the Related acupoints section below. Seek medical care promptly, rather than pressing points, for a sudden severe headache, chest pain or difficulty breathing, weakness in the limbs or slurred speech, a persistent fever, or any symptom that is persistent, severe or unusual.

A common misunderstanding: the more it hurts, the better it works?

Many people think acupressure only works if it really hurts, even to the point of bruising. Too much force can injure muscle and skin and make you tense up instead of relaxing. The sensation TCM looks for is an achy fullness, not sharp pain.

Gentle, regular pressing does more than the occasional hard session. If a spot hurts sharply when pressed, or the pain lingers, stop and talk to a healthcare professional.