Acupressure Points For Self-Care
Emotions, Physical pain or tension, and energy are but a few things that can be treated with acupressure. Here are some points that work for me. Thanks to Bridget Allison Acupuncture for your guidance and incredible knowledge in this area.
As Spring bursts forth, energy wants to move
Treatment for Thoracic Back Pain
This point works locally at the site of pain by binding with the muscle tissue. This increases blood flow, relaxes muscle fibres and invites helpful chemical mediators required for enhanced healing.
This point also signals to the brain to release natural opioids (not the pharmaceutical ones!) activating your body’s own pain relief (yes your body has one!)
This is why you feel so relaxed and dreamy after acupuncture treatment.
The points used here are local ‘ashi points’ (sore spots) combined with kid B and BI 60 ( the points on the ankles)
These points regulate the channels that run up the back clearing stagnation and supporting weaknesses.
So for back pain, try squeezing and rubbing each side of your achilles.
YIN TANG
One of my favourite points YIN TANG. Ascribed to many cultures as the third eye, it is beautifully simple and intuitive.
Massaging towards the forehead with your thumb over yin tang will calm the mind and help with conditions such as anxiety and insomnia.
A wonderful acupressure point to do on yourself or loved ones before sleep or in times of unease or agitation.
Who is Feeling Anxious?
Uncertainty times and inability to do our usual routines will lead to increased anxiety.
This point HT7 (Heart 7) is one of my favourites. It’s wonderful for that anxiety that gets stuck in your chest, stops you breathing deep, and occasionally causes palpitations.
You locate HT 7 by squeezing your hand into a fist and causing an indent at the base of the styloid process (that bony bit being pointed to in the photo below.)
Get your thumb in and massage all around this area towards the hand, this will smooth the hearts energy and help you breath deep again.
'I'm really emotional'
When did this become a negative sentence?
I am a very emotional person. I feel enormous joy, and I find it very cathartic to curl up with someone I trust and have a good sob (oh hey there PMS).
When these emotions come up I feel them, work with them and then let them pass. I am unapologetic about it because emotions are beautiful, they are how we connect with the world.
But sometimes emotions can become overwhelming. In these times acupressure point LIV (Liver) 3 is your best friend.
In Chinese medicine, the Liver governs the balance of emotions and LIV 3 is the powerhouse point of the Liver.
It is located an inch above the web between your big and second toe (the love heart in the drawing).
Press hard enough to feel a slight ache and massage away from the body towards the toes until you feel a sense of calm. A daily massage of LIV 3 will help curve emotional extremes.
Brilliant for many conditions such as PMS, headaches, irritability, anxiety, insomnia.
Also great to do for someone else, if you’re ok with feet that is!