3 Acupressure Points to Relieve Stress

If you’ve ever found yourself rubbing your temples after receiving a particularly alarming email, then you might be more familiar with acupressure than you realise.

A Chinese Medicine practice that’s essentially acupuncture without the needles, acupressure taps into the Qi, or life force that runs through us. Acupressure points are areas situated all over the body where the energy has accumulated and is more easily accessible. These pressure points can be found where the blood, nerve, lymph and connective tissue meet within the body and the idea is that by tapping into them (quite literally) and stimulating them, you can relieve yourself of myriad afflictions including poor sleep, bowel issues and stress in order to reset the balance and restore the flow of your energy within. Familiarise yourself with 3 of our favourites below and keep them in your wellbeing kit to use as and when required.

Taiyang: to relieve stress and calm the mind

Place the pads of your first and middle fingers on your temples. Rub in a gentle circular motion whilst slowly and deeply breathing in and out. Do this for 10 breaths before letting your fingers rest on your temples. Hold the point for 2 more breaths and release.

Spleen 6: to aid better sleep

If you’re one of the two thirds of UK adults who don’t get the required amount of sleep each night, this one’s for you. Sit down in a calm and quiet place. Fold one leg inwards towards your groin and position the other so that it’s bent at the knee with your foot firmly on the floor. Find the point around 3 inches above the inside of your ankle, between your shinbone and the back of the calf, and gently rub. As you do so, take 10 deep long breaths. Once done, switch to the other side and repeat.

Pericardium 6: to ease irritability and promote restful sleep

This pressure point can be found in between the two tendons that run down your wrist towards your elbow. The precise spot is about 2 thumbs’ width down from your wrist crease, moving away from your hand. Once you’ve found it, place your thumb over the point and gently press while breathing deeply for 10 breaths or the equivalent of about 30 seconds. Gently release and repeat on the other side.