Introduction
Sudden ear pain makes daily life difficult. It’s hard to find a pharmacy while you’re out, and if you don’t want to rely only on medication, acupressure on acupoints from traditional medicine is the answer. The area around the ear is densely packed with nerves, and stimulating the correct acupoints quickly relieves pain. By following the 5 acupoints and acupressure techniques introduced in this guide, you can effectively manage pain anywhere.
5 Effective Acupoints for Ear Pain
1. Qiangmen — SI19
Location: In front of the ear, located in front of the center of the tragus (the protruding part at the ear entrance). When you open your mouth, a depressed area appears in front of the ear—that depression is Qiangmen.
Effects: Particularly effective at relieving pain in the ear itself, tinnitus (ear ringing), and hearing loss. It also relieves tension in the muscles around the ear and improves temporomandibular joint pain.
Acupressure Method: 1) Open your mouth naturally to clearly identify the depression. 2) Press vertically with the first joint of your thumb. 3) Stimulate for 2-3 minutes by slowly making circular motions. 4) Repeat 3-4 times daily until pain is relieved.
2. Tianrong — SI17
Location: Below the ear, found at the lower end of the area behind the ear. It’s the depressed area directly below the angle of the jaw at the back of the ear.
Effects: Excellent at relieving overall ear pain, reducing lymph node swelling, and improving facial swelling. It also simultaneously relieves headaches and cervical spine pain.
Acupressure Method: 1) Slowly feel below the ear with your fingers to find the depressed area. 2) Gently press using your middle and ring fingers together. 3) Take deep breaths and repeat 5 times, holding for 30 seconds each. 4) It’s beneficial to stimulate morning and evening daily.
3. Eunmun — TE21
Location: Directly in front of the ear entrance, located at the boundary between the temple and the ear. When you open your mouth, you can feel slight movement in this area.
Effects: Besides ear pain, it quickly relieves migraines, facial neuralgia, and pain caused by temporomandibular joint disorder. It also alleviates stress-related tension.
Acupressure Method: 1) Find the correct location with your thumb. 2) Apply gentle vertical pressure and make small circular motions. 3) Perform the technique 5-6 times daily, 1-2 minutes each time. 4) Apply additional stimulation before bed if nighttime pain is severe.
4. Qingmei — GB2
Location: Upper edge of the ear, slightly above the temple area. It’s located near the line where the hairline meets the forehead.
Effects: Particularly effective for migraines and temporal pain, and is the best option when ear pain appears along with headaches. It also improves eye fatigue at the same time.
Acupressure Method: 1) Support the temples with the thumbs of both hands. 2) Slowly press the Qingmei acupoint with the remaining fingers. 3) Repeat for 3 minutes using a pattern of 10 seconds of pressure followed by 2 seconds of release. 4) Apply the technique immediately when pain flares up.
5. Ihuayao — TE22
Location: Directly below the ear entrance, located slightly below Eunmun (TE21). It’s a slightly recessed area in front of the ear.
Effects: Improves pain in the lower ear and tinnitus simultaneously. It also relieves facial muscle rigidity and helps relax facial muscles.
Acupressure Method: 1) Use your index and middle fingers together to accurately identify the location. 2) Slowly press and maintain deep pressure for 5 seconds. 3) Perform the technique 4-5 times daily, at least 30 minutes after eating. 4) Concentrated stimulation in the evening particularly improves nighttime pain.
5-Minute Self Routine
Times: 7 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM (3 times daily)
Steps: 1) Gently rub the entire ear for 10 seconds with warm hands to promote blood circulation. 2) Apply acupressure for 1 minute each in the order of Qiangmen (SI19) → Tianrong (SI17) → Eunmun (TE21). 3) Finish with Qingmei (GB2) and Ihuayao (TE22) for 1 minute each. 4) Finally, gently rub the entire ear to complete the routine. Total time required is 5-6 minutes.
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