5 Acupoints for Simultaneously Relieving Asthma and Jaw Pain: TCM Principles and Accurate Acupressure Techniques

Why Asthma and Jaw Pain Appear Together

The reason asthma and jaw pain appear together is clear from a TCM perspective. When the lungs lack vital energy (qi), breathing becomes shallow, which causes tension to accumulate in the neck, shoulders, and cervical spine. This tense cervical spine then compresses nerves leading to the temporomandibular joint, creating a vicious cycle of jaw pain.

Particularly when stressed, energy in the lungs and chest becomes stagnant, causing shallow breathing, while simultaneously creating muscular knots around the neck that worsen jaw pain. Therefore, to resolve these two symptoms, you must stimulate acupoints that strengthen lung function while relieving cervical tension.

5 Major Acupoints for Relieving Asthma and Jaw Pain

The following table organizes the locations, primary functions, and optimal stimulation times of 5 acupoints. Each acupoint shares the common goal of strengthening lung function and relieving cervical tension, while also playing distinct individual roles.

Location and Accurate Acupressure Techniques for Each Acupoint

1. Dazhui (大椎, GV14) – Fundamental Strengthening of Lung Yang Qi

How to Find the Location: Slightly tilt your head forward. At the junction of your neck and upper back, you’ll see the most prominent bone protruding—this is the 7th cervical vertebra. The depression just below it is the Dazhui acupoint. You can also think of it as the midpoint between the two shoulder blades.

Mechanism of Action: In TCM, Dazhui is called the “sea of yang qi.” It strengthens the essential energy of the lungs, fundamentally improving respiratory function and strengthening the immune system to reduce asthma recurrence. Simultaneously, it relieves tension in the neck and shoulders, addressing the root cause of jaw pain.

Acupressure Method:

1. Sit comfortably and slightly tilt your head forward.
2. Using both thumbs, locate the Dazhui acupoint and slowly press downward in a deliberate manner.
3. Perform 10 presses per set for 3 sets, maintaining comfortable pressure without pain.
4. Repeat 2-3 times daily (morning, evening, and midday if needed).

Expected Timeline: With regular stimulation, you can expect to see improved breathing depth within 2-3 weeks, and reduced asthma recurrence frequency within 4-6 weeks.

2. Tanzhong (膻中, CV17) – Central Regulation of Heart and Lung Function

How to Find the Location: Tanzhong is located at the midpoint of an imaginary line connecting both nipples. For women, it’s easy to locate using the bra band line as a reference point. It’s positioned at the 4th intercostal space of the sternum.

Mechanism of Action: Tanzhong is called the “reservoir of qi” and directly regulates the function of the lungs and heart. During an asthma attack, it normalizes the flow of qi entering the lungs, stabilizing breathing. It’s particularly effective for relieving chest tightness and stress-induced jaw pain.

Acupressure Method:

1. Sit comfortably or lie down and breathe deeply.
2. Place your index, middle, and ring fingers together on the Tanzhong acupoint.
3. Press downward slowly at a rate of approximately one press per second.
4. Perform 30 seconds of stimulation, repeat 5 times, 3-4 times daily.
5. When combined with deep diaphragmatic breathing, the effect more than doubles.

Cautions: Avoid pressing too deeply, as this may stimulate the ribs or thoracic organs. Always stay within a comfortable pressure range. If you have any heart-related conditions, consult with a doctor before proceeding.

3. Chize (尺澤, LU5) – Removing Lung Heat and Acute Asthma Relief

How to Find the Location: Extend your arm with the inside of your elbow facing upward. The acupoint is located on the crease of the elbow, on the thumb side (outside of the biceps tendon). It’s at the deepest depression along the inside of the elbow.

Mechanism of Action: Chize is a critical point on the lung meridian that rapidly removes excess heat accumulated in the lungs. It serves as an “emergency acupoint,” quickly suppressing coughs and normalizing breathing during asthma attacks. As lung heat decreases, overall body tension also relaxes, improving jaw pain as well.

Acupressure Method:

1. Extend one arm with the inside of your elbow facing upward.
2. Use the thumb of the opposite hand to locate the Chize acupoint.
3. Stimulate with a slow circular rubbing motion for 20-30 repetitions.
4. Spend 1 minute per arm, applying to both arms.
5. When asthma symptoms are severe, you can stimulate this point frequently throughout the day.

Emergency Use: When experiencing acute breathing difficulty during an asthma attack, continuous stimulation of Chize can stabilize breathing within 15-30 seconds. However, this is only emergency relief and does not replace medical care at a healthcare facility.

4. Quepen (缺盆, ST12) – Resolving Direct Cervical Tension

How to Find the Location: Find the depression above the collarbone. In the area where the neck and shoulder meet, locate the depression approximately 3 finger-widths (about 4 centimeters) outward from the midline. Identify this point on both sides.

Mechanism of Action: Quepen directly relieves cervical tension, the most immediate cause of jaw pain. Simultaneously, it serves as a pathway for qi to reach the lungs, enabling deeper breathing and improving asthma symptoms. It’s most effective at breaking the vicious cycle of stress-induced cervical rigidity and resulting jaw pain.

Acupressure Method:

1. Sit comfortably and slightly tilt your head forward.
2. Use four fingers to locate the depression of the Quepen acupoint.
3. Gently press upward with your thumb in a deliberate manner.
4. Perform 10 presses per side for 3 sets, without forcing excessive pressure.
5. Apply 2-3 times daily, especially when experiencing breathing difficulty or jaw pain.

Cautions: Quepen is an area with many nerves and blood vessels. Avoid excessive stimulation or sharp pressure, and always use gentle pressure. If you experience dizziness or arm numbness, stop immediately.

5. Zhiyang (至陽, GV9) – Fundamental Improvement of Whole-Body Qi and Blood Circulation

How to Find the Location: Cross your arms over your chest. The bone in the center of your back becomes more prominent—this is the 7th thoracic vertebra. The depression below this bone is the Zhiyang acupoint. It’s located on the midline of the back, at approximately the same height as the middle of your shoulder blades.

Mechanism of Action: Zhiyang is known as “the location where yang qi is strongest.” It strengthens the function of the lungs and bronchi, helping with fundamental improvement of asthma. By promoting spinal health and facilitating smooth whole-body qi and blood circulation, it simultaneously alleviates jaw pain and other chronic whole-body pain.

Acupressure Method:

1. Sit comfortably or lie down.
2. Place both thumbs on the Zhiyang acupoint.
3. Rather than stimulating directly on the spinal midline, focus on the muscles on either side of the spine, using an up-and-down stroking motion.
4. Perform for 1 minute per session, 3-4 times daily.
5. If you have misaligned vertebrae or chronic pain, you can stimulate more frequently.

Expanded Benefits: Regular stimulation of Zhiyang not only deepens breathing but can also improve chronic fatigue, digestive discomfort, and whole-body pain simultaneously. Beyond asthma and jaw pain, it becomes a foundation for overall health improvement.

5-Minute Daily Self-Care Routine

To manage asthma and jaw pain daily in a busy lifestyle, you need an efficient routine. The following is an optimized routine that can be completed in 5 minutes. Perform it once in the morning and once in the evening.

Preparation (1 minute):

• Sit or lie down comfortably and breathe deeply 3 times.
• Quickly touch and confirm the location of each of the 5 acupoints.

Stimulation Sequence (4 minutes):

1. Dazhui (30 seconds): Slightly tilt head forward and use both thumbs to press upward and downward, 10 presses × 3 sets
2. Tanzhong (1 minute): Breathe deeply and slowly press with three fingers, 1 press per second, 30 seconds × 2 rounds
3. Chize (both arms, 1 minute): Use opposite thumb in circular rubbing motion, 30 seconds per arm
4. Quepen (30 seconds): Gently press upward with thumb, 10 presses per side
5. Zhiyang (1 minute): Use both thumbs in upward and downward stroking motion, slowly for 1 minute

Closing (1 minute): After completing the routine, take 3 deep breaths to finish.

Repeat this routine 1-2 times daily, and you can notice deeper breathing within one week. After 3 weeks, you’ll see a marked decrease in jaw pain frequency.

When Can You Expect to See Results?

While results vary significantly among individuals, here’s the general timeline for acupoint stimulation effects:

The timeline for results can vary based on individual health status, habits, and consistency. Particularly for people under heavy stress or with poor breathing habits, an additional 1-2 weeks may be needed.

Tips for More Effective Stimulation

With Breathing: When stimulating any acupoint while performing deep diaphragmatic breathing, the effectiveness increases by 30-50%. Focus on the “4-6 breathing” pattern: inhale over 4 seconds and exhale over 6 seconds.

Before Warming: Applying warm water compresses to the neck and back for 5 minutes before stimulation improves blood circulation, accelerating results.

Consistency is Key: The strongest medicine is useless if you don’t take it. Doing the 5-minute routine daily is far more effective than occasional intensive sessions.

Timing: Stimulating during 7-9 AM (lung meridian active hours) and 5-7 PM (kidney meridian active hours) aligns with your body’s natural rhythms, maximizing effectiveness.

Combining with Other Acupoints

While these 5 acupoints are essential for asthma and jaw pain, you can combine them with other acupoints for additional improvement.

If you need deeper breathing, additionally stimulate lung meridian acupoints, and if jaw pain is severe, combine with trigeminal nerve-related acupoints. [See related article: Complete Guide to Lung Meridian Acupoints for Deeper Breathing]

If your asthma is caused by chronic stress and anxiety, also explore acupoints for nervous breathing regulation. [See related article: Heart Meridian Acupoints for Managing Stress-Related Asthma]

When Should You Visit a TCM Clinic?

If you see no improvement in symptoms 2-3 weeks after self-care, you may benefit from personalized TCM treatment. Visit a TCM clinic especially in these cases:

• Asthma attacks occur more than twice per month
• Jaw pain is severe, making it difficult to chew properly
• Breathing stops during sleep or you have snoring
• Asthma worsens with every cold or seasonal change
• You want to discontinue respiratory medications

A TCM specialist can provide comprehensive care including acupoint stimulation, constitution-specific herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle improvements, allowing you to expect faster results.

Key Takeaway

The simultaneous appearance of asthma and jaw pain is not coincidental—it has clear causes: insufficient lung qi and cervical tension. The 5 acupoints (Dazhui, Tanzhong, Chize, Quepen, Zhiyang) that regulate this are tools to awaken your body’s natural healing power.

A small 5-minute daily investment can create visible changes within 2-3 weeks. Start with self-care first. Listening well to the signals from your own body is the beginning of the best health management.