Asthma-Related Loss of Consciousness Acupoints: 5 Effective Stimulation Techniques for Emergency Situations

Why is Asthma with Loss of Consciousness So Dangerous?

When an asthma attack blocks breathing, oxygen supply to the brain decreases, causing consciousness to become unclear. Even just a few minutes can be life-threatening.

Traditional Chinese medicine views this as a ‘qi circulation disorder.’ Since lung function deterioration and nervous system paralysis occur simultaneously, stimulating acupoints that stabilize both symptoms at once is crucial.

The 5 acupoints introduced in this article are arranged in order of priority for emergency situations.

5 Acupoints at a Glance Comparison

This table helps you quickly understand each acupoint’s role and urgency level.

Detailed Guide for Each Acupoint

1. Yongquan (KI1) — First Step to Restore Consciousness

Why First? When consciousness is unclear, stimulating other acupoints won’t be effective. You must first wake up the person.

Finding the Location: When all five toes are curled simultaneously, it’s the deepest indentation on the sole of the foot. You can find it near the 1/3 point from the front of the sole.

Stimulation Method:

1. Keep toes curled
2. Press firmly on Yongquan with the tip of your thumb
3. Stimulate each foot for 30 seconds, applying strong pressure to the point of discomfort
4. Repeat until consciousness returns

Effect: Elevates kidney qi to restore overall body stability. This is the fastest way to restore consciousness in an emergency.

2. Dazhui (GV14) — Rapid Activation of Lung Function

When to Stimulate: Immediately after restoring consciousness with Yongquan, this is the stage to stabilize breathing.

Finding the Location: When bending the head forward, it’s the depression just below the most prominent bone (7th cervical vertebra’s spinous process). The exact location is the indentation between the bones.

Stimulation Method:

1. Press Dazhui slowly with the tip of your thumb
2. Repeat pressing for 3-5 seconds, then rest for 2 seconds
3. Continue for 1 minute
4. The feeling should be soreness rather than pain

Effect: As the central point of yang qi, it promotes overall qi circulation. It opens suppressed breathing and improves oxygen supply to the brain.

3. Chize (LU5) — Key to Normalizing Lung Function

When to Stimulate: As the next stage after Dazhui, this directly normalizes lung function.

Finding the Location: When the arm is extended, it’s on the outer side of the biceps tendon (the large tendon) on the inner crease of the elbow. When bending the elbow, look for the area above the elbow crease, toward the thumb side.

Stimulation Method:

1. Press Chize with the opposite thumb
2. Press and hold for 3-5 seconds, feeling vibration travel through the entire arm
3. Repeat for 40 seconds on each arm
4. Continue until breathing difficulty noticeably improves

Effect: As the key point of the Lung meridian, it normalizes respiratory function. During an asthma attack, it redirects reversed qi downward and calms excessive nervous system response.

4. Shanzhong (CV17) — Heart and Lung Stabilization

When to Stimulate: After breathing has somewhat recovered, this is the stage to stabilize the heart and lungs.

Finding the Location: When drawing a horizontal line connecting both nipples, the 4th intercostal space is at the center of this line. Find the exact depression on the sternum.

Stimulation Method:

1. Lightly touch Shanzhong with your thumb tip
2. Gently massage in a circular motion clockwise for 30 seconds
3. Be careful not to press too firmly, as it can worsen breathing difficulty
4. Maintain pressure at a level where you feel warmth

Effect: Regulates heart and lung qi to improve respiratory function. It relieves chest tightness and relaxes the nervous system.

5. Jiuwei (ST12) — Final Opening of the Airway

When to Stimulate: As the final stage, this completely opens the airway.

Finding the Location: The hollow area above the clavicle at the center, approximately 12cm outward from the centerline of the neck along the upper clavicle.

Stimulation Method:

1. Place your index and middle fingers together on Jiuwei
2. While maintaining light pressure, slowly rub up and down
3. Continue for 1 minute
4. Be careful not to press too firmly, as it can worsen the sensation of airway obstruction

Effect: Directly stimulates the airway (respiratory nerves). It relieves tracheal constriction and improves blood circulation to the brain to enhance oxygen supply.

Emergency 5-Minute Routine

When asthma and loss of consciousness occur together, follow this sequence.

Stage 1 (0-30 seconds): Restore Consciousness

Yongquan is stimulated firmly on both feet. This is the most effective method to wake someone up. You must press firmly enough to feel pain.

Stage 2 (30 seconds-1 minute 30 seconds): Activate Lung Function

Dazhui is pressed repeatedly and slowly. This rapidly activates breathing and improves oxygen supply to the brain.

Stage 3 (1 minute 30 seconds-2 minutes 30 seconds): Normalize Breathing

Chize is stimulated on both arms to strengthen lung function. Breathing difficulty noticeably improves.

Stage 4 (2 minutes 30 seconds-3 minutes 30 seconds): Stabilize Heart and Lungs

Shanzhong is gently massaged to relieve chest tightness. Begin this stage once breathing has somewhat stabilized.

Stage 5 (3 minutes 30 seconds-4 minutes 30 seconds): Open the Airway

Jiuwei is rubbed up and down to completely open the airway. After this stage, you should notice breathing stabilizing.

Repeat this routine as needed. Continue until consciousness and breathing are stable.

Daily Management: Asthma Prevention Routine

To avoid emergency situations, you must consistently manage these 5 acupoints in your daily life.

Recommended Frequency: Twice daily (morning and evening), stimulate each acupoint for 30-40 seconds

Stimulation Intensity: A level where you feel comfortable. Since this is daily management, gentler stimulation is more appropriate than in emergencies. Avoid excessive stimulation.

Preventive Effect: With consistent stimulation, respiratory sensitivity decreases and asthma attack frequency drops. This is especially effective for people whose asthma worsens with seasonal changes or stress.

If you have asthma, it’s wise to prepare in advance for emergencies. The next article will introduce acupoints to avoid and additional methods to prevent asthma worsening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which acupoint is most effective for asthma symptoms?

Chize (LU5) is the most important acupoint for directly regulating lung function.

However, it’s different when asthma and loss of consciousness occur together. In this case, first restore consciousness with Yongquan, then stimulate in the order Dazhui → Chize → Shanzhong → Jiuwei. Changing the order can reduce effectiveness.

Q2. How do I apply acupressure when it occurs with loss of consciousness?

When consciousness is unclear, stimulate the Yongquan acupoint first and firmly to restore consciousness.

After that, stabilize the respiratory system by stimulating in sequence: Dazhui → Chize → Shanzhong → Jiuwei. This allows both breathing and consciousness to recover together.

In emergencies, strong stimulation is safe, so adjust pressure intensity according to consciousness recovery. Don’t fear the pain—press firmly.

Q3. How many times a day should I apply acupressure?

During Emergency: Repeat the 5-minute routine above as needed. Continue until consciousness and breathing stabilize.

Daily Management: It is recommended to stimulate twice daily (morning and evening), for 30-40 seconds per acupoint.

Excessive stimulation can actually worsen symptoms, so maintain a level of intensity where you feel comfortable.

Q4. Can asthma be completely cured by acupoint stimulation alone?

Acupoint stimulation is for symptom relief and emergency treatment. A doctor’s diagnosis and prescription are essential for fundamental treatment.

Especially if loss of consciousness occurs, there is likely an underlying condition, so immediately visit a hospital for accurate diagnosis. Use acupoints as supplementary treatment only.

Q5. How do I do this for someone else?

Stimulate the corresponding acupoints on another person’s feet, arms, neck, and chest with the same intensity.

During loss of consciousness, strong stimulation is necessary, so it’s fine to press firmly until the person wakes up. Weak stimulation may be ineffective. Accurately locating the acupoints is important.