5 Acupoints to Simultaneously Relieve Asthma and Excessive Tearing: A Home Acupressure Guide

Why Asthma and Excessive Tearing Occur Together

In traditional Chinese medicine, both asthma and excessive tearing are symptoms caused by weakened lung function. When lung qi (肺氣) is deficient, breathing becomes shallow, causing asthma, and at the same time, the eye’s lubrication function deteriorates, leading to excessive tear secretion. Since these two symptoms share the same root cause, stimulating acupoints that strengthen the lungs can improve both conditions together.

What Are the Most Effective Acupoints?

Immediate Effect (for acute breathing difficulty): LU5 (Chize), ST12 (Quepen)
Fundamental Improvement (long-term treatment): GV14 (Dazhui), GV9 (Zhiyang)
Emotional Stabilization: CV17 (Shanzhong)

When breathing feels tight, first stimulate LU5 and ST12 for immediate relief. Consistently stimulating GV14 and GV9 for 3 weeks or longer can bring about fundamental lung function improvement.

5 Best Acupoints for Asthma and Excessive Tearing

1. LU5 (Chize) — Fastest Breath Relief

How to Find the Location: When you bend your arm at 90 degrees, it’s at the outer end of the elbow crease (thumb side). When you press with your finger, you’ll feel a hollow space between the bone and tendon.

Effect: As a key acupoint on the lung meridian, it relieves breathing difficulty within 5-10 minutes. If you’re experiencing an asthma attack or shortness of breath, this is the first acupoint to stimulate.

Correct Acupressure Method:

1. Bend your arm naturally.
2. Use the opposite thumb to locate LU5.
3. Apply pressure slowly for the first 3 seconds.
4. Press firmly for 10 seconds, then release over 3 seconds.
5. Repeat 10 times on one side, then do the same on the other side.

Stimulation Frequency: Once in the morning and once in the evening; additional stimulation is possible when breathing difficulty occurs.

2. ST12 (Quepen) — Improves Overall Respiratory Circulation

How to Find the Location: Face forward and locate the hollow area above the clavicle (collarbone). It’s approximately 2-3 cm lateral to the center of the neck.

Effect: Regulates lung and throat function while improving blood circulation throughout the respiratory system. It not only relieves breathing difficulty but also helps normalize tear production.

Correct Acupressure Method:

1. Tilt your head slightly backward.
2. Use index and middle fingers of both hands to locate ST12 simultaneously.
3. Press for 10 seconds while taking a deep breath in.
4. Release pressure over 3 seconds while exhaling slowly.
5. Repeat 8-10 times.

Stimulation Frequency: 2-3 times daily, especially effective when breathing feels tight.

3. GV14 (Dazhui) — Strengthens Lung Function and Immunity

How to Find the Location: When you tilt your head slightly forward, the most prominent bone (the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra) appears. The acupoint is in the depression directly below it. When pressed, you’ll feel a clear hollow.

Effect: In traditional Chinese medicine, this acupoint “governs all yang qi in the body” and strengthens immunity while fundamentally enhancing respiratory function. Consistent stimulation for 3 weeks or longer can reduce the frequency of asthma recurrence.

Correct Acupressure Method:

1. Sit in a comfortable position.
2. Use one thumb to locate GV14.
3. Apply pressure gradually over 5 seconds.
4. Hold for 10 seconds.
5. Release pressure slowly over 5 seconds.
6. Repeat 10 times.

Stimulation Frequency: 1-2 times daily, most effective in the evening.

4. GV9 (Zhiyang) — Key to Chronic Asthma Improvement

How to Find the Location: Lean your upper body forward so the vertebrae protrude. It’s in the depression below the 7th thoracic vertebra (7th thoracic spinous process). If it’s difficult to find alone, reach your hand behind your back and move downward to locate it.

Effect: A key acupoint for strengthening lung qi and improving respiration. It addresses the root cause of chronic asthma—weakened lung function—while stabilizing the nervous system to regulate tear production.

Correct Acupressure Method:

1. Sit in a comfortable position.
2. Get help from a family member or partner to locate GV9 (difficult to do alone).
3. Press slowly using your thumb or massage stick.
4. Hold for 10 seconds, then rest for 5 seconds.
5. Repeat 10-15 times.
6. When doing alone: Place a tennis ball against your back and use your body weight to stimulate the point—this is convenient.

Stimulation Frequency: Once daily in the evening. The effect is good even with gentle stimulation.

5. CV17 (Shanzhong) — Emotional Stabilization and Breath Calming

How to Find the Location: It’s at the exact center of the chest, on the line connecting both nipples. When pressed, you’ll feel slight elasticity (just above the bone).

Effect: An important acupoint that regulates heart and lung function, calming respiration and promoting emotional stability. It prevents asthma exacerbation caused by stress and relieves eye dryness.

Correct Acupressure Method:

1. Lie down and gently locate CV17 with your fingertip.
2. Massage in circular motions without applying strong pressure.
3. Press for 10 seconds while taking deep breaths.
4. Rest for 5 seconds.
5. Repeat 8-10 times.

Stimulation Frequency: Once daily, most effective in the evening or before bedtime.

5-Minute Daily Self-Care Routine — Implementation Plan

To simultaneously improve asthma and excessive tearing, follow this routine for 5 minutes each in the morning and evening.

Step 1. Emotional Calming (1 minute) — CV17 (Shanzhong)

While lying down, gently stimulate CV17. This prevents asthma attacks caused by stress in advance and calms your breathing.

Step 2. Respiratory Improvement (2 minutes) — LU5 (Chize) + ST12 (Quepen)

While sitting, stimulate LU5 first with 10 repetitions on each arm. Once breathing eases, stimulate ST12 8-10 times. Stimulating these two acupoints together creates an immediate sense of easier breathing.

Step 3. Lung Function Strengthening (2 minutes) — GV14 (Dazhui) + GV9 (Zhiyang)

Sit with your back straight and stimulate GV14 10 times. Then, with a partner’s help, stimulate GV9 10-15 times. This phase is responsible for long-term lung function improvement.

Time Required: 5 minutes morning + 5 minutes evening = 10 minutes total daily

Additional Tips to Enhance Results

Correct Stimulation Intensity: The ideal sensation is “painful but in a good way.” Too light won’t be effective, and too strong causes muscle tension.

Duration: You need to practice consistently for at least 3 weeks to experience noticeable improvement. Since asthma is a chronic condition, it’s good to continue 3-4 times weekly after symptoms improve, as a preventive measure.

Times to Avoid: Avoid stimulation within 30 minutes after eating or immediately after exhaustion. When blood is concentrated in the stomach or the body is fatigued, effectiveness decreases.

Precautions: If you’re experiencing a severe asthma attack or have a high fever, acupressure alone is insufficient. Please seek medical professional consultation first. Acupressure is a supplementary treatment method.

Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What if acupressure doesn’t work?

Check the following:

• Verify that you’ve located the acupoints correctly. Even slight deviations from the precise location significantly reduce effectiveness.
• Make sure your stimulation intensity isn’t too weak. Press to the point where it’s “painful but feels good.”
• Don’t expect fundamental improvement in less than 3 weeks. Judge results after 3-4 weeks of consistent practice.
• Effects are faster when combined with medication therapy (asthma inhalers, etc.).

Q. Is acupressure alone sufficient during an acute asthma attack?

Acupressure helps relieve symptoms but cannot replace emergency treatment. If you experience severe breathing difficulty or chest pain, call emergency services (119) immediately. Stimulating LU5 and ST12 should only be used as a supplementary method to calm your breathing while en route to the hospital.

Q. Can pregnant women do this?

CV17 (Shanzhong), GV14 (Dazhui), and LU5 (Chize) are safe, but for abdominal and lower back acupoints (ST12 and GV9), please consult a specialist first. Stimulation should be gentle during pregnancy.

Q. Which is better: acupressure tool vs. finger stimulation?

Fingers are best because you can feel the subtle responses of the acupoint. Massage sticks or acupressure tools can be used as supplementary implements, and a tennis ball is useful for stimulating back acupoints like GV9.

Q. How long do I need to continue?

Timeline for improvement:

• 1-2 weeks: Breathing feels slightly easier
• 3-4 weeks: Frequency of asthma attacks decreases
• 8 weeks or longer: Noticeable fundamental improvement

We recommend continuing 3-4 times weekly after improvement as a preventive measure.

Can Other Respiratory Symptoms Be Resolved with Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Beyond asthma, most respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing, and breathing difficulty are related to weakened lung function. The 5 acupoints in this post are fundamentally effective for all respiratory symptoms. For more detailed information, see Respiratory Symptom-Specific Acupoint Guide.

Regarding eye health, in addition to excessive tearing, if you experience eye fatigue, dry eyes, or eye redness, please check 5 Acupoints for Eye Health. CV17 (Shanzhong) is a foundational acupoint for all these eye symptoms.

Traditional Chinese medicine aims not to resolve a single symptom but to balance the entire body. Consistently stimulating these 5 acupoints improves not only breathing and eye health but also overall immunity.

Conclusion: 3-Week Practice Plan

Asthma and excessive tearing are not separate problems but different manifestations of weakened lung function. By stimulating 5 acupoints for just 5 minutes each in the morning and evening, you can experience noticeable improvement after 3 weeks.

This Week’s Goal: Accurately locate the 5 acupoints and learn the correct stimulation method.

Week 2 Goal: Follow the daily routine and observe your body’s responses.

Week 3 Goal: Confirm improvements in breathing and reduced tearing. At this point, if you desire further improvement, seeing a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for personalized treatment is also a good option.

Start now. Your lungs are the doctor within your body.