5 Acupoints and Effective Acupressure Techniques to Simultaneously Relieve Asthma and Bitter Taste in the Mouth

Simultaneous Symptoms of Asthma and Bitter Taste Can Be Relieved Through Acupoint Acupressure

When asthma symptoms and bitter taste in the mouth occur together, the cause is reduced lung function and an imbalance in digestive system heat. In traditional Chinese medicine, these two symptoms are interconnected, and acupressure that simultaneously stimulates both the respiratory and digestive systems is the most efficient approach.

While medication alone cannot address the root causes, stimulating specific acupoints daily can improve both breathing difficulties and bitter taste. Learn the exact methods to stimulate 5 easily accessible acupoints using only your hands.

5 Effective Acupoints for Improving Asthma and Bitter Taste

The table below compares the location, major effects, and timing of use for each acupoint at a glance. Adjust priorities based on the severity of your symptoms.

1. Dazhui (GV14) – Essential Acupoint for Simultaneously Strengthening Breathing and Digestion

Why It’s Most Effective: It boosts overall body qi while simultaneously improving both lung and digestive function.

Exact Location: When you lower your head, find the most prominent bone at the back of the neck (the 7th cervical vertebra) and locate the hollow depression just below it. You can easily find it by slowly running your finger down the back of the neck and feeling for it.

How It Improves Asthma: Dazhui strengthens lung function to relieve shortness of breath and boosts immunity to prevent asthma attacks.

How It Improves Bitter Taste: It activates digestive function to resolve acid reflux and poor digestion.

Effective Acupressure Technique:

1. Sit in a comfortable position and use your thumb to locate the Dazhui acupoint.
2. Slowly exhale while gently pressing for 3 seconds (do not press too hard).
3. Release pressure for 1 second and press again. Repeat 10 times for 1 minute total.

Precautions: Pressing too hard can cause overstimulation, so it’s important to gently contact the hollow area below the bone. Avoid this area if you have neck pain.

2. Shanzhong (CV17) – Emergency Acupoint for Breathing Difficulty

Why It’s Most Effective: This emergency acupoint immediately eases breathing during asthma attacks.

Exact Location: Located at the midpoint of the line connecting both nipples in the center of the chest. You can find it by using both hands to trace along the ribs upward and locating the hollow between the fourth ribs.

How It Improves Asthma: It regulates breathing and circulation to directly relieve chest tightness and breathing difficulties.

How It Improves Bitter Taste: It normalizes qi flow to improve digestive function and eliminate bitter taste.

Effective Acupressure Technique:

1. Sit or lie down and use your index and middle fingers overlapped to locate Shanzhong.
2. Slowly exhale while gently pressing vertically for 5 seconds.
3. Inhale while releasing pressure. Repeat for 1 minute total.

Precautions: Be careful not to press deeply on the breastbone. Light pressure of about 5mm below the skin surface is sufficient. This acupoint can be safely stimulated even during an asthma attack.

3. Chize (LU5) – Acupoint That Directly Treats Respiratory Symptoms

Why It’s Most Effective: As a major acupoint of the Lung meridian, it directly treats respiratory symptoms.

Exact Location: Bring your arm across your chest and bend your elbow slightly. Find the outer (thumb side) end of the elbow crease and locate the area just outside the tendon. Both arms have the same location.

How It Improves Asthma: It directly treats asthma, cough, and wheezing while reducing lung heat.

How It Improves Bitter Taste: By reducing lung heat, it improves heat-cold imbalance to relieve bitter taste.

Effective Acupressure Technique:

1. Bend your elbow to expose the elbow crease line.
2. Use the thumb of your opposite hand to locate Chize and press slowly.
3. Press for 3 seconds, rest for 1 second, and repeat this rhythm for 1 minute. Perform on both arms.

Precautions: Prioritize stimulating this point when coughing from asthma is severe. Be careful not to press too deeply as there are many nerves and blood vessels on the inner elbow.

4. Quepen (ST12) – Directly Solve Bitter Taste by Improving Digestive Function

Why It’s Most Effective: It directly stimulates digestive function to improve acid reflux, which is the root cause of bitter taste.

Exact Location: Located in the center of the hollow above the collarbone. Find the point about 4 cun (approximately 12cm) away from the center line of the neck, in the hollow depression above the collarbone.

How It Improves Asthma: It promotes qi and blood circulation in the neck and chest to relieve chest tightness and pain caused by asthma.

How It Improves Bitter Taste: It directly stimulates digestive function to improve acid reflux and eliminate bitter taste.

Effective Acupressure Technique:

1. Use the index and middle fingers of both hands to locate the hollow above the collarbone.
2. Stimulate by gently rubbing in circular motions (do not press deeply).
3. Maintain gentle pressure and continue for 1 minute.

Precautions: Quepen is a sensitive area, so light touch is most effective. Pressing too hard may cause discomfort.

5. Zhiyang (GV9) – Acupoint That Simultaneously Strengthens Lungs and Liver

Why It’s Most Effective: It simultaneously improves respiratory and liver function to prevent stress-related asthma.

Exact Location: Located below the Dazhui acupoint at about the level of the ribs. Find the hollow area below the 7th thoracic vertebra (on the vertical line of the spine extending down from the solar plexus).

How It Improves Asthma: It strengthens respiratory function to fundamentally improve asthma and prevent worsening from stress.

How It Improves Bitter Taste: It promotes the liver’s detoxifying function to remove toxin accumulation that causes bitter taste.

Effective Acupressure Technique:

1. Reach one hand behind you to find the depression below the 7th thoracic vertebra (you may ask someone for help).
2. Use the thumb of your other hand to gently press slowly.
3. Press for 3 seconds, rest for 1 second, and repeat this rhythm for 1 minute.

Precautions: Be careful not to press directly on the vertebra. Only stimulate the hollow area below the vertebra. If it’s difficult to do alone, stimulating within the range your finger reaches is also effective.

💡 Improvement Speed by Acupoint: Dazhui and Chize rapidly relieve respiratory symptoms within 1-3 days. Quepen and Zhiyang require 3-7 days for digestive improvement. If bitter taste is severe, prioritize stimulating Quepen. Learn more about the causes of respiratory symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine

5-Minute Self-Care Routine for Asthma and Bitter Taste Relief

Perform this routine for 5 minutes every morning when you wake up or when you feel symptoms. Repeating 2-3 times daily can bring symptom improvement within 1-2 weeks.

How to Perform the Routine:

• Perform once in the morning right after waking and once in the evening before bed.
• On days when asthma symptoms are severe, you can add one more session at lunchtime for a total of 3 times daily.
• It’s not necessary to spend exactly 1 minute on each acupoint. You can adjust flexibly between 30 seconds and 1 minute 30 seconds.
• Light pressure that you can “feel” is sufficient—there’s no need to press deeply.

Frequently Asked Questions About Asthma and Bitter Taste Acupressure

Q1. Should I do acupressure even though I’m taking asthma medication?

Acupressure serves as a supplementary role to enhance the effects of medication. Medication rapidly relieves symptoms, while acupressure addresses root causes (reduced lung function and digestive system heat). Combining both approaches leads to faster symptom improvement and lower relapse rates. However, continue following your doctor’s instructions for medication treatment.

Q2. How long does it take for bitter taste to go away?

While there’s individual variation, bitter taste typically weakens within 3-7 days with daily acupressure on Quepen (ST12) and Zhiyang (GV9) twice daily. Complete elimination requires consistent practice for 2-3 weeks. Results come faster when combined with dietary improvements (avoiding irritating foods).

Q3. What should I do if I feel pain during acupressure?

A slight “refreshing” or “soreness” sensation while locating the acupoint is normal. However, if you experience sharp pain or extreme discomfort, the location may be incorrect or you may be pressing too hard. Reduce the pressure and recheck your location.

Q4. Is it safe to do acupressure during an asthma attack?

Shanzhong (CV17) and Dazhui (GV14) can be safely stimulated even during an asthma attack. In fact, they serve as emergency measures to ease breathing. However, if breathing is severely difficult, seek medical help before attempting acupressure.

Q5. Can I do acupressure on these acupoints if I only have bitter taste without asthma?

Yes, you can. In this case, prioritize acupressure on Quepen (ST12) and Zhiyang (GV9). Dazhui and Chize are also beneficial as they boost overall body qi and improve digestive function, so performing them together is more effective.

💡 Tips to Enhance Acupressure Effects: Acupressure is more effective with warm compresses or warm hands. Pressing with cold hands may reduce effectiveness due to poor blood circulation. Learn more about the synergy between warm compresses and acupressure

Lifestyle Habits to Enhance Acupressure Effects

Dietary Control

When experiencing bitter taste, avoid irritating foods (spicy, salty, and oily foods). Eating easily digestible options like white rice, eggs, white fish, and warm soups can further enhance acupressure effects.

Stress Management

Stress is a major trigger for asthma attacks. Even 10-20 minutes daily of deep abdominal breathing, meditation, or light walking can prevent asthma worsening.

Sleep Improvement

Sleeping before 10 PM and getting 7+ hours of quality sleep naturally promotes lung function recovery. This further amplifies acupressure effects.

Warm Beverages

Drinking warm ginger tea or jujube tea in the morning improves digestive function and eliminates bitter taste more quickly. Avoid cold drinks.

Conclusion

The simultaneous occurrence of asthma and bitter taste is a signal from your body requesting improvements in both respiratory and digestive function. Combined with accurate acupoint acupressure and lifestyle improvements, significant symptom relief is possible even without medication.

The most important factor is consistent daily practice. While you may not feel effects in the first week, maintaining this 5-minute routine daily for 2+ weeks will bring noticeable changes.