Location, Effects, and Acupressure Techniques for Each Acupoint

1. Neiguan (PC6) — The Acupoint That Stabilizes Heart and Nerves

Location: About 2 cun (approximately 3cm) above the wrist crease. When you place three fingers side by side on the wrist crease, the middle finger marks the exact location.

Why is it effective: PC6 is a key acupoint on the meridian leading to the heart. It directly regulates the heart’s function weakened by stress and stabilizes the nervous system, simultaneously relieving eye fatigue.

Acupressure method:

1. Sit comfortably and extend one arm.
2. Using your opposite thumb, apply slow circular pressure for 1-2 minutes.
3. Stimulate both sides alternately, once in the morning and once in the evening.
4. Maintain pressure at a painless level, and continue until you feel warmth.

Tip: Stimulating this point immediately when stressed is also highly effective. Anxiety typically subsides within 5 minutes.

2. Shanzhong (CV17) — The Acupoint That Regulates All Chest Qi

Location: At the center of the breastbone, where a horizontal line connecting both nipples meets the breastbone. It’s in the slightly depressed center of the chest.

Why it’s most effective: CV17 is one of the most important acupoints in traditional medicine, serving as the central point for regulating whole-body qi. It rapidly alleviates chest tightness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations, while enhanced immunity also improves inflammatory eye pain.

Acupressure method:

1. In an upright seated position, lean your body slightly forward.
2. Place your middle finger perpendicular to Shanzhong and apply gentle pressure for 10-15 seconds.
3. Increase pressure as you exhale, maintaining deep, slow breathing.
4. Perform 2-3 times daily (morning, afternoon, evening).

Caution: One deep, sustained press is more effective than repeated pressing. Avoid stimulating the same point more than 5 times daily.

3. Xinshu (BL15) — The Acupoint That Directly Works With Heart’s Qi and Blood

Location: On the back, at the level of the 5th thoracic vertebra’s spinous process, approximately 2cm lateral from the midline. It’s in the middle section below both shoulder blades.

Why it’s optimal for chest pain: Xinshu is an extremely powerful acupoint that gathers and regulates heart qi and blood. It rapidly improves chronic chest pain, palpitations, and anxiety, and fundamentally resolves eye fatigue through heart-mind stabilization.

Acupressure method:

1. Method 1 (Two-handed pressure): Place both thumbs on either side of the spine.
2. Gently press with thumbs while leaning your back backward.
3. Press for 5 seconds, release for 2 seconds, and repeat for 1-2 minutes total.
4. Method 2 (Self-massage): Lie on your back, place a tennis ball at the Xinshu location, and apply pressure using your body weight.

Tip: If you have difficulty reaching with your fingers, using a golf ball or massage tool is equally effective.

4. Qimen (LR14) — The Eye Health Acupoint That Regulates Liver Qi and Blood

Location: At the height of the nipple, in the 6th intercostal space (between the 6th ribs), approximately 6cm lateral from the midline. It’s at the upper lateral ribcage, slightly posterior to the armpit.

Most directly effective for eye health: Qimen directly regulates liver qi and blood, addressing the root cause of eye fatigue and vision decline. Simultaneously, it strengthens the liver-heart connection to alleviate stress-related chest pain.

Acupressure method:

1. Standing or sitting, let your arms hang down.
2. Gently press the area where your middle finger rests for 3-5 seconds.
3. Stimulate both sides alternately, 2-3 times daily.
4. Acupressure is even more effective when performed after warm compress massage with a damp washcloth.

Effect observation: With regular stimulation, eye dryness typically improves within 1-2 weeks.

5. Zhiyang (GV9) — The Acupoint That Enhances Whole-Body Immunity

Location: On the posterior midline of the spine, in the depressed area below the 7th thoracic vertebra’s spinous process. It’s about 5-6 finger-widths below the most prominent bone when you bend your neck forward.

Why it’s effective for complex symptoms: Zhiyang is an extremely powerful acupoint that regulates whole-body yang qi (warming energy). It improves the whole-body qi deficiency state in which chest and eye pain occur simultaneously, and prevents recurrence through enhanced immunity.

Acupressure method:

1. In an upright seated position or prone, place your middle finger on Zhiyang.
2. Apply slow, gentle pressure for 5-10 seconds, increasing pressure as you exhale.
3. Repeat 2-3 times daily.
4. Advanced method: Moxibustion (moxa stick therapy) at this location produces much faster results.

Expected effects: Most effective for improving complex symptoms caused by chronic fatigue. With consistent stimulation, overall energy levels increase noticeably.