Acupressure Is Not Difficult
Do you catch colds frequently when the weather changes? I did too. Before visiting a doctor or taking medicine, I discovered how wonderful it is to be able to care for my own body with my own hands. Acupressure is not a special technique. It’s simply gently pressing predetermined points with warm hands. Children, grandparents, busy office workers—anyone can do it. Including you, if you’re starting for the first time today.
What to Know Before You Start
The true principles of acupressure are simple. First, the pressure should be only as gentle as ‘feels good’ without pain. Don’t think it needs to be as strong as getting acupuncture or taking medicine. Second, press with ‘the fleshy part of your finger,’ not just the fingertip. Third, take a deep breath in and press slowly as you exhale. Fourth, finding a comfortable posture is key. If you’re forcing yourself to be tense, the effect decreases.
Remember Just These 3 Points
First: Union Valley (合谷) – LI4
How to find it: Open your hand and spread your thumb and index finger. The tender point between them, specifically the midpoint where the bone of the index finger (second metacarpal) begins. When you press that spot with your opposite thumb, you’ll feel a distinct sensation. That’s the correct location.
How to press it: Using your opposite thumb, gently push into the fleshy part, pressing slowly for 5 seconds. Not a tight, forceful grip, but rather pressure that makes you think ‘ah, yes, this is the spot.’ Then release for 5 seconds and repeat the pressing 3-5 times.
When to press it: When your throat is sore or your nose is runny, in the early stages of catching a cold, or for prevention when colds are going around.
Second: Wind Pool (風池) – GB20
How to find it: Tilt your head forward slightly. You’ll see a hollow at the back of your neck. Look at both sides of that hollow. It’s the indented area between the trapezius muscle (the thick muscle connecting the neck and shoulders) and the lateral neck muscle, right beside the cervical spine. It’s easier to locate if you use fingers on both sides simultaneously.
How to press it: Slowly push inward with both thumbs and press. Unlike Union Valley, you should feel an ‘ah, pleasantly sore’ sensation here. Repeat the 5-second press 5 times. Don’t tilt your head back—keep it relaxed and forward.
When to press it: When your neck feels stiff, when you have chills from a cold, or especially when you feel like you might be coming down with a cold.
Third: Great Vertebra (大椎) – GV14
How to find it: This is the easiest point to locate. Tilt your head forward. You’ll feel the most prominent bone at the back of your neck. That’s the seventh cervical vertebra. Great Vertebra is the indented area directly below that bone, at the boundary between your neck and back. When you gently press that spot with your finger, you’ll get an ‘aha, this is it!’ sensation.
How to press it: Using your middle or index finger, gently push inward toward your body and press for 5 seconds. This area has many nerve endings, so light pressure is sufficient. You don’t need to press hard. Repeat 3-5 times, and press as you take a deep breath in and exhale slowly.
When to press it: When your body feels chilled or you have fatigue from a cold. It’s also good to press preventatively when you wake up in the morning.
Beginner 3-Minute Routine
Try this routine right after waking in the morning, or in the evening before bed when colds are going around. Three minutes total is enough. First, Union Valley (on your hands) for 1 minute, then Wind Pool (back of neck) for 1 minute, and finally Great Vertebra (at the boundary between neck and back) for 1 minute. Proceed in this order. The order doesn’t have major significance, but following this sequence naturally helps your body wake up and promotes blood circulation. You can do it anytime during the day, but it’s more effective if you make it a habit by doing it at set times in the morning and evening.
3 Common Mistakes
1. Pressing Too Hard
Beginners often think ‘it has to hurt to be effective.’ That’s wrong. With acupressure, consistency is key, not intensity. Pressing gently with light, warm hands is actually more effective.
2. Starting with Cold Hands
Warm up your hands by rubbing them together or soaking them in warm water before you start. Acupressure with cold hands cuts the effectiveness in half.
3. Doing It Only Once
Acupressure isn’t a one-time treatment. You need to do it consistently for 3 days or a week to feel a difference. For cold prevention, do it for at least a week. If you already have cold symptoms, it’s fine to do it several times a day.
Moving to the Next Level
Once you’re comfortable with these 3 points, I’ll introduce additional points to explore. Crooked Pond (LI5, on the outer crease of your arm) is good when you have a severe cough from a cold, and Greater Rushing (LV3, between your big toe and second toe on the top of your foot) helps strengthen immunity. But for now, these 3 points are enough. What’s most important is feeling and trusting how your body responds to these points.
Leave a Reply