Acupressure isn’t difficult
Are your eyes wide awake even when it’s 11 PM? Do you just lie in bed tossing and turning even after an hour? I understand that frustration. Acupressure doesn’t require special techniques or tools. Your fingers are the medicine. In this article, I’ll introduce a very simple method using 3 acupoints recognized by both Western and Eastern medicine that you can start using today. The first step may feel difficult, but once you learn, it becomes yours for life.
What to know before you start
Pressure should be at a ‘comfortable level without pain’ — It’s not the deep stimulation you feel from acupuncture, just a comfortable sensation where you think “oh, that’s the spot.” Don’t forget to breathe — Holding your breath makes your body tense, so press gently while breathing slowly in and out. Start with clean hands, and do it consistently in a comfortable position (sitting on a bed or sofa), even if just for a short time.
Remember these 3 spots
First: Sanyinjiao (SP6)
How to find it: Look at the inner side of your leg. From the inner ankle bone (medial malleolus), move up about three finger widths (approximately 3-4 cm). Press along the posterior edge of the tibia (shin bone), and you’ll find a slight depression. That’s Sanyinjiao.
How to press it: Press firmly with your thumb tip for 5 seconds, rest for 3 seconds, and repeat for 1 minute. The pressure should feel like “oh, interesting” rather than “ouch, that hurts.” Keep breathing. Your skin should be slightly reddened—that’s just right.
Press it at these times: It’s good to press when preparing for bed around 10 PM or when you wake in the early morning and want to fall back asleep. It also helps on days when you have menstrual cramps.
Second: Taichong (LR3)
How to find it: Look at the top of your foot. Follow the space between your big toe and second toe upward toward the top of your foot, and find the depression just in front of where the two metatarsal bones meet. The spot where your finger sinks deepest when you press gently is the right place.
How to press it: Press slowly with your thumb. Press lighter than Sanyinjiao, but still with purpose. Press for 5 seconds, rest for 3 seconds, and repeat for 1 minute. This spot has many nerves, so you may feel a slight tingling sensation at first. That’s normal.
Press it at these times: Press it in the evening after a stressful day or when anxiety keeps your thoughts racing—it will help calm your mind. It also helps when you have a migraine.
Third: Taixi (KI3)
How to find it: Look at the inner side of your ankle. There’s a depression between the inner ankle bone (medial malleolus) and the Achilles tendon at the back. To find it, flex and point your foot, and locate the spot where the space between these two feels largest. A coin-sized depression is Taixi.
How to press it: Tap it gently with your thumb. Don’t press hard—use the same gentle pressure you’d use to pat a child’s back, and do it for 1 minute. This point connects to kidney energy, so when you press it, you’ll feel warmth rising from deep within your body.
Press it at these times: Press it while lying in bed 30 minutes before sleep for the best effect. It’s especially helpful when your legs are cold and insomnia is severe.
Beginner’s 3-Minute Routine
Timing: 30 minutes before bedtime is best. You can do it in the morning, but doing it at night is much more helpful for sound sleep.
Sequence: (1) Press Sanyinjiao for 1 minute → (2) Press Taichong for 1 minute → (3) Press Taixi for 1 minute. 3 minutes total is enough. Doing it longer may actually tire you out, so the key is doing just 3 minutes consistently every day. Do the same for both legs. The first week you may not notice much change, but by the second week you’ll be saying “I slept so soundly last night.”
3 Common Mistakes
1. Pressing too hard — You might think “shouldn’t I press harder for better results?” but it’s the opposite. Pressing too hard tenses your body and causes stress. Your skin should be slightly reddened—don’t go beyond that.
2. Expecting results from day one — Acupressure isn’t a magic cure. You need at least 3-5 days to feel changes. After a month of consistency, your doubts will disappear.
3. Holding your breath — Many people unconsciously hold their breath when tense. If you forget to breathe, pressing won’t be as effective. Consciously repeat “breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly.”
Moving to the next level
Once you’re comfortable with these 3 points, there are 2 additional acupoints that can help. Shenmen (HT7) — an acupoint on the inner wrist, at the middle of the horizontal crease, slightly toward the pinky finger side. Yintang — the depression between the inner ends of the eyebrows and the nose. These two points are specialized for insomnia—try adding them after a month. But for now, 3 points are enough. Consistency is the real secret of acupressure, not perfection.
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