Introduction
When coughing and gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux) appear together, it can be really difficult. At night, you lose sleep from coughing, and during the day, you experience chest tightness and a foreign feeling in your throat. Many people have experienced these two symptoms creating a vicious cycle and getting worse. In this article, I’ll introduce five acupoints that use the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen lung function and stabilize the stomach at the same time.
Five Acupoints Good for Coughing and Reflux
1. Dazhui — GV14
Location: When you bend your neck forward, it’s in the depression below the spinous process of the most prominent bone (the 7th cervical vertebra). It’s located on the midline between the neck and upper back.
Effects: It enhances overall immune function and improves respiratory diseases. It’s a systemic acupoint that regulates lung function while also regulating stomach function. It helps resolve both cough relief and the overall fatigue caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Pressure technique: Press slowly with your thumb for 3-5 seconds. It’s effective to do this 3 times a day for about 5 minutes each time. It works even better when combined with warm compresses.
2. Tanzhong — CV17
Location: On the midline of the chest, at the midpoint when connecting both nipples horizontally (the 4th intercostal space). It’s in the depression above the breastbone.
Effects: It strengthens heart and lung function and deepens breathing. It directly relieves chest tightness and shortness of breath caused by coughing, and at the same time, it stabilizes esophageal function to prevent reflux.
Pressure technique: Press slowly with your fingertip in a vertical direction. Press while breathing in and slowly release while breathing out. 2-3 times a day for about 1 minute each is sufficient.
3. Lieque — LU7
Location: On the inside of the wrist, about 1.5 cun (approximately 2cm) above the wrist crease in the direction of the elbow. It’s located above the styloid process of the radius (the bone on the thumb side).
Effects: As a key acupoint on the lung meridian, it’s especially effective for coughing and respiratory symptoms. It quickly relieves throat discomfort and coughing, and by regulating the lung’s fluid metabolism, it also improves symptoms caused by reflux.
Pressure technique: Massage with your thumb in circular motions while pressing repeatedly for 3-5 seconds. Apply to both hands, and you can do it 3 or more times a day. It’s an acupoint you can easily stimulate while out and about.
4. Fenglong — ST40
Location: Below the outer side of the knee, about 8 cun (approximately 24cm) away from the prominence on the outer ankle (lateral malleolus) in the direction of the knee. It’s located on the lateral side of the tibia (shin bone) at about 2 finger widths.
Effects: As a key acupoint for strengthening stomach function, it improves the decline in digestive function, which is the root cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease. It normalizes gastric acid secretion and promotes esophageal relaxation to directly prevent reflux.
Pressure technique: Press with your thumb for 5 seconds and rest for 5 seconds, repeating. Apply to both legs, and 2 times a day is sufficient. You can comfortably apply pressure while leaning against a wall or sitting.
5. Chize — LU5
Location: Above the inner crease of the elbow, on the lateral side of the biceps tendon (thumb side). When you bend your arm, it’s on the crease line on the inside of the elbow.
Effects: It’s an acupoint that reduces heat from the lungs and directly relieves coughing. It normalizes respiratory function, eliminates throat inflammation, and at the same time, inhibits heat transmission to the stomach to improve reflux symptoms.
Pressure technique: Press with your thumb for 3-5 seconds. Apply to both arms, and you can do it 3 or more times a day. Especially when coughing is severe, you can see immediate relief by stimulating it frequently.
5-Minute Self-Care Routine
Morning (upon waking): Dazhui 1 minute → Tanzhong 1 minute → Chize 1 minute (lung function activation)
Midday (30 minutes after eating): Fenglong 2 minutes (enhance digestive function, prevent post-meal reflux)
Evening (before bed): Dazhui 1 minute → Lieque 1 minute → Chize 1 minute (prevent nighttime coughing)
If you breathe deeply with each acupressure session, the acupoint stimulation becomes more effective. For the first 2 weeks when symptoms are severe, perform it daily, and after that, it’s good to maintain it 3-4 times a week.
Leave a Reply