Introduction
When a prolonged cough is accompanied by yellowish skin indicating jaundice, it’s understandable to feel concerned. This is likely not just a common cold, but rather a sign that both lung and liver function have declined simultaneously. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are effective acupoints for addressing these combined symptoms, and when stimulated correctly, they can enhance your body’s natural healing abilities. Today, we’ll introduce 5 acupoints that work simultaneously on both cough and jaundice.
5 Acupoints for Cough and Jaundice
1. Dazhui — GV14
Location: Below the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra, in the depression below where you tilt your head forward. It’s the hollow area directly beneath the most prominent bone at the back of your neck.
Benefits: Strengthens the body’s overall yang energy and enhances lung function. It’s particularly effective for relieving cough, boosting immunity, and promoting recovery from fatigue. It also improves liver function and helps alleviate jaundice symptoms.
Acupressure Technique: Using your thumb or middle finger, apply firm vertical pressure for 5 seconds and rest for 1 second, repeating 10 times. Since this point is at the back of the neck, use a mirror to locate it precisely before applying pressure.
2. Tanzhong — CV17
Location: On the center of the chest, on the sternum at the 4th intercostal space level—the midpoint of a line connecting both nipples. You can easily find it by placing one hand over the other with both middle fingers overlapping.
Benefits: This is the central acupoint for respiratory health and directly relieves cough, asthma, and shortness of breath. It also calms the mind and body, and is closely related to digestive and liver function, helping to reduce the discomfort caused by jaundice.
Acupressure Technique: Place 3 fingers (index, middle, and ring) together and gently apply circular massage to the center of the chest for 30 seconds. Avoid excessive pressure and maintain a comfortable intensity.
3. Lieque — LU7
Location: On the wrist, on the thumb side of the joint crease, approximately 1.5 cun (about 2 cm) above it. You can locate it accurately by wrapping your opposite hand’s thumb and index finger around your wrist and finding the area above the styloid process of the radius (the prominent bone on the wrist).
Benefits: Promotes the flow of qi through the lungs, rapidly relieving cough, sore throat, and cold symptoms. Simultaneously, it improves the overall circulation of qi throughout the body via the meridians, activates liver function, and helps improve jaundice.
Acupressure Technique: Using your thumb, apply moderate pressure, pressing for 3 seconds and resting for 1 second in a rhythmic pattern, repeating 15 times. Apply pressure to both wrists, starting with the more painful side for better effectiveness.
4. Fenglong — ST40
Location: Starting from the depression on the outer side of the knee below the kneecap (lateral condyle), move down toward the ankle approximately 8 cun (about 24 cm), positioning it about 2 cun (about the width of two thumbs) on the outer side of the tibia (shinbone).
Benefits: This key point directly regulates digestive and liver function, alleviating digestive discomfort and abdominal bloating caused by jaundice. It also supports lung function to aid in cough relief and has the effect of removing excess moisture from the body.
Acupressure Technique: Sit with your legs extended and use your thumb to press vertically for 5 seconds, rest for 1 second, repeating 12 times. It’s important to locate the point precisely by following the outer edge of the tibia.
5. Chize — LU5
Location: On the crease on the inner side of the elbow, positioned just on the outer side of the biceps tendon (the tendon that protrudes on the inside of the elbow). Find it by locating the crease on the inner elbow and the boundary line where the outer muscles meet when your arm is bent.
Benefits: Directly strengthens lung function, making it extremely effective for relieving cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Simultaneously, it ensures smooth qi circulation through the lungs, reducing stress on the liver and promoting improvement of jaundice symptoms.
Acupressure Technique: Using your thumb, press on the crease area with slight inward pressure, pressing for 4 seconds and resting for 1 second, repeating 10 times. Apply pressure to one arm at a time, and if you experience pain, resume the next day.
5-Minute Self-Care Routine
Perform the following sequence in the morning on an empty stomach or before bedtime. (1) First, stimulate Dazhui (GV14) at the back of your neck with both thumbs, pressing for 5 seconds each, 10 times. (2) Next, gently massage Tanzhong (CV17) in the center of your chest with 3 fingers for 30 seconds. (3) Stimulate Lieque (LU7) on the wrist crease of both hands, 15 times each with your thumb. (4) Sit and press Fenglong (ST40) on both legs in sequence, 12 times each. (5) Finally, apply acupressure to Chize (LU5) on both elbows, 10 times each, to complete the routine. Repeating this routine 1-2 times daily can help improve cough and jaundice symptoms within a week.
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