5 Acupoints for Drooling — Complete Self-Acupressure Guide

Introduction

If you wake up to find your pillow damp with saliva, or find saliva dripping down unexpectedly while reading a book? Drooling may be more than just an inconvenience—it can signal cranial nerve health, dental health, and your psychological state. In traditional Chinese medicine, drooling is called ‘liuyan’ (流涎), and is viewed as an imbalance in the muscles around the mouth and the nervous system. This guide introduces 5 acupoints that you can stimulate with your fingers without medication.

5 Effective Acupoints for Drooling

1. Chenjiang (承漿) — CV24

Location: Below the chin, in the center of the depression between the lower lip and the chin. It’s the slightly indented area you feel when touching the chin.

Benefits: This is a key acupoint for regulating saliva secretion. It increases oral muscle tone, stabilizes the nervous system, and directly relieves drooling. It’s also effective for reducing facial swelling.

Technique: Gently press the point with the fingerprint area of your index finger for 5 seconds, then rest for 3 seconds. Repeat this 10 times. Don’t press too hard—aim for a warm, soothing sensation.

2. Dicang (地倉) — ST4

Location: At the outer corner of the mouth, approximately 0.4 cun (about 1.2 cm) outside the mouth corner. It’s located on the line of the mouth corner crease when your mouth is closed.

Benefits: It restores elasticity to the muscles around the mouth, stimulates the facial nerve, and normalizes saliva secretion function. It also helps improve sagging around the mouth and clarity of speech.

Technique: Press both points simultaneously with your thumbs in a gentle pressing and releasing motion, repeating 15 times. Perform this slowly in sync with your breathing. Focused stimulation in the evening is particularly effective for reducing nighttime drooling.

3. Jiache (頰車) — ST6

Location: In the depression at the upper end of the jaw muscle (masseter) that appears when you jut your jaw forward. It’s directly below the ear, on the upper border of the jaw angle.

Benefits: It directly stimulates the chewing muscles, strengthening the muscles around the mouth. Beyond drooling, it helps with jaw joint discomfort, dental health, and improves tongue mobility.

Technique: Using your middle and ring fingers on both hands, gently massage both points simultaneously in circular motions. Massage 10 circles in one direction, then 10 circles in the opposite direction. Perform this twice daily (morning and evening).

4. Fengchi (風池) — TE17

Location: In the depression below and behind the ear, on the upper part of the back of the neck. It’s directly in front of the muscle that protrudes when you move your neck, between the skull and cervical spine.

Benefits: It regulates the overall cranial nervous system, improving the nervous system imbalance that is the root cause of drooling. It’s also effective for fatigue recovery, improved concentration, and better sleep.

Technique: Tilt your neck slightly forward, then gently press this point with both thumbs and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times. Allow the warm sensation to spread throughout your neck.

5. Hegu (合谷) — LI4

Location: Where the thumb and index finger meet, in the depression on the back of the hand. It’s in the center of where the bones of the thumb and index finger meet when your index finger is extended.

Benefits: It promotes qi and blood circulation throughout the body and normalizes nerve signals in the face and mouth area. It’s a versatile acupoint that can improve not only drooling but also headaches, stress, and digestive discomfort.

Technique: Press the point on the opposite hand with your thumb at an intensity that’s ‘slightly tender but pleasant.’ Maintain the pressure for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then repeat on the other side using the same method. Perform this once in the morning after waking and once before bed.

5-Minute Self-Care Routine

This is a golden timing routine for quickly improving drooling. Spend 5 minutes before bed following this sequence: (1) Hold Fengchi for 10 seconds × 1 time, (2) Circular massage on Jiache 20 circles, (3) Gentle press on Dicang 15 times, (4) Press and release on Chenjiang 10 times, (5) Hold Hegu for 30 seconds × 1 time (both hands). Most people see 50% or more improvement in drooling within 3 weeks of this routine. Consistency is key. Aim to practice at least 5 days per week.