How to Find and Hold a Point
With acupressure, you literally feel where you hurt. How do you know when you found a point?
It will be tender, even somewhat painful to touch, if there is significant energy blockage at that point. However, when the appropriate amount of pressure is applied to the right spot, you will feel that “good hurt” recognizable from stretching or a good massage.
Two or three minutes of pressure on the spot along with deep breathing will begin to diminish the tenderness. You may even experience immediate relief from the primary symptom that you are treating.
Examples of Acupressure Points for a Migraine and Headaches
L14 “Hoku” or “Joining the Valley”
The Hoku point is located bilaterally, on the back of the hand in the webbing between the thumb and index finger.
- Squeeze L14 by putting your thumb on the point, and your index finger on the palm side of your hand.
- Hold it for a few minutes, pressing firmly, or until you feel relief. Repeat on the opposite hand.
This point should not be used during pregnancy.
GB20 “Gates of Consciousness”
The GB20 point is located at the back of the head and neck.
- With your thumbs, locate the points underneath the base of the skull into the hollow areas on either side, two to three inches apart.
- Close your eyes, then slowly tilt head back into your fingers/thumbs.
- Firmly press up underneath the skull.
- Continue long, deep breaths, holding the pressure point for two minutes, while deep breathing, then gradually release the pressure.
GV24.5 “Third Eye Point”
The GV24.5 point is in the middle forehead area where the brows meet.
- Feel along the nasal bridge and palpate for indentions.
- Apply slow, gentle bilateral pressure.
B2 Drilling Bamboo
The B2 point is located where the bridge of your nose meets your eye socket and below the eyebrows.
- Move thumbs to the forehead area, find the hollows in the area on either side of the nose where the brows meet the bridge of the nose.
- Apply very gently pressure.
- Continue deep breaths – in through the nose, and out through the mouth – hold pressure for one to two minutes.
ST3 “Facial Beauty”
The ST3 point is located at the bottom of the cheekbones in alignment with the pupils.
- Move index and middle fingers along the side of the nostrils.
- Feel for cheekbones and continue bilateral pressure gently with index fingers.
- Deep breath.
- Tilt your face into or toward your fingers (your fingers should be aligned with the pupils of your eyes.)
- Hold gentle, steady pressure and deep breathe for one minute.
GB41 “Above Tears”
The GB41 point is located on the top of the foot, approximately one inch above the web space between the fourth and fifth toes (the groove between the toes).
- Close your eyes and take a deep cleansing breath.
- Place the heel of one foot between the first and second toe of the other foot.
- Briskly rub for one minute while taking deep breaths.
- Move the same heel to the web space between the fourth and fifth toe.
- Repeat deep breaths.
- Change foot and repeat.
- End with two deep breaths and gently massaging temples bilaterally.
LV3 “Bigger Rushing”
The LV3 point is located at the top of the foot between the first and second metatarsals.
- Start at the webbing between the toes and slide your heel or finger/thumb toward you.
