Acupressure Points
Acupressure points for emotional well-being. Their location, photograph, use and warnings are listed.
Each point is on the left, as well as on the right, on the body.
- GB-44
- KI-3
- KI-4
- KI-6
- LI-4
- LI-11
- LIV-1
- LIV-2
- LIV-3
- LU-1
- LU-3
- LU-7
- LU-9
- P-7
- SI-19
- SI-5
- SP-6
- ST-36
- TB-5
- TB-17
GB-44
Name:
Yin Openings Foot Point
(Gall Bladder 44)
Location: On the fourth toe, in the outer corner of the nail (so near the smallest toe).
Use: Press.
Effects: Enhances decisiveness and focus, while resolving anger. For timidity.
KI-3
Name:
Largest Valley Stream
(Kidney 3)
Location: On the inside of the foot, halfway between the Achilles-tendon and the side of the ankle-bone.
Use: Press.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much fear. (Also for lower backpain.)
KI-4
Name:
Great Bell
(Kidney 4)
Location: On the inside of the foot, near the Achilles-tendon, level with the lower part of the ankle-bone.
Use: Press.
Warning: Using this point to go against your heart or beyond your limits will damage your health even further. This will be the case when there are dark circles around your eyes.
Effects: Strengthens the will and dispels fear. For timidity.
KI-6
Name:
Shining Sea
(Kidney 6)
Location: On the inside of the foot, directly below the middle of the ankle bone.
Use: Press.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much fear. Enhances vision.
LI-4
Name:
Closed Valley
(Large Intestine 4)
Location: On the top side of the hand, on the web between thumb and index finger. To locate, squeeze the thumb against the base of the index finger. The point is located on the highest point of the bulge of the muscle, level with the end of the crease.
Use: Press.
Warning: Don't use this point during pregnancy.
Effects: Letting go of grief. Calms.
LI-11
Name:
Pond at the Bend
(Large Intestine 11)
Location: On the side of the elbow, on the outer side of the arm. Bend your forearm with your hand towards your neck, the point is located at the end of the crease at the elbow. This is halfway up the side of the arm.
Use: Reduce, so move your finger in counterclockwise direction over this point.
Warning: Use this point only when there is Heat, as when you're red in the face or your skin feels hot to the touch and you're feeling warm from prolonged anger (not from exertion). Don't use when weak or low on energy.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much anger.
LIV-1
Name:
Big Vessel
(Liver 1)
Location: On the big toe, at the bottom corner of the nail at the side of the other toes.
Use: Press.
Effects: Assertiveness, discerning when to go along with others and when to assert oneself. Self-esteem.
LIV-2
Name:
Walking Pause
(Liver 2)
Location: On the foot, between the big toe and the second toe, a half thumb width from the margin of the web.
Use: Reduce, so move your finger in counterclockwise direction over this point.
Warning: Use this point only when there is Heat, as when you're red in the face or your skin feels hot to the touch and you're feeling warm from prolonged anger (not from exertion). Don't use when weak or low on energy.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much anger.
LIV-3
Name:
Largest Infusion
(Liver 3)
Location: On the foot, on the line between the big toe and the second toe. The point is located about 3 finger widths from the edge, in the depression the size of a finger tip you can feel there.
Use: Reduce, so move your finger in counterclockwise direction over this point.
Warning: Don't use when weak or low on energy (in that case use SP-6 instead).
Effects: Relaxes and unblocks emotions (especially repressed anger). Depression.
LU-1
Name:
Central Storehouse
(Lung 1)
Location: On the top of the chest, under the shoulder. First locate the depression under the end of the clavicle, next to the muscle. LU-1 is one thumb width under this point, slightly to the side.
Use: Press.
Effects: For internal emptiness and making contact to one's inner worth. (Also for cough and asthma.)
LU-3
Name:
Heaven's Storehouse
(Lung 3)
Location: On the upper arm, one handwidth under the armpit (axillary fold). The point is located in the depression between the muscles from the shoulder and the biceps (under the shoulder muscle).
Use: Press.
Effects: For grief, feelings of loss and longing, internal emptiness and making contact to one's inner worth. (Also for cough and asthma.)
LU-7
Name:
Wedge Gap
(Lung 7)
Location: Keep your hand with the nail of the thumb up. Move your thumb up and back (away from the palm of your hand), this reveals a depression at the bottom of the thumb, called the "anatomic snuffbox" (between two tendons). Move your finger from the anatomic snuffbox along the side of your lower arm, until you feel a bone sticking out (about a thumb's width from it). LU-7 is located on that bone, in between the two tendons you feel there. You can press it with the nail of your thumb or index finger.
Use: Press.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much grief.
LU-9
Name:
Largest Depth
(Lung 9)
Location: On the palm-side of the wrist, in the depression beneath the thumb, between the point where you can feel your pulse and the tendon that goes to your thumb.
Use: Press.
To increase the effectiveness of this point, combine it with SP-6 or ST-36.
Effects: For grief, feelings of loss and longing, spiritual emptiness, many regrets. (Also moistens skin, and for cough and asthma.)
P-7
Name:
Much Abuse
(Pericardium 7)
Location: On the middle of the palm-side of the wrist, in the depression between the two tendons, on or just below the crease of the wrist.
Use: Reduce, so move your finger in counterclockwise direction over this point.
Warning: Don't use when weak or low on energy.
Effects: Heals effects on the body of too much joy or emotion.
Also diminishes nervousness.
SI-19
Name:
Hearing Palace
(Small Intestine 19)
Location: Near the ear, just before the small projection in front of the ear canal. The point is located in the depression that forms when the mouth is opened.
Use: Press.
Warning: Don't use on a regular basis; this point is meant for gaining insight only.
Effects: To focus and listen to one's heart and the hearts of others.
SI-5
Name:
Yang Valley
(Small Intestine 5)
Location: Near the wrist, on the pinky-side of the hand. It is a finger's width under the crease of the wrist, in the depression just above the bone that is sticking out. It's not straight above the bone, but straight under the pinky finger.
Use: Press.
Effects: Improves concentration, reduces distractability. Clarity of mind to distinguish the right path to take among several.
SP-6
Name:
Triple Yin Intersection
(Spleen 6)
Location: On the inside of the lower leg, one hand width (four fingers) above the tip of the ankle bone, on the back of the shin bone.
Use: Press.
Warning: Don't use this point during pregnancy.
Effects: Calms, relaxes and reduces irritability. Heals effects on the body of too much fear, worrying and thinking. (Also used for gynaecological conditions.)
ST-36
Name:
Leg's Three Quarter Miles
(Stomach 36)
Location: On the front of the leg, one hand width (four fingers) below the kneecap, on the outside, in the depression between the shinbone and the leg muscle.
What can go wrong is that you may be locating it somewhat too low on the leg. The point is immediately one hand breadth below the kneecap, so if you'd use something thick, like a finger, you might get half a finger breadth to low. It's at the outside of the bone that's on the front of the lower leg, one finger breadth from the crest of that bone.
Use: Press.
A fingernail or thumbnail is particularly suited for this point, as you will be able to press more closely to the bone and on a broad range.
Warning: Using this point to go beyond your limits (e.g. overwork) will damage your health even further.
Effects: Increases stamina and energy. Provides stability and grounding. Heals effects on the body of too much worrying and thinking.
TB-5
Name:
Barrier Gate to the Outside
(Triple Burner 5)
Location: On the lower arm, on the top side, two thumb widths below the crease of the wrist. In the middle, in the depression between the bones and tendons.
Use: Press.
Effects: Increases expressiveness and sensitivity to feelings.
TB-17
Name:
Wind Screen
(Triple Burner 17)
Location: At the bottom part of the ear, behind
the earlobe, in the depression the size of a fingertip.
Use: Press.
Effects: Makes less sensitive to what people think of you.