Body Region

Face

Face acupressure works with points you already know by shape — Yintang between the brows, Taiyang at the temples, LI20 beside the nostrils. Gentle fingertip work on these and other facial points features in guides for headache, sinus congestion, eye strain, jaw tension, and anxiety.

Face

Why Face Acupressure Points Matter

The face is the most visible surface on the body's point map, and it is also where several common complaints live. Yintang, the spot between the eyebrows, is the classic choice for anxiety, stress, insomnia, and headache in TCM practice, and a natural place to start for people new to the whole system. Taiyang, at the temples, and GB14 (Yangbai), above the brows, are traditional responses to headache, migraine-type pressure, and eye strain. LI20 (Yingxiang) beside the nostrils and ST2 (Sibai) below the eye appear routinely in routines for sinus congestion and facial pain, while ST6 (Jiache) at the jaw addresses clenching and TMJ-type tension. These same points recur in our headache, sleep, anxiety, and sinus guides.

Facial points sit on the same meridian channels that run through the rest of the body, so classical practice treats them with the same logic as points elsewhere. But the face's nerves and muscles sit close to the surface, and they hold a great deal of everyday tension from screens, stress, and clenching. That is why facial work favors a light, precise touch: you still aim for the deep, dull deqi sensation, just reached with far less pressure than the legs or feet demand.

Key Points in This Region

Six points across the brow, temples, nose, cheeks, and jaw. All are pressed with clean, short nails and a gentler touch than in any other body region.

Yintang

Yintang · Hall of Impression

★★★★★

Anxiety, stress, insomnia, headaches

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Taiyang

Taiyang · Sun Point

★★★★★

Headaches, migraines, eye strain

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ST2

ST2 (Sibai) · Four Whites

★★★☆

Sinus congestion, facial pain

LI20

LI20 (Yingxiang) · Welcome Fragrance

★★★★★

Nasal congestion, sinus issues

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GB14

GB14 (Yangbai) · Yang White

★★★☆

Forehead headaches, eye strain

ST6

ST6 (Jiache) · Jaw Carriage

★★★☆

Jaw tension, toothache, TMJ

How to Stimulate Face Points

Use the pad of the index or middle finger at ninety degrees to the skin, and keep your nails short. Increase pressure very slowly over ten to fifteen seconds until you feel a soft, deep ache, then hold for thirty to sixty seconds with light, even breathing — facial points take a shorter hold than the one-to-two-minute standard used elsewhere. Never press the eyeballs, inside the nostrils, or onto raw skin. Work both sides evenly and release slowly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yintang safe to press?
Yintang, the point between the eyebrows just above the bridge of the nose, is widely regarded as one of the safest and most beginner-friendly points in acupressure practice. Light fingertip pressure for thirty to sixty seconds with even breathing is the standard approach. Skip it if the area is irritated or if you have had recent facial surgery or injury. As with all facial work, the eyes and nostrils stay untouched, and clinical anxiety or insomnia still deserves professional guidance.
Can face acupressure help sinus congestion?
LI20 (Yingxiang), at the side of each nostril, and ST2 (Sibai), just below the eye, are the points most often suggested in TCM practice when congestion is the complaint. Two fingertips pressing upward and outward for thirty to sixty seconds is a common, gentle technique. It is a comfort practice rather than a decongestant, and it cannot clear an infection or allergy by itself. Persistent sinus pain or fever should be reviewed by a clinician.
How long should I press these points?
Hold facial points for thirty to sixty seconds — notably shorter than the one-to-two-minute standard for the rest of the body — because the skin and muscles of the face are delicate. Use light pressure and short nails, breathe evenly, and repeat softly a few times a day if you like. Release slowly, and never press on the eyes or inside the nostrils.