Acupressure for Health Conditions

What You'll Find in This Section

Each guide below covers a specific health condition with the most relevant pressure points, their locations, recommended hold times, and a suggested routine. The strongest research support on this site is for nausea, where PC6 (Neiguan) on the inner forearm is backed by a long-running Cochrane systematic review, and for anxiety, where a systematic review and meta-analysis from 2022 found the overall direction of the evidence positive while calling for more high-quality trials.

For headaches, a randomized trial from 2010 (Hsieh et al., Am J Chin Med) found one month of acupressure more effective than a muscle relaxant for chronic headache, though reviews describe the headache evidence as promising but limited in quality. For sleep, a randomized trial from 2020 (Liao et al., J Am Med Dir Assoc) found acupressure improved sleep quality in nursing-home residents; that evidence is promising but still preliminary. Evidence for back pain, neck pain, migraine, and constipation is more limited, but the guides still offer practical point-by-point routines used in clinical TCM practice.

Whatever the condition, the guides rely on a handful of well-documented points, such as BL40 (Weizhong) behind the knee for lower back pain, GB20 (Fengchi) at the base of the skull for headaches, and ST36 (Zusanli) below the knee for digestive complaints, with hold times of 30 seconds to 3 minutes per point.

Points by Condition Quick Reference

A few points show up again and again. This table shows which pressure points each condition guide actually relies on, so you can cross-reference a symptom with the point page that explains it in depth.

Primary points are the ones each condition guide leans on most. Visit the full condition guide for the complete routine, or open the linked point page for location and technique details.

How to Use These Guides

• Pick one guide that matches your symptoms. Start with the two or three points it highlights rather than trying every point at once.
• Locate each point carefully. Use the anatomical reference points given and confirm the spot by tenderness and a slight depression.
• Apply steady pressure. Press at a 90-degree angle and hold for about 30 seconds to 3 minutes while breathing deeply.
• Use acupressure alongside, not instead of, your usual care. Stop and see a healthcare provider if symptoms persist, worsen, or concern you.

If you are pregnant or managing a chronic condition, review the safety section before using any of these protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions