This material is meant to be used to assist self, family and friends to address simple tension and discomfort before resorting to the self-prescribed over-
the-counter pain preparations, thus “Acupressure First.”
Please Note:
Acupressure is designed for the enhancement of physical and emotional well-being and to increase body-mind awareness. It is not to be
interpreted as a technique for diagnosing or treating disease or as a substitute for guidance from your licensed health practitioner.  If
pain or discomfort persists, see your licensed practitioner.





  • All the functions of the body require energy: movement, digestion, blood circulation, tissue repair and maintenance, organ function, etc.

  • Energy is produced by the body from the combination of food and air:  oxygen and glucose.

  • Energy is produced inside the cells and is used there, and it also travels through its own system of pathways, much like the blood travels through
    its own vessels and nerve impulses travel along nerves.

  • When the energy produced is sufficient for the body’s use and the energy pathways are open and functioning, things work well.  

  • When the energy does not flow there is pain.  When the energy flows, there is no pain.
  • Pain is information about the inside.

  • The senses provide us with information about the outside. Touch gets the body’s attention to the place that is touched and even sparks a small
    current of energy in that place.

  • Pain is information from the inside.
  • Touch is information from the outside.
  • Acupressure is touch that reminds the body of the pathways through which the energy can flow.

  • The simplest form of acupressure is to touch what hurts: the local point.

  • Acupressure reminds the body of the flow of energy by touch on another point above or below, in front or in back, to the left or right of the pain.
    When the touch is on one of the pathways that carry energy through the point, the effect is greater.





  • Touch where it hurts. If the area is too painful, touch above and below it or the same area on the other side. The body remembers both sides when
    reminded of one.

  • Touch where it hurts and another point that will encourage the energy to flow:
                  Fingertips and Toes
                  Points in the hands or feet on the same surface of the body - front or back
                          (when one is standing with the arms reaching down and out and the palms facing forward)

  • Try specific point combinations listed below until you find one that works.
  • Point locations are listed immediately following the Point Combinations Section





Please Note: (*) indicates that this point should not be used on pregnant women, especially in the first trimester.

   Anxiety, Agitation, Panic Attacks:
           Little Finger Side of Wrist (H 5,6,7)        
  Back Pain/Tension
           Pain Point (use tennis balls) with Behind Knee (Bl 40) and/or Outer Ankle Bone (Bl 62)
  Breathing Difficulties
           Lung Point (Lu 1) with Inner Thumb (Lu 10)
  Calf Tension/Pain
           Back of Calf (Bl 57
  Constipation
           Outside Navel (St 25) with Back of Hand (LI 4*)
          Hip Bone Corner (Bl 25) with Back of Hand (LI 4*)
  Eyes/Vision:
           Corner of Eye (Bl 1), Inside end of Eyebrow (Bl 2), Outer End of Eyebrow (TW 23)
          Outside Corner of Eye (GB 1), Under Eye (St 1)
  Headache:  
           Base of Skull (GB 20) with Forehead (GB 14)
          Corner of Eye (Bl 1) with High Neck (Bl 10)
  Heart Emergency (As you call for Emergency Services):
           Little Finger (H 9)
  Heartburn:
           Edge of Rib Cage - Stomach (St 19) – both left and right or
          Edge of Rib Cage – Stomach (St 19) with Outer Calf Muscle (St 36*)
  Hiccups:
           Top of Breastbone (CV22) Press toward toes, NOT TOWARD THROAT
  Hip Pain/Tension:
           Hip Joint 1 (GB 29) with Hip Joint 2 (GB 30) and/or Outside Knee (GB 34), Toes
  Indigestion:
           Edge of Rib Cage – Liver (Lv 14) with Back of Lower Arm (TW 5)
          See Heartburn
  Insomnia:
           Outer Anklebone (Bl 62) with Inner Anklebone (K 6)
          Back Tension Point with above and/or Behind Knee (Bl 40)
  Jaw Pain/Tension:
           Jaw point (St 6) with Under Collarbone (St 13)
  Knee Pain/Swelling:
           Pain Point with Inner Anklebone (K 6) and/or Outer Anklebone (Bl 62)
          Below Inner Knee (Sp 9) with Big Toe
  Menstrual Cramps:
           Above Inside Ankle Bone (Sp 6*)
  Muscle Cramps and Spasms:
           Top of Foot (Lv 3)
   Muscle Fatigue:
           Local Area with Outer Calf Muscle (St 36*)
  Muscle Tension:
           Local Area with Outside Knee (GB 34)
  Nasal Congestion/Runny Nose
           See Sinuses
  Nausea:
           Back of Lower Arm (TW 5) with Front of Lower Arm (P6)
          See special point for Pregnancy
   Neck Pain/Tension:
           Pain Point with Back of Hand (LI 4*) and/or Back of Lower Arm (TW 5)
          Side of Neck (GB Extra) with Outside Knee (GB 34)
  Pregnancy:
           DO NOT USE LI 4, Sp 6, St 36, GB 21 until labor has started.
           For breech presentation use End of Little Toe (Bl 67)
          For nausea, use Edge of Rib Cage (Lv 14)
          See other symptoms, e.g. insomnia, constipation, etc.
  Shoulder Pain/Tension:
           Top of Shoulder (GB 21*) with Outside Knee (GB 34) and/or Back of Lower Arm (TW 5)
          Middle of Shoulder Blade (SI 11)        
  Sinuses:
           Under Cheekbone (St 3) with Under Collarbone (St 13), Back of Hand (LI 4*)
          Corner of Eye (Bl 1) with Back of Hand (LI 4*)
          Inner End of Eyebrow (Bl 2) with Back of Hang (LI 4*)
  Tendonitis:
           Elbow: Elbow Crease (LI 11) with Back of Hand (LI 4*)
          Carpal Tunnel – work on Neck and Shoulder Tension
          Pain Point with Fingertips or Toes
  Toothache:
           Back of Hand (LI 4*)
  Unconsciousness (While you call for emergency services):
           Sole of Foot (K 1)




Note: A “body inch” is a measurement based on the proportions of individual bodies.  
  One body inch is equal to the width of the thumb:
  1.5 body inches are equal to two finger widths
  3 body inches are equal to four finger widths

  Above Inside Ankle Bone (Sp 6*)
           Three body inches above the inner ankle bone
  Back of Calf (Bl 57)
           Slide up the Achilles tendon to the space between the two heads of the calf muscle
  Back of Hand (LI 4*)
           Holding thumb and index finger together, press at end of crease toward finger
  Back of Lower Arm (TW 5)
          Two body inches from the wrist crease
  Back Tension Point
          Wherever there is tension
  Base of Skull (GB 20)
          Feel under the base of the skull, above the hairline, for the tender point
  Behind Knee (Bl 40)
          In the middle of the crease behind the knee
          (See Back of Calf)
  Below Inner Knee (Sp 9)
          Slide up under the ledge on the inside of the lower leg
  Corner of Eye (Bl 1)
  Edge of Rib Cage – Liver (Lv 14)
          Under the edge of the rib cage in front, just inside nipple line
  Edge of Rib Cage - Stomach (St 19)
          Under the edge of the rib cage in front, at the level of the tip of the Xiphoid process
  Elbow Crease (LI 11)
          At the outer end of the crease in the elbow.
  End of Little Toe (Bl 67)
          Hold at the outside of the base of the 5th toenail.
  Fingertips or Toes
          Hold either the base of the fingernail or wrap your fingers around the whole digit
  Forehead (GB 14)
          One body inch above the eyebrow just above the pupil of the eye
  Front of Lower Arm (P6)
          Two body inches from the inner wrist crease
  High Neck (Bl 10)
          Just down and inside Base of Skull, on the edge of the neck bone
          (See Base of Skull)
  Hip Bone Corner (Bl 25)
          At the inner end of the hip bone just before it runs into the spine
  Hip Joint 1 (GB 29)
          On the side of the hip in the sore point
  Hip Joint 2 (GB 30)
          On the back of the hip in the sore point  a few body inches behind and below Hip Joint 1
           (See Hip Joint 1)
  Inner Anklebone (K 6)
          In thehollow just below the inner ankle bone
  Inner End of Eyebrow (Bl 2)
          (See Corner of Eye)
  Jaw point (St 6)
          In the side of the jaw where the muscle jumps when the teeth are clenched
  Little Finger (H 9)
          At the base of the little finger nail on the inside
  Little Finger Side of Wrist (H 5, 6, 7)
     On the inside of the wrist below the little finger, starting at the wrist crease, use three fingers to hold  between the bone and the tendon
   Local Area
   Wherever there is  pain or tension
  Lung Point (Lu 1)
           On the edge of the chest, two fingers below the collar bone
  Middle of Shoulder Blade (SI 11)
          In the middle of the shoulder blade at the sensitive point        
  Outer Calf Muscle (St 36*)
           Three body inches along the shin from the bottom of the knee cap and then 1.5 body inches out into the muscle
  Outer Ankle Bone (Bl 62)
   Outer End of Eyebrow (TW 23)
           In the hollow at the end of the eyebrow
  Outside Knee (GB 34)
           Slide up the outer lower leg until you run into the underside of the bump (head of the fibula).
  Outside Navel (St 25)
           Two body inches outside the navel.
  Pain Point
           Wherever there is pain
  Side of Neck (GB Extra)
           Halfway between the base of the neck and the base of the skull.
  Sole of Foot (K 1)
           On the crease below the ball of the foot on a line between the 2nd and 3rd toes
  Toes
           Hold the base of the nail or wrap fingers around the whole toe
  Top of Foot (Lv 3)
           Slide up between the bones of the big toe and second toe to just before they meet                 
  Top of Shoulder (GB 21*)
           Grasp the thick part of the top of the shoulder. The point is on the front edge.
 Under Cheekbone (St 3)
           Under the cheekbone at the level of the pupil of the eye
  Under Collarbone (St 13)
           Halfway along the length of the collar bone, just underneath it and on the side of the upper ribs
  Under Eye (St 1)
           On the edge of the eye socket directly under the pupil of the eye.
ACUPRESSURE
FIRST

Energy

For Pain
Point Combinations for Common Problems
Scroll Down for Specific Point Locations

Point Locations