Acupressure for Sleep: 5 Pressure Points to Know

These days, getting a good night’s sleep can be hard. Many people are experiencing COVID-19 anxiety and suffering from sleeping disorders such as insomnia. If you’re considering alternative treatments, here’s what you need to know about using acupressure for sleep.

Pressure Points To Help You Fall Asleep

Acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that applies pressure to target points.  While acupuncture uses thin needles, this treatment uses pressure from the index finger to balance the flow of chi or life energy through the body’s meridians.

Here are some specific acupressure points to promote sleep:

An Mian (On the Head)

To find An Mian, place a finger behind the ear lobe just after the bony protrusion. Besides treating insomnia, this point can also be helpful in dealing with anxiety, headaches, and vertigo.

Light pressure is enough to stimulate this point.

Yin Tang (Hall of Impressions)

If you’ve gotten head massages or facials, you might be familiar with Yin Tang. You’ll find it in the center between the eyebrows where the bridge of your nose and forehead meet.

You need to apply firm pressure to this point for sleep, allergies, tension headaches, and vertigo.

Shen Men (Spirit Gate)

HT7 or Shen Men can be found on the wrists along the line of your little finger. When you bend your hand forward slightly, this acupressure point is on the outermost part of the crease on your wrists. Apply gentle pressure for 2 to 3 minutes on this area using an up-and-down or circular movement.

Aside from helping you sleep better, Spirit Gate can also help reduce nausea, fear, and anxiety.

The ears also have Shen Men or “Divine Point.” This auricular pressure point is located on the helix or the upper portion of the ear lobe in the triangular fossa. You can use this to ease stress, alleviate anxiety, and calm the mind.

Tai Chong (Liver 3)

Practitioners use Tai Chong for stress, high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, anxiety, and insomnia. You can find it on the foot approximately 2/3 width from where the skin of the big toe and the adjacent toe meet.

San Yin Jiao (Three Yin Intersection)

As for this pressure point, you can find it on the inner leg, a little above the ankle.

San Yin Jiao or SP6 may also be helpful in alleviating pain, addressing hypertension, and decreasing episodes of dizziness.

Acupressure for Sleep: Does it work?

There is promising evidence showing that acupressure helps with insomnia. In 2015, Iranian researchers observed significant improvements in the sleep quality of men.

The following year, an Italian study concluded that acupuncture was helpful for sleep-deprived pregnant women. They stimulated the HT7 or Shen Men for two weeks to get the said results. Similarly, researchers noted better sleep and better quality of life for 288 breast cancer survivors who got acupressure on SP6 for six weeks.

More recently, researchers from China also noticed that the sleep quality and depressed mood of nursing students improved after using auricular acupressure for four (4) weeks.

Advantages of Using Acupressure for Sleep

There are certain advantages of acupressure in treating insomnia.

First, acupressure is non-invasive. So, it’s a good alternative for people who are afraid of acupuncture.

Second, it’s chemical-free so there is no risk of dependence, unlike prescription sleeping pills or over-the-counter sleep aids.

Lastly, it’s a more natural approach that has lasting physical and mental health benefits. Acupressure, like a massage, can be a relaxing experience too.

Other Alternative Therapies for Better Sleep

There are other alternative therapies worth mentioning if you need help getting some zzzs.

At Everybody in Mind Wellness Center, we offer hypnotherapy and several wellness technologies available for you.

If you want to have some meditation time which may lead to a well-deserved nap, try our Somadome Meditation Pod. Similarly, you can be in that deeply relaxed state through Ajna Light meditation.

Meanwhile, our Quantum Resonance 7 Chakra Crystal Bed can harness your intention with the help of crystals, light, sound, and scalar energy to address fatigue and sleep deprivation.

All in all, the cornerstone of good sleep is relaxation.

Hope you can also explore the services we offer to help you deal with stress, pain, and support your well-being.