Points for Feeling
Emotional Acupressure
The same meridian map used in acupuncture, worked with a thumb instead of a needle. Choose the state you are in and hold the point while you breathe out slowly.
What are you working with?
Hall of Impression
YintangExtra point meridian
Where
Directly between the eyebrows, in the small hollow above the bridge of the nose.
How
Rest a fingertip there with light, steady pressure and breathe out slowly for two minutes.
The classic calming point. Use it before sleep rather than during a crisis — it works by slowing, not by force.
Spirit Gate
HT 7Heart meridian
Where
On the inner wrist crease, in the hollow on the little-finger side, just inside the tendon.
How
Press with the opposite thumb, firm but not sharp, one minute per wrist.
Traditionally used to settle the shen — the part of you that races at 3am.
Inner Gate
PC 6Pericardium meridian
Where
Three finger-widths up from the wrist crease on the inner forearm, between the two tendons.
How
Thumb pressure with small circles, one to two minutes each side.
The point behind travel-sickness bands. Also loosens the held breath of panic.
Joining Valley
LI 4Large Intestine meridian
Where
In the webbing between thumb and index finger, at the highest point when they are pressed together.
How
Squeeze between thumb and finger for thirty seconds, release, repeat three times.
Strong point — traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
Great Surge
LV 3Liver meridian
Where
On the top of the foot, in the hollow between the first and second toe bones.
How
Press firmly with the thumb and hold while you exhale, one minute per foot.
Pair with LI 4 for the classic 'Four Gates' combination when everything feels wound tight.
Bubbling Spring
KD 1Kidney meridian
Where
On the sole, in the hollow that appears just below the ball of the foot when the toes curl.
How
Thumb-press or roll the foot over a ball for two minutes each side.
Pulls attention and charge downward out of a racing head. Best done barefoot.
Leg Three Miles
ST 36Stomach meridian
Where
Four finger-widths below the kneecap, one finger-width outside the shin bone.
How
Firm circular pressure or gentle tapping for two minutes each leg.
The traditional stamina point — named for the extra distance a tired traveller could walk after using it.
Chest Centre
CV 17Conception Vessel meridian
Where
On the breastbone, level with the fourth rib space, at the centre of the chest.
How
Flat palm or two fingers, light pressure, breathing into the hand for three minutes.
Where sadness sits physically for most people. Expect the breath to catch before it deepens.
Gates of Consciousness
GB 20Gall Bladder meridian
Where
At the base of the skull, in the two hollows either side of the neck muscles.
How
Thumbs in both hollows, head tilted gently back, firm pressure for one minute.
Effective for the headache that comes from a long day at a screen.
Three Yin Crossing
SP 6Spleen meridian
Where
Four finger-widths above the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone.
How
Steady thumb pressure, one minute per leg, ideally in the evening.
Avoid during pregnancy. Strong for settling a night-time mind.
Central Treasury
LU 1Lung meridian
Where
Below the outer end of the collarbone, in the hollow near the shoulder joint.
How
Press with two fingers while lengthening the exhale, one minute each side.
In Chinese medicine the lungs hold grief; this point is where held grief becomes physical.
Hundred Meetings
GV 20Governing Vessel meridian
Where
At the crown of the head, on the midline, level with the tops of the ears.
How
Light fingertip tapping for one minute, then rest the palm there.
Lifting rather than calming — use in the morning, not before bed.
Before you press
- ◦ Pressure should be firm and clear, never sharp. Ease off if it becomes painful.
- ◦ Breathe out for the duration of the hold — the breath does as much as the thumb.
- ◦ Work both sides of the body unless the point sits on the midline.
- ◦ Avoid points over broken skin, recent injury, or during pregnancy where noted.
- ◦ This is a traditional relaxation practice offered for interest and comfort only. It is not medical treatment and does not replace professional care.
In short
Twelve classical acupressure points for anxiety, grief, anger and exhaustion: where each point sits, how to hold it and what it settles.
- Two or three points well held beats a tour of the whole list.
- Pair LI 4 and LV 3 — the Four Gates — when everything feels wound tight at once.
- Points at the crown and face are stimulating; save them for morning.
- Warm hands make a considerable difference. Rub the palms together first.
12
Points
9
Meridians
2c BCE
Earliest text
2 min
Typical hold
Acupressure and acupuncture share one map. The meridian system was set down in the Huangdi Neijing, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, compiled from roughly the second century BCE, which describes channels carrying qi through the body and points along them where that flow can be influenced.
Finger pressure was never the poor relation of the needle. The Chinese tradition of tui na and the Japanese practice of shiatsu both developed sophisticated manual techniques, and household use of a handful of points — the webbing of the hand for headache, the inner wrist for nausea — has been continuous for centuries in East Asia.
The points collected here are the ones most consistently associated with emotional states across those traditions: the Heart channel for the restless mind, the Lung channel for grief, the Liver channel for stuck anger. Modern research has looked hardest at PC 6 for nausea; the emotional applications remain traditional rather than demonstrated.
Questions Readers Ask
How long should I hold each point?
One to two minutes per point per side is the usual guidance, with the pressure applied on the out-breath and released slowly.
Are any points unsafe?
LI 4 and SP 6 are traditionally avoided during pregnancy. Avoid pressing over broken skin, recent injury, varicose veins or areas of unexplained pain.
Can I use these instead of medical care?
No. These are offered for relaxation and interest only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
What if I cannot find the point?
Explore the described area with the thumb until you find a spot that feels slightly tender or distinct. Precision matters less than steady contact and slow breathing.