Using First Aid Acupuncture Points
This is a list of fifteen first aid Acupuncture points that everyone should know about. They are effective first aid points that can be stimulated using finger, or thumb, pressure.
The measurement “Cun” is an Acupuncture inch (also known as a body inch)
LI4. “The Great Eliminator, or the Union Valley”: Midway between the joint of the thumb and the index finger, and the border of the web: Pain relief in the head, face and upper teeth. AVOID DURING LABOUR.
With self treatment, it is advantageous to stimulate these first aid acupuncture points at the onset of a headache when you can still focus on them and are not distracted by too much pain.
BL2. “The Bamboo Gathering”: In the notch above the inner corner the eye: Eye problems, red eyes, blurred vision, headaches behind the eyes.
BL10. “The Celestial Pillar”: On the occiput, 1.5 cun lateral to the mid-line at the hairline: Occipital headache, stiff neck.
BL40. “The Bend Middle”: At the middle of the back of the knee, between the tendons: Acute lower backache, calf spasms, sciatica, and pain on the sole of the foot.
BL60. “The Kunlun Mountains”: Between the tip of the outer ankle and the Achilles tendon: Chronic backache, sciatica, and rigidity of the neck. It can also be used during difficult labour. AVOID DURING PREGNANCY.
LV3. “The Great Surge”: In the hollow between the 1st & 2nd toes, immediately in front of the joint: Used for migraine, headaches, muscular cramps.
GB1. “The Pupil Bone Hole”: Level with the eye corner, on the temple: Used for dry & painful eyes, conjunctivitis, and temporal headache.
GB14. “Yang White”: 1 cun above the middle of the eyebrow: Used for frontal headache.
GB20. “The Wind Pool” Below the occiput, between the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid muscles: It is a neck release point for tension and pain in the neck. Used for migraine, one-sided headaches, eye problems, dizziness, vertigo, and tinnitus.
GB21. “The Shoulder Well”: Halfway along the shoulder, on the high point: Used to relax the shoulders and neck, releases stiffness in the tendons. AVOID DURING PREGNANCY.
HG6. “The Inner Gate”: 2 cun above the wrist crease, between the tendons: Used for chest pain as it has a function of “opening” the chest. One of its best-known uses is for nausea and vomiting.
HG8. “The Palace of Toil”: On the palm between the 2nd & 3rd metacarpal bones: Calms the Shen, anxiety, high blood pressure.
SP6. “The Three Yin Intersection”: 3 cun above the tip of the inner ankle, near the rear border of the tibia: Relieves tiredness (especially in conjunction with ST36), calms the mind (Yi) and relieves insomnia. TO BE AVOIDED DURING PREGNANCY.
ST36. “The Commanding Middle”: 3 cun below the knee, 1 finger width out from the crest of the tibia: Generally good for vitality (especially when used with SP6), low libido, loss of appetite, indigestion, and nausea.
ST44. “The Inner Court”: In the web between the 2nd & 3rd toes: Clears heat from ST. It is used for pain anywhere along ST meridian (especially the lower jaw), facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache (lower), and sore throat.
