ESSENTIAL SELF-MASSAGE ACUPOINTS FOR MIND-BODY HEALTH

Shin Lin, Ph.D.

UCI Professor of Ce Bioo!", Bio#e$i%& En!ineerin!, &n$ In'e!r&'i(e Me$i%ine
)isi'in! Professor, Sh&n!h&i Uni(ersi'" of Tr&$i'ion& Chinese Me$i%ine
Revised December 1, 2009
A. Gener& Prin%i*es.
Self-massage of acupuncture points (acupoints) is based on acupuncture therap, !hich
has been sho!n to affect mind-bod functions in recent studies using functional "R#,
electrophsiolog, cell$molecular biolog, and clinical trials%
Self-massage should be considered a form of ad&unct health-enhancing e'ercise, and not
to substitute for medical treatment for serious disorders and other (no!n forms of health-
enhancing activities% Do not practice self-massage during pregnanc or !hen suffering
from serious disorders !ithout medical supervision%
#n general, !hile in a rela'ed state and coordinating !ith deep breathing, appl stead
pressure !ith a finger on the point for about )0 seconds to ) minutes% *isuali+e energ
flo!ing into the appropriate organ(s) associated !ith the acupoint during this process%
Repeat if appropriate on the point on the opposite side of the bod% Start !ith points from
top and to bottom of bod%
,ach acupoint has man applications according to -raditional .hinese "edicine%
/pplications indicated belo! are for common problems encountered b essentiall
health people%
0omenclature of acupoints given belo! are generall according to 1/cupuncture% /
.omprehensive -e't2 published b the Shanghai 3niversit of -raditional .hinese
"edicine, ,astland 4ress, 1951%
B. The + G&'es of Life. (-he ) most important points for health enhancement and
healing)
Fo$e$ )&e", 6e 7u, 8arge #ntestine 8#-9% 6alf!a on radial side of bone on
dorsal side of hand e'tending from inde' finger% :or pain relief and mood
enhancement due to stimulation of release of endorphins sho!n in man studies%
Insi$e G&'e, 0ei 7uan, 4ericardium 4.-;% -hree finger !idths from crease
bet!een hand and forearm on the ventral side of forearm bet!een 2 main tendons%
:or enhancement$regulation of cardiovascular functions (e%g%, regulation of blood
pressure as sho!n in 3.# research) and relief of motion sic(ness and nausea%
Foo' Three Me&s,res, <hu San 8i, Stomach S--);% :our finger !idths from
lo!er edge of (neecap in depression bet!een the outside surface of shin bone and
muscle% :or enhancement of digestion and immune function%
C. He&$ &n$ Ne%- Poin's.
H,n$re$ Mee'in!s, =ai 6ui, Du$7overning *essel 7*-20% >n top of head, half
!a bet!een the upper tips of the ears% Relieves tension, insomnia, di++iness, and
enhances mental functions%
.in$ Poo, :eng .hi, 7all =ladder 7=-20% /t the t!o depressions at lo!er edge
of s(ull !here nec( muscles$tendons connect% Relieves nec( pain and smptoms
of cold and flu% /lso thought to enhances blood flo! to the brain
S,n, -ai ?ang, ,'tra-6ead and 0ec( 60 9% #n temple area on side of head% Rub
!ith flesh part of palm (0>- fingers) Relieves tension and headache%
Se& H&, ?in -ang, ,'tra-6ead and 0ec( 60-)% =et!een the eebro!s% Sho!n
in clinical trial at 3.# to relieve mental tension in pediatric surger patients for
better outcome% /lso relieves headache, nose and sinus-related problems%
#mproves mental concentration%
Fish .&is', ?u ?ao, ,'tra-6ead and 0ec( 60-;% "iddle of eebro!% ,nhances
blood flo! in ee area@ relieves tiredness of muscle around the ees%
Bri!h' E"es, Aing "ing, =ladder =8-1% /t upper-inside corners of ees%
,nhances blood flo! in ee area@ relieves tired ees% /lso believe to improve e
drness%
P,*i Cre(i%e, -ong <i 8iao, 7all =ladder 7=-1% /t outside corners of ees%
Relieves headache, ee pain, loss of visual acuit, reddening of ees, tearing%
.e%o#e Fr&!r&n%e, ?ing Biang, 8iver 8#-20% /t outer corners of nostrils%
Relieves nasal congestion, nosebleed, facial s!elling%
Mi$$e of Person, Ren <hong, Du$7overning *essel 7*-2;% 1$) of the distance
from lo!er edge of nose to upper lip% Relieves facial s!elling@ resuscitation from
fainting%
P&s'e Con'&iner, .heng Aiang, Ren$.onception *essel .*-29% =et!een lo!er lip
and chin% Relieves gum s!elling, toothache%
M&n/s .e%o#e, Ren ?ing, Stomach S--9% =oth sides of voice bo'% Relieves
throat and breathing problems%
He&(en/s Pro#inen%e, -ian -u, Ren$.onception *essel .*-22% Relieves throat
problems%
D. U**er Li#0.
L&0or/s P&&%e, 8ao 7ong, 4ericardium 4.-9% >n center of palm !here middle
finger touches the palm% / center of energ@ for energi+ing bod and relief of
fatigue%
O,'si$e G&'e, Cai 7uan, -riple =urner -=-D% Directl on the opposite side of
#nside 7ate% :or enhancement of auditor function@ relieve of ear ringing,
headache%
Croo-e$ Poo, Eu .hi, 8arge #ntestine 8#-11% Chen elbo! is fle'ed, the point is
in depression bet!een lo!er and upper arm at the end of the crease of the s(in%
Relieves tiredness and pain of elbo!, arm and hand%
Ar# Three Me&s,res, Shou San 8i, 8arge #ntestine 8#-10% -!o finger !idths
do!n from crease at elbo! &oint% Relieves shoulder, hand and elbo! pain%
E0o1 Se&#, <houliao, large #ntestine 8#-12% >ne finger !idth up from crease at
elbo! &oint% Relieves pain # elbo! and arm%
S*iri'/s Door, Shen "en, 6eart 6--F% >n ventral side of lo!er arm near crease
bet!een arm and hand, lined up !ith little finger% 4romote sleep@ relieve tension,
tiredness of ees, &oints%
E. Lo1er Li#0 Poin's.
Gre&'er Po,rin!2R,shin!, -ai .hong, 8arge #ntestine 8#-)% >n top of foot,
bet!een first and second toes, at end of second bones% Relieves tension,
headache, di++iness, urinar and reproductive problems%
G,shin! S*rin!, ?ong Euan, Gidne G#-1% =ottom of foot, in depression 1$) of
the !a from tip of toes to heel% ,nergi+es lo!er bod and relieves tiredness due
to e'cessive !al(ing%
Bri!h' Li!h', 7uang "ing, 7all =ladder 7=-)F% Seven finger !idths from an(le
bone (or three finger !idths from mid point bet!een protrusions of bone at an(le
and at (nee), on outside of lo!er leg% ,nhances vision%
F. Bo$" Poin's.
Sho,$er .e, Aian Aing, 7all =ladder 7=-21 % >n top of shoulder, half !a
bet!een end of shoulder and bac( bone% ,nhance blood flo!@ relieve bac( and
shoulder pain%
Mi$$e A'&r2Pene'r&'in! O$or, -an <hong $Shan <hong, Ren$.onception
*essel .*-1F% "iddle of chest, half !a bet!een nipples% ,nhances heart and
lung functions%
Hin!e of 'he So,r%e, 7uan ?uan, Ren$.onception *essel .*-9 % :our finger
!idths do!n from bell button% Relieves problems related to urinar and
reproductive functions (e%g%, freHuent urination, menstrual cramps)@ promote
sleep%
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