Acupressure for Flu Cold and Cough
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Transcript of Acupressure for Flu Cold and Cough
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7/22/2019 Acupressure for Flu Cold and Cough
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Acupressure Points for
Colds and Flu
Colds are caused by viruses that thrive in your nose and throat
when the temperature, acidity, and moisture suit them. When
you are run down and your resistance is low, your ability to
adapt to environmental changes weakens, making it easier to
catch a cold, and the mucous membranes become a perfect
breeding ground for viruses. Cold symptoms are the body's
attempt to protect itself from these intruders. When a virus
enters your nose, for instance, the body secretes more mucus to
flush it away.
Because acupressure stimulates your body to expel the virus
more quickly, it may seem at first that your cold is worsening.
But your body is simply progressing through the symptoms
faster than usual. lthough acupressure cannot cure a cold,
working on certain points can help you get better quicker and
increase your resistance to future colds.
Acupressure Points
for Seasonal Changes
!otent point B "#, called Bearing $upport, is especially good for stimulating the body's natural resistance
to colds and flus. %t's located near the spine, off the tips of the shoulder blades. ccording to traditionalChinese medicine, wind and cold enter the pores of the skin at this point.&he muscles in this upper back
area tend to get tense (ust before a cold or flu takes hold.)
*ecently, one of my best friends, a realtor, was suffering from a bad cold with a stuffy nose, a hacking
cough, puffiness around his eyes, and a pallid complexion. +e hadn't slept well the previous two nights
because of these discomforts and was very tired. fter % briefly massaged his upper back, shoulders, neck,
and chest, % showed him how to press the decongestion points underneath the base of his skull and on his
face. % also told him to drink ginger tea at least twice a day. When % saw ohn the next day, he told me he
had slept soundly and felt much more refreshed. +is eyes looked much clearer, and already he was nolonger coughing and blowing his nose.
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Potent Points for Relieving Colds and Flu
Drilling Bamboo -B )
Location: %n the indentations of the eye sockets, on either side of where the bridge of the nose meets the
ridge of the eyebrows.
Benefits: *elieves colds, sinus congestion, frontal headaches, and tired eyes.
Facial Beauty -$t "
Location:t the bottom of the cheekbone, directly below the
pupil.
Benefits: *elieves stuffy nose, head congestion, burning eyes,
eye fatigue, and eye pressure.
Welcoming Perfume -/% )0
Location: 1n either cheek, (ust outside each nostril.
Benefits: *elieves nasal congestion, sinus pain, facial paralysis, and facial swelling.
Crooked Pond -/% &&
Location: t the outer end of the elbow crease.
Benefits: *elieves cold symptoms, fever, constipation, and elbow pain2 strengthens the immune system.
Joining the Valley (Hoku) -/% 3
Caution: his point is forbidden for pregnant women because its stimulation can cause premature
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contractions in the uterus.
Location: t the highest spot of the muscle on the back of the hand that protrudes when the thumb and
index finger are close together.
Benefits: *elieves colds, flu, head congestion, constipation, and headaches.
Gate of Concioune -4B )0
Location: Below the base of the skull, in the hollows on both sides, two to three inches apart depending
on the si5e of the head.
Benefits: *elieves headaches, head congestion, arthritis, neck pain, and irritability.
Wind !anion -46
Location: %n the center of the back of the head, in the large hollow under the base of the skull.
Benefits: *elieves head congestion, red eyes, mental stress, headaches, and stiff neck.
"hird #ye Point -46 )3.7
Location: 8irectly between the eyebrows, in the indentation where the bridge of the nose meets thecenter of your forehead.
Benefits: *elieves head congestion, stuffy nose, and headaches.
#legant !anion -9 ):
Location: %n the hollow below the collarbone next to the breastbone.
Benefits: *elieves chest congestion, breathing difficulties, coughing,and sore throats.
Potent Point Exercises
$ou do not ha%e to ue all of thee &oint' ing ut one or t*o of them *hene%er you ha%e a free hand
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can be effecti%e'
+ie do*n on your back or it comfortably'
Step 1
Press into B 2: ;se your thumbs on the upper ridge of your eye
socket to press into the slight hollow near the bridge of your nose for
one minute. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, letting the
weight of your head relax forward onto your thumbs.
Step 2
Press St and L! 2": !lace both of your middle fingers beside your nostrils and your index fingers next
to them2 gradually press up and underneath the cheekbones for one
minute. irmly
squee5e your thumb and index finger of your right hand together to
press into the webbing. ngle the pressure toward the bone that connects with your left index finger, and
hold for one minute. hen switch hands.
Step '
Fir%l& press (B 2":?ow close your eyes and place your thumbs
underneath the base of your skull, two to three inches apart. $lowly
tilt your head back and apply pressure gradually, holding the position
for one minute to fully release these important cold=relief points.
Step )
Fir%l& press (* 1): !lace the tips of your middle fingers into the
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hollow in the center of the base of your skull. 9eeping your fingers on the point, inhale as you tilt your
head back and exhale as you relax your head forward. Continue to slowly rock your head back and
forward, and breathe deeply while you hold this important point for relieving head congestion.
Step +
,ouch the (* 2$-': Bring your palms together and use your middle and
index fingers to lightly touch the hird @ye !oint located between your
eyebrows. Breathe deeply as you hold this point for balancing your
endocrine system.
Step .
Fir%l& press / 2+: !lace your fingertips on the protrusions of yourcollarbone, then slide your fingers down and outward into the first
indentation in between the bones. !ress into this hollow as you breathe
deeply and visuali5e the congestion clearing.
Potent Points for Relieving Coughing
, e%ere- re&eated- or uncontrolled cough can be harmful and you hould al*ay conult a &hyician'
!any illnee uch a influen.a- &neumonia- and chronic bronchiti can become eriou if the condition
continue unattended'
$ometimes, your physician will find it advisable to attempt to suppress a cough to prevent further
irritation of the bronchial tubes. Cough medications may be used, but acupressure can be an effective
ad(unct therapy. 8uring a coughing fit, many of the large muscle groups in the upper back area can go
into a spasm. $pecific points on the chest, throat, neck, and upper back benefit the respiratory system,
relax your body, and relieve coughs.
Vital Dia&hragm -B "A
Location: Between the shoulder blade and the spine at the level of the
heart.
Benefits: *elieves coughing, breathing difficulties, and respiratory
problems. his calming point also helps balance the emotions.
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Ding Chuan -@xtra !oint &:
Location: o the side and a little above the vertebra that protrudes at the top of the spine when the head is
tilted downward.
Benefits: *elieves throat problems, coughing, shoulder and neck pain, and thyroid imbalances.
Hea%enly Pillar -&" &0
Location: 1ne=half inch below the base of the skull on the ropy muscles one=half inch out from either
side of the spine.
Benefits: *elieves sore throat, stress, burnout, overexertion, and heaviness in the head.
Hea%en /uhing 0ut -C6 ))
Location: t the base of the throat in the large hollow directly below the dam's apple.
Benefits: *elieves dry cough, bronchitis, sore throat, chest congestion, and heartburn.
#legant !anion -9 ):
Location: %n the hollow below the collarbone next to the breastbone.
Benefits: *elieves chest congestion, breathing difficulties, asthma,
coughing, and anxiety.
($ou do not ha%e to ue all of thee &oint' ing ut one or t*o of
them *hene%er you ha%e a cough can be effecti%e')
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Potent Point Exercises
,lthough many of the follo*ing &oint can be held *hile you are itting- it i &referable to lie do*n
comfortably on your back'
Step 1
0old #oth / 2+ points: !lace your fingertips on your chest and firmly press into the indentations directly
below the protrusions of the collarbone. his is another point that you can easily teach a child.
Step 2
se tennis #allson B .: !lace two small rubber balls or tennis balls together on a clean carpet. /ie
down, placing the balls between your shoulder blades at the level of your heart. Close your eyes and take
three long, deep breaths as you continue to press the 9 ): points on your upper chest.
Step
Fir%l& press extra point 1+: $lowly roll the tennis balls a few
inches higher toward the base of your neck. %f the tennis balls tend to
slip, or you aren't using them, $im ly use both middle fingers to press
this important acupressure point at the base of the neck.
Step $
0old #oth B 1" points and C* 22: !ress B &0 on the upper neck
with one hand, using the fingertips. ;se your other hand to lightly
hold C6 )), an inch below the base of the dam's apple, pressing
lightly at a downward angle. Close your eyes and breathe deeply as
you visuali5e healing energy soothing your throat.
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For Sore ,hroats and Coughing
small piece of fresh ginger can be one of the most natural and effective ways for soothing a sore throat.
$imply place a very thin slice of fresh ginger on the back of your tongue. %f your throat is sensitive and
the ginger feels hot, use a smaller, thinner piece and place it farther back toward your throat. 9eep the
ginger in the back of your throat for ten minutes. *epeat with a fresh piece several times a day as needed.
quarter cup of chopped ginger can also be simmered in a few cups of water and used as a tea forsoothing coughs and sore throats.
Additional Points for Relieving Colds and Flu
& >elix ann, reatment of 8isease by cupuncture -/ondon William +einemann edical Books, /td.,
&D:#, "), ":.
) >or more information and self=help techniques for colds and flu see ichael *eed 4ach, cu=