Acupressure for Seasonal Allergies
Beyond coming in for acupuncture, acupressure is a tool that you can use to relieve allergy symptoms on your own. It’s an accessible massage technique that stimulates acupuncture points with finger and thumb pressure. I tend to use it all over the body on many points for different reasons, but this post will mainly cover acupressure for seasonal allergy symptoms.
How to do it?
with acupressure we’re using our index and middle fingers together and/or our thumbs. We then apply pressure on the point or point regions that feel tender to the touch and hold pressure on that point or round rub massage it with your thumb for up to 30 seconds to 2 minutes. It should feel tender, sore, and achey. Breathe while your doing this, and try to relax while focusing on the breath.
Where to apply pressure for allergies?
There are many points for symptoms of seasonal allergies like runny nose, sinus congestion, sinus headache, puffy eyes etc.
However, these three are my favorite for relieving symptoms and refreshening the eyes and nose.
LI-20 Yingxiang (Welcome Fragrance)
LI-20 is located on the Large Intestine Channel in the naso-labial groove level with the lateral border of the ala nasi.
The point opens the nasal passages and is used for nasal congestion, loss of smell, sneezing, nasal sores, rhinitis, and swelling and itching of the face.
Source: A Manual of Acupuncture
ST-2 Sibai (Four Whites)
ST-2 is on the Stomach channel located under the orbit of the eye at the infraorbital foramen. Search around for a tender point.
This point clears heat, eliminates wind, and benefits the eyes. It’s used for redness and pain of the eyes, superficial visual obstruction, dimness of vision, visual dizziness, itching eyes, excessive lacrimation, and headaches. It’s also used for round worms in the bile duct although that has nothing to do with allergies, but it’s cool.
Source: A Manual of Acupuncture
BL-2 Zanzhu (Gathered Bamboo)
BL-2 is located on the Bladder channel in a depression at the inner end of the eyebrow.
This point eliminates wind and clears heat, benefits the eyes, and clears the head to alleviate pain.
It’s used for pain of the eyebrow region, frontal headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, rhinitis, sneezing, pain of the face, red face and cheek pain, blurred vision, swelling and pain of the eye, and itching of the eyes.
Yuyao is another point just next to BL-2 and you can feel around there for tenderness too. Feel free to go to town on them!
Source: A Manual of Acupuncture
Putting it into practice
If and when you’re dealing with allergy symptoms try to spend some time (30 seconds - 2 minutes) with each point. Applying stationary pressure or round rubbing massage on each point while focusing on your breathing.
You can also do this if you’re eyes are fatigued from screen time or you just need a mid-day refresher. This is sure to help!
Below is a video instructional guide for how to locate these points and apply acupressure!
Acupressure techniques are wonderful tools for in between treatments, and they’re a great way to care for yourself. They provide great symptom relief and management.
Although it’s important to find relief from symptoms, it’s equally important to find treatment for the root cause of your symptoms. East Asian Medicine can effectively mitigate both branch and root problems (symptoms and the underlying reasons for them). This is at the core of this medical system!
So, if you’re sick of feeling rundown with allergies or any other health condition come give acupuncture and East Asian Medicine a good thorough try!
