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With the winter months slowly winding down and temperatures going from mild to cold almost daily, it's almost impossible to avoid catching a cold or becoming stuffy right now.
A major symptom well known for being difficult to manage is sinus pressure, or chronic sinusitis. This is usually caused by swelling of your sinus lining, an infection or growths in your sinuses called nasal polyps.
The acupressure technique of traditional Chinese medicine, which is usually used in conjunction with acupuncture, helps find specific points on your body to balance your vital energy, or qi.
If you imagine your body as a fully wired house, but the wires carry energy instead of electricity, acupressure can help unblock or rebalance the qi flowing through you.
Acupressure is also an incredible way to find pressure points in the sinuses to help relieve congestion in your face and soothe congestion and accompanying headaches.
While there are many medications and nasal sprays available that can help treat sinusitis, they sometimes cause unnecessary side effects. Natural remedies like Trikatu are known to prevent nasal problems and support a healthy respiratory system.
But if you're looking to use an alternative method, you can always try to find pressure points that will give you relief.
How to clean your sinuses with pressure points?
This is the technique that can help you improve your blood circulation, relax your muscles and help mucus drain from your sinuses.
Here are the recommended steps for acupressure beginners:
- Use a mirror to find your facial pressure points.
- Once you've located your pressure point, close your eyes, relax your body and breathe deeply.
- Press firmly on your pressure point with your finger or with a thin, blunt object such as the rubber tip of a pencil.
- Move your finger in circles, or up and down, for three to five minutes, remembering to use deep, firm pressure.
- Remember that some points may be more sensitive than others - this is normal. Simply adjust the pressure so that it's less painful for you, but still strong enough to help..
- Repeat throughout the day, as many days as necessary.
In acupressure, each sinus pressure point is given a code name so that professionals can find them easily.
Acupuncturists use the measuring term "cun", "body thumb", which roughly corresponds to the distance between the two knuckles of your middle finger, to help find specific points on your face and body.
LI19
This point refers to the point halfway between the bottom of your nostril and your lip. Rubbing it can help relieve jaw disorders, facial muscle paralysis and nasal swelling.
LI20
Point 20 of the large intestine is located about 0.5 cun from the side of your nostril groove on both sides of your nose. This pressure point can be rubbed to help swell the nose and face.
ST3
Find this in the mirror by moving your finger horizontally from the base of your nose outwards until it's level with your pupil when your eyes are facing forward. Rubbing this for a few minutes can help relieve sinus and tooth pain.
BL2
Slide your fingers into the groove between your eyebrows and nose. You'll be able to feel the firmness of the brow bone and help relieve pressure around your eyes.
GV24.5
Better known as the Yintang or Third Eye point because of its location in the middle of your eyebrows. Rub the area just above where your forehead connects to your nose and press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth. This helps drain mucus from your nose and relieves headaches.
SI18
Place your finger on the outside of your eye and move it downwards until you feel the lower part of your cheekbone, at the outer edge of your nose. This pressure point relieves swollen sinuses and helps relieve a runny nose.
GV23
For general headaches, find this pressure point on the top of your forehead. It's about 1 cun behind the hairline.
LI4
Found on the back of your hand, simply rub the muscle between your thumb and forefinger to help soothe the headaches and facial pain that accompany swollen sinuses. It can also help relax tense muscles and encourage healthy bowel movements.
ST40
This one's a bit harder to find, but well worth the effort. Sit on a chair and wrap your fingers around the middle of your shin, then use your thumb to press down on your shin. Slide it two inches from the bone into your muscle and press down to relieve sinus pain.
GB20
The pressure points of the Aeolian Basin are at the back of your head. Place your two thumbs in the groove of your neck where it meets your head, press on this point to help relieve headaches and watery eyes. Rubbing this point can sometimes also help with migraines.
LIV3
Sit down to find that pressure point that helps relieve headaches and pain around the eyes. Place your finger between your big toe and index finger, before sliding it about 1 cun up your foot to find the point.
You can press down on both feet at the same time if necessary. This is generally considered to be one of the greatest stress-relieving pressure points on your body.
LU9
This pressure point can help with throat symptoms that stem from congestion, as it's linked to your lungs. Hold your hand upwards, place your finger in the crease where your hand is and press the point directly under your thumb. Change hands and repeat.
LU5
Hold your arm outwards and stretch with your palms upwards, finding a crease on the thumb side of your inner elbow. Press the area where your forearm dips to help with a runny nose and nasal pain.
