At Home Acupressure for Sleep

In these unprecedented times, it’s no surprise that many of us may be having trouble settling our minds before we head off to sleep.

While you may have tried all the “rules” (no screens before bed, a dark quiet room, eye mask, ideal temperature of 68 degrees, etc.) there may be one thing you haven’t tried — at home acupressure!

Acupressure points can absolutely help you to relax and get a better night's sleep. With similar functionality to acupuncture, the acupressure points are aligned within meridians and when acupressure is properly applied, 

The best points associated with sleep improvement and relaxation are: 

Kidney 3 - this point is located at the back of the ankle, by the malleolus. It is best known for the treatment of anxiety, night sweats, fear, and menopause symptoms. It also helps to tone the kidneys. 

Yintang - this is point is right in between your eyebrows, also known as the third eye. Proper manipulation of this point will lead to help with insomnia, headaches, anxiety, and stress. 

Spleen 6 - this point is located on the inner side of your leg, right above the ankle.  It's important to note to never manipulate this point during pregnancy as it's a popular point for labor induction massage.  This point helps with insomnia, as well as menstrual and pelvic pain and disorders.

Heart  7  - Also called “Shen Men” this spot is on the inside of the wrist if your palm is facing up, and it's at the cross-section of the pinky. This is a great spot to work on if your heart and mind are facing stress, turmoil, uncertainty or anxiety. It will help to calm and relax the patient.

It's important to note that to be effective, acupressure must properly be applied. You can't simply press on points and expect to drift off to sleep. 

How To Do It

The best way to perform any acupressure, including eye acupressure, is to do so first, carefully, and then with firm enough pressure to be effective. This should never be painful, but you should feel a sense of acute pressure in the area you are applying acupressure to.

For a gentler but still effective approach, massaging these points in a circular manner is a relaxing way to ease into the practice. Then,  I typically hold a point for ten to fifteen seconds, then release for about the same amount of time, and then repeating at the same point between 6-10 times, depending on the affliction.

Wishing you a restful night’s sleep.