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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=