Acupressure Massage for a Healthy Qi

Qi is the vital energy that flows through the body to maintain a person’s health. Acupressure massage helps to free the energy flow in the meridians and reinforce a healthy Qi. During this COVID-19 period, it is especially important to strengthen the healthy Qi in our body to build our immunity.

One of the classic TCM books, Huang Di Nei Jing (黄帝内经 Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) stated that “invasion of pathogen must be due to deficiency of healthy Qi”. By having a strong healthy Qi (immunity), our body may prevent us from being sick and if we do get sick, our body will be able to recover faster and hopefully keep the symptoms mild.

Here are some acupressure points that you can massage at home for a better health:

Ying Xiang (Large Intestine 20)

Location: On both sides of the nose, in the nasolabial grooves, at the same level as the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala of the nose.

Method: Before getting up in the morning or going to sleep at night, massage the acupoints with your fingers repeatedly for about 5 minutes or until it gets warm.

Benefits:

• Protect the Lung from getting attacked by external pathogens
• Promote blood circulation around the nose
• Disperse wind and cold
• Alleviate runny nose, nasal congestion and loss of smell

Feng Chi (Gall Bladder 20)

Location: At the back of the head, near the neck. Below the occipital bone, in the depression between the origins of sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius muscles, at the same level as earlobe.

Method: Sit upright, lift elbow at the same level as shoulder, then bend your elbow toward head, put hands behind ears (palm inward, fingertip upward), then lightly put four fingers on both sides of head. The positions of the thumbs are Feng Chi acupoints.

Benefits:

• Free the meridians, tonifying qi and invigorate Yang
• Prevent pathogenic wind-cold and dampness invasion
• Relieve headache and neck pain

Zu San Li (Stomach 36)

Location: On outer sides of both legs. 4 fingers width below the lower border of the knee cap and 1 finger width away from the shin bone.

Method: Massage the acupoints on legs with index and middle fingers of hands at the same time

Benefits:

• Fortify the Spleen and resolve dampness – help to alleviate any digestive issues
• Tonifying the digestive system to replenish Qi
• Disperse wind and cold to reinforce healthy Qi
• Eliminate the pathogenic factors and boost immune system