Acupoint Massage:Help You Drift into Sweet Dreams Quickly

For foreign friends troubled by insomnia, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds many simple yet effective methods to fall asleep quickly. These methods require no complex equipment and can be easily integrated into daily life.Try the acupoint massage featured by traditional Chinese Medicine.

In TCM, it is believed that there are many acupoints related to sleep in the human body. Gentle massage of these acupoints can regulate the body’s qi and blood, relieve tension, and help you relax and fall asleep quickly.

(1) Shenmen Acupoint

• Location: On the inner side of the wrist, in the depression of the wrist crease near the little finger. You can find it by gently touching the area with your fingers.
• Massage Method: Use the tip of your thumb to press vertically for 3-5 minutes each time. The intensity should be such that you feel a slight soreness and distension, not too strong.
• Principle: The Shenmen Acupoint is the source acupoint of the Heart Meridian. In TCM, it is thought to calm the mind and soothe the nerves, just like pressing the “pause button” on “palpitations and anxiety”. It is especially suitable for people who cannot fall asleep due to high pressure and emotional tension.

(2) Yongquan Acupoint

• Location: On the sole of the foot. When you curl your toes, it is in the depression on the front half of the sole, approximately at the intersection of the line connecting the head of the 2nd and 3rd metatarsophalangeal creases and the heel, at the 1/3 point from the front and 2/3 from the back.
• Massage Method: Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Then, use the palm of your hand to rub the Yongquan Acupoint clockwise for 5-10 minutes each time until the sole of your foot feels slightly warm.
• Principle: The Yongquan Acupoint is the starting point of the Kidney Meridian. TCM holds the view that “the kidney governs water, and the heart governs fire”. Rubbing the Yongquan Acupoint can make the “heart fire” sink and the “kidney water” rise, balancing the yin and yang of the body, thereby improving sleep.

(3)Notes

1. These methods need to be persisted in to achieve better results. Do not expect to solve the insomnia problem in one go.
2. Try not to use electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers one hour before going to bed to avoid light stimulation affecting sleep.
3. If the insomnia problem is relatively serious, or there is no improvement after persisting for a period of time, it is recommended to consult a professional TCM doctor for more personalized help.