Pressure Points for Sleep
Insomnia is so awful you wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy. Difficulty falling asleep doesn’t begin to describe the anxiety, exhaustion and mind fog insomnia creates. It is a nasty, debilitating disorder that can affect anyone.
When insomnia starts to affect your life, it’s time to get help.
In Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat insomnia, and many people have excellent results. As a non-drug therapy, acupuncture carries low risk, although it isn’t endorsed by mainstream medicine.
How does acupuncture work?
In Western medicine, acupuncture stimulates various branches of the central nervous system by piercing strategic pressure points with very fine needles.
In Chinese medicine, acupuncture balances the flow of energy or life force – chi or qi (chee) – to re-balance the body’s energy.
Acupuncture for insomnia pressure points
Acupuncture for insomnia targets five pressure points for sleep, which can also be stimulated at home using your index finger or thumb.
1. Spirit gate
The spirit gate is found on the crease of the outer wrist, in line with the pinkie finger. It is said to treat insomnia directly.
How to find it
Take your thumb and find the small bone in your wrist in line with your little finger. The bone has a hollow point between it and a ligament.
How to stimulate it
Apply pressure to the spirit gate with your thumb and move your thumb around in a circular motion. Do this to both wrists.
2. Three yin intersection
The three yin intersection is located on the inner leg above the ankle at the highest point, said to treat insomnia and help with cramps.
How to find it
Take your thumb and locate your ankle bone. Move your thumb an inch above your ankle, feeling for the highest peak of the ankle.
How to stimulate it
Apply deep pressure to the pressure point, massaging in an up and down motion or a circular motion (whichever is most comfortable for you).
3. Bubbling spring
The bubbling spring pressure point is a small depression on the underside of the foot that can help alleviate insomnia and ground energy.
How to find it
Cross your leg, curl your toes, take your index finger and feel for an indentation on the base of your foot in line with your pointer toe.
How to stimulate it
Apply firm pressure with your finger or a strong, blunt object and massage it with a very short circular motion until your foot feels tingly.
4. Inner frontier gate
The inner frontier gate is a wrist pressure point on your arm below your wrist. It is said to reduce anxiety and relieve stress.
How to find it
Measure three fingers below your wrist crease with your other hand and search for a gap between two tendons.
How to stimulate it
Apply firm pressure to the pressure point with your thumb for two minutes, massaging in a circular motion. Repeat this on both arms
5. Wind pool
The wind pool pressure point is two pressure points at the back of the neck, and they are traditional points for treating insomnia.
How to find it
The wind pool pressure points are symmetrical on the back of the neck, where your hairline ends, or where your neck muscles attach to your skull.
How to stimulate it
Take both hands and locate where your hairline ends on the back of your neck. Feel around with mild pressure until you feel two points that compress easily
Is acupuncture proven for insomnia?
This systematic review found a beneficial effect of acupuncture compared with no treatment. Acupuncture was also superior to patients with a total sleep duration of >3 hours.
Another study found that people with primary insomnia experienced significant improvements compared with the pre-treatment baseline. In other words, acupuncture helped improve insomnia in most patients.
Also, the Chinese have used acupuncture for thousands of years to treat insomnia, so it must have some weight behind it. Why not give it a go? You can try it at home or go to an expert for the real deal.