Acupressure for High Blood Pressure: 7 Points to Know
About 100 million adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. That's about half of the adult population. Unfortunately, even though hypertension is a common problem, only a small portion of these adults have their condition under control.
Medication and lifestyle changes can help you manage your symptoms, but many people also turn to acupressure for high blood pressure. It's a simple, safe and natural therapy that may help keep your blood pressure under control.
How Does Acupressure Help with High Blood Pressure?
Acupressure can help with high blood pressure in a few ways. Placing pressure on specific points on the body can help alleviate muscle tension while promoting blood circulation.
Improving blood flow and alleviating tension can both go a long way in reducing blood pressure. Acupressure can also help address some underlying issues contributing to hypertension, such as anxiety, insomnia and stress.
Acupressure for High Blood Pressure: 7 Points to Know
1. Liver 3 (LV-3)
Also known as the Great Surge, LV-3 is considered one of the best acupressure points for hypertension. It starts working almost instantly, and it can also have other benefits, like reducing your anxiety, easing nausea and helping with indigestion.
How to Find It
The LV-3 point is located in the webbing between your big toe and second toe. The point is located right between the two bones.
How to Activate It
To activate LV-3, first, make sure that you've properly located the point. You should be able to feel the bones of each toe. Next, apply pressure on the point for up to 60 seconds.
2. Large Intestine 4 (LI-4)
LI-4, or Union Valley, is commonly used for headaches and migraines, but it can also help with high blood pressure. If you're suffering from hypertension and chronic pain, sinus issues or even skin issues, activating LI-4 may help ease all of your symptoms at once.
How to Find It
Union Valley is located in the webbing between your thumb and index finger.
How to Activate It
To activate LI-4, use your thumb and index finger to apply pressure to the point. Hold the pressure for 30-60 seconds.
Note: LI-4 can induce labor, so don't activate this point if you're pregnant.
3. Gallbladder 20 (GB-20)
GB-20 is also known as the Wind Pool, and it's a highly effective point for high blood pressure. If you also suffer from chronic migraines and headaches or neck tension, activating this point can also help bring some relief.
How to Find It
GB-20 is located along the back of the neck at the base of your skull. It actually consists of two points – one on each side of the vertebrae.
How to Activate It
To activate the Wind Pool, use your thumbs to apply medium pressure for about a minute at a time. Keep the pressure steady, and don't use any other motion.
4. Pericardium 6 (PC-6)
The Inner Gate, or PC-6, is a powerful point that can help with a variety of issues, including hypertension. It's the main point used to treat nausea, but it can also help ease anxiety and alleviate tension in the chest.
How to Find It
PC-6 is located on the palm side of the forearm about three fingers' width from the wrist. The point sits between the two tendons that run along the forearm.
How to Activate It
Once you've located the point, apply pressure for 30-60 seconds using your thumb and index finger. You can also massage this point to help lower your blood pressure and calm anxiety if you're in a stressful situation.
5. Governing Vessel 20 (GV-20)
Known as the Hundred Convergences, GV-20 is commonly used to treat hypertension. GV-20 can also help with dizziness, headaches, irritability and even eye pain. Hundred Convergences is also believed to help with concentration and memory.
How to Find It
GV-20 is located at the top of your head. If you were to draw an imaginary line from one ear to the other across the top of your head, it would be at the center of this imaginary line.
How to Activate It
The GV-20 point is easy to find, but it can take some practice to activate this pressure point. You can try massaging the point, or simply press down to apply pressure for 30-60 seconds.
6. Large Intestine 11 (LI-11)
Crooked Pond, or LI-11, is an acupressure point that can help with several issues. Along with hypertension, LI-11 may also help with dizziness, headaches, eye pain, abdominal pain, scrofula, sore throat, toothaches and more.
How to Find It
LI-11 is located between the forearm and upper arm. To find it, bend your arm and look for the crease on the outer side of your elbow. The point should be at the end of the crease.
How to Activate It
To activate LI-11, find the end of the crease along the elbow and apply pressure for 30-60 seconds. Alternatively, you can massage the point using slow and gentle circles to start.
7. Heart 7 (HT-7)
HT-7, or Shenmen, is one of the main points of the heart meridian. In addition to hypertension, it can also be used to help calm the mind, ease chest pain, reduce anxiety-induced palpitations and alleviate insomnia.
How to Find It
Shenmen is located at the crease of the wrist between the pisiform and ulna bones. A simple way to find this point is to bend the hand forward and look for the crease. The point should be on the side closest to your pinky finger.
How to Activate It
Using your thumb or index finger, apply medium pressure to the point for 30-60 seconds.
The Takeaway
Acupressure can help with hypertension by alleviating tension and addressing other underlying issues that contribute to high blood pressure. The great thing about acupressure therapy is that you can do it anytime, anywhere. If you can locate the point, you can find relief.
The Aculief clip makes it quick and easy to activate the LI-4 pressure point, which can help with hypertension, headaches and a laundry list of other issues.
