Acupressure: Simple Steps to Health: Discover your Body’s Powerpoints For Health and Relaxation

Benefits: Promotes circulation through the whole body and a good balance in function and vitality between the upper, middle and lower body and the vital organs contained in each of these areas. Can prevent or relieve fevers, headaches, ear problems and pain in the elbow, wrist or fingers.

15. Gall Bladder 34: Muscular System

Location: On the outside of the leg in the hollow just beneath the meeting point of the 2 leg bones, 1 thumb width above and 2 finger widths to the outside of Stomach 36.

Technique: Place the fingers round the outsides of the legs, just below the knees, and locate the point on both legs, using the thumbs. Apply firm pressure with the thumbs angled downwards towards the feet. Maintain pressure for 30 seconds to 1 minute, using sustained pressure or gentle rotations of the thumbs. Breathe freely and visualize strong, flexible muscles throughout the body.

Benefits: Nourishes the muscles and tendons by improving the flow of blood. Promotes general mobility in the lower body and can relieve numbness and pain in the legs and feet. Also promotes good functioning of the gall bladder and liver and can relieve pain in the area of the lower ribs.

16. Liver 3: Nervous and Immune Systems

Location: On the top of the foot in the web between the first and second toes, just before the join of the small bones of the foot.

Technique: Place the fingers under the foot for support and apply acupressure to the point perpendicularly with the thumb. Take care to press in the hollow between the bones and tendons rather than on the tendons or blood vessels themselves. Use sustained pressure or small rotations. Apply pressure for 30 seconds to 1 minute, breathing evenly and visualizing a healthy liver, balanced nervous system and strong immune system. Repeat on the other foot.

Benefits: This point calms the nervous system and strengthens the liver and immune system. It can also help prevent or relieve headaches, dizziness, cramps in the foot or lower leg and breast pains.

17. Governor Vessel 26: Brain and Mental Function

Location: Just below the nose, in the middle of the groove above the upper lip.

Technique: Take the fingertip or nail of the index or middle finger and apply gentle pressure perpendicularly for about 30 seconds. Breathe freely and visualize a clear mind with sharp mental function.

Caution: Take care not to stimulate this point too hard if you have high blood pressure; stop immediately if you feel unwell or uncomfortable.

Benefits: Stimulates mental alertness and brain function and aids concentration and memory. Can prevent or relieve faintness and ease back pain.

18. Conception Vessel 6: Abdominal Tonic

Location: Two finger widths below the navel on the midline of the abdomen.

Technique: Use 2 fingers to measure down from the navel and locate the point. Apply pressure gently with the middle or index finger of the other hand for about 30 seconds. Use gentle, rotating movements and apply the pressure directly into the abdomen, below the surface of the skin. Allow your breathing to become slow and relaxed and visualize warmth and power filling the abdomen.

Benefits: This is one of the most important toning points for the whole body but, in particular, it strengthens the sexual organs and helps builds stamina, confidence and vitality. Regular acupressure applied to this point can prevent or relieve fatigue, menstrual problems and urinary weakness.

19. Conception Vessel 17: Upper Body Tonic

Location: In the middle of the chest in line with the nipples.

Technique: Locate the point with the middle or index finger and apply pressure gently for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Breathe deeply and evenly and visualize a good flow of energy and a powerful supply of oxygen from the lungs suffusing the chest and upper body.

Benefits: This powerful point promotes healthy function of the heart and lungs and vitality in the upper body. It can also prevent or relieve chest pain, asthma and hiccoughs.

20. Ear Massage: Lymph and Hormonal Systems

To complete this workout, spend 30 seconds to 1 minute applying acupressure to each ear. The ear is filled with hundreds of tiny micro-acupoints that correspond to every part of the body. Ear acupressure therefore applies a general stimulus to all the internal organs and body systems helping to bring them into balance. It also helps to stimulate the lymph and hormonal systems and boost immunity.

Use the nail of either the index or middle fingers, ensuring that the nail edges are smooth and clean. First apply gentle pressure on the outside edges of the ears, working from the base of the earlobes up to the tops of the ears and placing the thumbs behind the ears for support. (The thumbs should move with the fingernails so that they are always at the back of the ear supporting the pressure applied with the nails). Use light, gentle movements that feel comfortable. Breathe normally and visualize good health and vitality throughout the whole body. Then repeat the movement on the inner surface of the ears, again working from the base up to the top.

Ear acupressure is an ideal way to complete your Acupressure Workout. It can also be used on its own at any time of the day to refresh and invigorate.

Acupoints of the ear showing corresponding internal organs.

1 Toe

2 Finger

3 Ankle

4 Wrist

5 Uterus

6 Knee

7 Pelvis

8 Buttock

9 Gall Bladder

10 Abdomen

11 Elbow

12 Urinary Bladder

13 Kidney

14 Pancreas

15 Lower Back

16 Large Intestine

17 Appendix

18 Small Intestine

19 Liver

20 Stomach

21 Chest

22 Shoulder

23 Oesophagus