TCM Acupressure Points Chart: Complete Guide

Acupressure is the ancient art of using finger pressure on specific points along the body's energy meridians to promote healing, relieve pain, and restore balance. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure requires no needles and can be safely performed at home. This comprehensive chart covers the most important and commonly used acupressure points, their exact locations, and how to use them effectively.

Understanding Meridians and Acupoints

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, vital energy (Qi) flows through the body along 12 primary meridians (energy channels). Each meridian connects to a specific organ system. Along these meridians are over 360 acupuncture points, each with distinct therapeutic functions.

By applying firm, steady pressure to specific points, you can:

• Relieve pain and tension
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Improve digestion and sleep
• Strengthen your immune system
• Boost energy and circulation

How to Practice Acupressure Correctly

Before diving into the point chart, follow these basic techniques:

• Use firm but comfortable pressure: Press until you feel a mild ache or dull sensation, not sharp pain.
• Hold each point for 1-3 minutes: Breathe deeply and slowly while pressing.
• Use your thumb or index finger: Some practitioners prefer the middle finger for precision.
• Massage in small circles: Combine pressure with gentle rotation for better results.
• Relax the point after pressing: Release pressure slowly rather than abruptly.
• Avoid pressing on wounds or bruises.
• Practice on both sides of the body for balanced results.

Complete Acupressure Points Chart

Head and Face Points

Governing Vessel 20 (GV-20, Baihui) — Crown Point

• Location: Top of the head, center, along the midline of the skull.
• Benefits: Calms the mind, lifts mood, relieves headaches, vertigo, and mental fog. Excellent for anxiety and depression.

Gallbladder 20 (GB-20, Fengchi) — Wind Pool

• Location: At the base of the skull, in the hollows on both sides of the neck muscles.
• Benefits: Relieves headaches, neck stiffness, eye strain, and cold symptoms. One of the most important points for head and neck tension.

Bladder 1 (BL-1, Jingming) — Bright Eyes

• Location: Inner corner of the eye, just above the tear duct.
• Benefits: Relieves eye fatigue, redness, and dry eyes from screen use. Press very gently.

Stomach 3 (ST-3, Juliao) — Large Crevice

• Location: Directly below the pupil, at the level of the lower edge of the nostril.
• Benefits: Relieves sinus congestion, facial pain, and toothache.

Upper Body Points

Large Intestine 4 (LI-4, Hegu) — Joining Valley

• Location: In the webbing between the thumb and index finger, at the highest point when you squeeze them together.
• Benefits: The #1 point for headaches, toothaches, facial pain, and cold and flu relief. Do NOT use during pregnancy — it can induce labor.

Pericardium 6 (PC-6, Neiguan) — Inner Gate

• Location: On the inner forearm, three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the two tendons.
• Benefits: The master point for nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, anxiety, and chest tightness. Used in acupuncture wrist bands for seasickness.

Heart 7 (HT-7, Shenmen) — Spirit Gate

• Location: On the outer wrist crease, on the pinky side of the hand.
• Benefits: Calms the spirit, relieves insomnia, anxiety, and heart palpitations. Excellent for emotional distress and overthinking.

Lung 7 (LU-7, Lieque) — Broken Sequence

• Location: On the inner wrist, about 1.5 inches above the wrist crease.
• Benefits: Relieves cough, sore throat, asthma, and respiratory congestion. Also helps with neck stiffness.

Large Intestine 11 (LI-11, Quchi) — Crooked Pond

• Location: At the outer end of the elbow crease when the arm is bent at 90 degrees.
• Benefits: Clears heat, reduces fever, helps skin conditions like eczema and hives, and relieves arm and elbow pain.

Body and Torso Points

Conception Vessel 17 (CV-17, Tanzhong) — Chest Center

• Location: Center of the chest, at the level of the fourth intercostal space (nipple line).
• Benefits: Opens the chest, relieves emotional stress, sadness, and anxiety. Deeply calming. Excellent for grief and heartache.

Stomach 36 (ST-36, Zusanli) — Leg Three Miles

• Location: Four finger-widths below the bottom edge of the kneecap, one finger-width to the outside of the shinbone.
• Benefits: The single most important point for overall health and longevity. Strengthens the immune system, improves digestion, boosts energy, and combats fatigue. Used daily by millions in Asia for preventive health.

Renegade/Spleen 6 (SP-6, Sanyinjiao) — Three Yin Intersection

• Location: On the inner lower leg, four finger-widths above the ankle bone, just behind the shinbone.
• Benefits: Nourishes Blood, strengthens Spleen, regulates menstruation, relieves insomnia, and supports fertility. Do NOT use during pregnancy.

Conception Vessel 6 (CV-6, Qihai) — Sea of Qi

• Location: On the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun (about two finger-widths) below the navel.
• Benefits: Tonifies Qi, relieves fatigue and lower abdominal pain, and strengthens the body's core energy. Excellent for chronic exhaustion.

Governing Vessel 14 (GV-14, Dazhui) — Great Vertebra

• Location: Below the bony prominence at the base of the neck (C7 spinous process).
• Benefits: Expels external pathogens (colds and flu), reduces fever, strengthens immunity, and relieves neck and shoulder tension.

Lower Body Points

Liver 3 (LR-3, Taichong) — Supreme Surge

• Location: On the top of the foot, in the webbing between the big toe and second toe, about 2 inches up from the toe crease.
• Benefits: Relieves stress, frustration, irritability, headaches, and menstrual cramps. The most important point for Liver Qi stagnation. Learn about Liver Qi stagnation.

Kidney 3 (KI-3, Taixi) — Great Ravine

• Location: In the depression between the inner ankle bone and the Achilles tendon.
• Benefits: Nourishes Kidney Yin, relieves lower back pain, foot and ankle pain, tinnitus, and night sweats. A key point for vitality and anti-aging.

Bladder 60 (BL-60, Kunlun) — Kunlun Mountains

• Location: In the depression between the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon.
• Benefits: Relieves lower back pain, neck stiffness, headache, and difficult labor. An important distal point for spinal issues.

Gallbladder 34 (GB-34, Yanglingquan) — Yang Mound Spring

• Location: On the outer side of the lower leg, below the knee, in the depression below the head of the fibula bone.
• Benefits: The most important point for tendon and ligament health. Relieves knee pain, muscle spasms, and tendonitis. Also helps with decision-making and resolving frustration.

Common Acupressure Combinations

Points work synergistically when combined. Try these therapeutic pairings:

• For stress and anxiety: HT-7 (Spirit Gate) + PC-6 (Inner Gate) + CV-17 (Chest Center)
• For headaches: LI-4 (Hegu) + GB-20 (Wind Pool) + LR-3 (Supreme Surge)
• For digestion: ST-36 (Leg Three Miles) + CV-6 (Sea of Qi) + SP-6 (Three Yin Intersection)
• For colds and flu: LI-4 (Hegu) + LU-7 (Broken Sequence) + GV-14 (Great Vertebra)
• For insomnia: HT-7 (Spirit Gate) + Anmian (behind ear) + KI-3 (Great Ravine) + TCM sleep tips
• For energy: ST-36 (Leg Three Miles) + CV-6 (Sea of Qi) + GV-20 (Crown Point)

Tips for Maximum Effectiveness

• Practice acupressure 2-3 times daily for chronic conditions.
• The best times are morning upon waking and evening before bed.
• Combine with deep breathing exercises (Qigong) for enhanced results.
• Be patient — acupressure often requires consistent practice over 1-2 weeks for noticeable results.
• Keep your hands warm before pressing points.
• Do not press points on a full stomach or when extremely fatigued.

When to Seek Professional Care

Acupressure is excellent for self-care but is not a replacement for medical treatment. Consult a healthcare provider for:

• Severe or worsening pain
• Symptoms that persist beyond two weeks
• Pregnancy (many points are contraindicated)
• Serious medical conditions like heart disease or cancer

A licensed acupuncturist can provide needle-based acupuncture, which is typically more powerful than acupressure, along with customized herbal formulas and TCM dietary advice.

Conclusion

This acupressure points chart gives you a powerful toolkit for natural self-healing. By learning even a handful of these essential points, you can relieve headaches, reduce stress, improve digestion, boost immunity, and enhance your overall well-being. The beauty of acupressure is its accessibility — all you need is your hands and a few minutes a day.

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