ANXIETY AND THE HEART
The emotion of the heart is “joy, love and exuberance”. When this emotion is agitated or disturbed – we can experience symptoms such as anxiety, disturbed sleep, insomnia, mental restlessness and emotional instability. In Chinese medicine the heart is the “palace of the soul”. The heart houses our spirit. To learn more about the heart organ and Chinese Medicine – you can read my article “ The heart and Chinese Medicine”. To assist with calming our spirit we need to make sure that our Fire / Water energy – Heart and Kidneys are balanced. When our heart is out of balance or our “shen” is disturbed this is when anxiety, insomnia, depression, restlessness, jitteriness and emotional instability begin to become apparent and can interfere with our emotional health. Acupressure can be used at home, in between acupuncture sessions to enhance your treatment, decrease and ease anxiety and its associated effects.
But firstly, what is acupressure?
Acupressure is very similar to acupuncture – in that we still using an acupuncture point which is located along a meridian and by activating these points – we send a message to the body.
However, with acupressure – we are applying firm pressure to the acupuncture point, instead of using a needle. The difference is that we are not stimulating the point for 20mins, and acupressure has a milder effect on the body compared to acupuncture.
However – acupressure is simple, effective and easy to be perform – you can perform it anywhere, all you need is your thumbs, fingers and a ball point pen.
Once you know where the points are – you have your own portable healing system!
How to apply acupressure?
Before you begin – take a deep breath in and out. Continue breathing in and out deeply as you apply acupressure to the points.
- Use your thumb, finger or other blunt tool (like a pen) to apply pressure to each point. Pressure can be applied firmly and directly, or each point can be massaged in a circular motion – do whatever feels right for you.
- Stimulate each point for as long as feels good for you – most people find 30 second to 2 minutes manageable for each point.
- Inhale deeply and focus on the point while applying acupressure to yourself. You might like to imagine light or energy surrounding the point.
- For maximum effect, application of acupressure should be strong, but it should not be uncomfortable
3 ACUPRESSURE COMBINATIONS TO AID ANXIETY
1. Combination 1 – Heart 7 and Ren 17 (CV17)
These 2 acupressure points are used together to “calm the shen” and restore emotional balance.
By using both points together – we open up the chest and assist with breathing, while calming the heart and the shen to aid with insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, mental restlessness and poor memory.
Heart 7
Heart 7 Acupressure point.
Heart 7 is located on the ulnar side (little finger) of the wrist, along the first crease on the inner wrist.
To find this point, feel along the main wrist crease from the middle toward your little finger. When you find the large tendon about level with that finger, stop – the point is just to the inside of that tendon.
This point is used to assist and aid with calming the spirit, improves palpitations (heart flutters), calms feelings of fear and anxiety, aids with insomnia.
Ren 17 – CV17
CV 17 is found in the center of the chest. It is located 4 finger widths up from the base of the sternum (all 4 fingers together, place your little finger on the base of the sternum (breastbone). The last finger should fall into a dip. This is CV17. On a man, it is almost directly in the centre of the chest between his nipples. In females – it may be in the middle of the breasts or slightly higher or lower – feel for the dip.
CV17 – is known as the “ sea of tranquility”. It used to cmbat stress and anxiety and promote emotional balance within the body.
Rub your fingers gently clockwise on this point. This point may feel tender. Before pressing the point – take a deep breath in and out. As you rub this point – focus on breathing in and out. Our breath also helps to balance and nourish our body by oxygenating the blood.
Combination 2 – Kidney 3 and Heart 7
This combination helps us to restore harmony between the heart and kidney organs – balancing fire and water energy within the boday as well as Yin and Yang energies. This combination also aids anxiety, insomnia, menatl restless and emotional issues.
Kidney 3
Kidney 3 is located on the inside of the inner ankle. To find this point – find the higest point of the inner ankle bone. Now loacte the tendon at the back of the ankle. Find the half way point beween these 2 points. You feel a slight “depression” or hole. This point may be tender to press, so press according to what feels comfortable for yourself.
Kidney 3 is used to balance out “kidney” energy. The organ is a yin organ and will aid to balance yin energy. This point is alos used to assist with lower back and knee pain, and insomnia.
Heart 7
To find this point, feel along the main wrist crease from the middle toward your little finger. When you find the large tendon about level with that finger, stop – the point is just to the inside of that tendon.
This point is used to assist and aid with calming the spirit, improves palpitations (heart flutters), calms feelings of fear and anxiety, aids with insomnia.
Combination 3: REN 17 and Ren 6 –
This point combination balances and harmonizes fire and water enenrgies as well as Yin and Yang energy.
CV 17 – assists to open the chest and heart, and aids with breathing. It opens up the “upper jiao” or upper part of the body and the area where heart is located.
CV 6 – Tonifies Qi, yang, and orginal Qi (energy). It is used to assist with extreme physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. CV6 also balances out our kidney energy – which is located in gthe lower jiao.
By using these points we harmonize the Kidney and heart energy, balance fire and water and regulate yin and yang energy while boosting “qi”
Ren 17 – CV17
Ren 17 – located in the centre of the chest – “the sea of Tranquility”.
CV 17 is found in the centre of the chest. It is located 4 finger widths up from the base of the sternum (all 4 fingers together, place your little finger on the base of the sternum (breastbone). The last finger should fall into a dip. This is CV17. On a man it is almost directly in thecentre of the chest between his nipples. In females – it may be in the middle of the breasts or slightly higher or lower – feel for the dip.
REN 17 – is known as the “ sea of tranquility”. It used to cmbat stress and anxiety and promote emotional balance within the body.
Rub your fingers gently clockwise on this point. This point may feel tender. Before pressing the point – take a deep breath in and out. As you rub this point – focus on breathing in and out. Our breath also helps to balance and nourish our body by oxygenating the blood.
Ren 6 – CV 6 – Sea of Energy
This point is located over the solar plexus and it relates “to self”. When we are trying to rebalance our heart – we need to go “within” and into “ourselves”. Thus, this point is extremely useful to balance our “self” energy. It is also a great point to improve energy.
To locate CV 6 – use 2 fingers widths – 3rd and 4th finger and place one of these just under the belly button. Where the end of your outside finger falls – this will fall on CV6.
To apply acupressure to this point, take a deep breath in and out and apply a small amount of pressure to the point. It may be tender, continue pressing or rubbing the point in a clockwise direction for approximately 3 minutes.
I would also recommend our Calming tea and Nurturing Tea to aid with anxiety – these can be purchased through our online shop.
These 3 Acupressure combinations, can be used at any time, especially when you are feeling anxious, emotional, irritable or after receiving/having a shock.
I would love to hear about your experience with using these points to aid anxiety. Please let me know how you go. You can contact me at:
We are currently offering Telehealth appointments – To book please call Julia on 0412 789 772.
