3 ACUPRESSURE ROUTINES FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY.
Here’s the thing — even though life looks “back to normal”, our bodies are still carrying the residue of stress from the past few years. That constant hum in the background? It’s your nervous system saying, “I never really got to rest.”
I see it every week in clinic — women who are strong, capable and keeping everyone else afloat, yet their own body feels tense, anxious or flat. The mind says, “I’m fine.” But the body tells another story.
That’s where acupressure comes in.
It’s one of my favourite tools because it’s simple, gentle and available to you anytime. No needles, no equipment — just your hands, your breath and a few minutes of focused attention.
When you learn how to find and activate these points, you’re essentially giving your body its own built-in reset button.
What is acupressure?
What is Acupressure?
Acupressure works on the same principles as acupuncture — using specific points along the body’s meridians to influence energy flow and organ function.
But instead of using needles, you apply firm, steady pressure or a slow circular massage on the point. Think of it as sending a clear message to your body: “It’s safe to relax now.”
You can use your thumb, finger or even the end of a pen cap. Hold or gently massage each point for 30 seconds to two minutes while breathing slowly and deeply. The pressure should feel firm but never painful.
Once you know Where the points are – you have your own portable healing system!
How to apply acupressure?
- 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
- Here are 3 of our favourite point combinations to combat stress and anxiety.
Stress Relief Combination 1 – Mind and body relief.
These points work together to calm the mind and ground the body.
DU 24
Location: At the junction of your forehead and hairline, in the small dip above the nose bridge.
Use it for: Anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, frontal headaches.
Apply firm pressure for about 2 minutes.
Yintang
Location: Between the eyebrows.
Use it for: Calming an overthinking mind, reducing stress, easing headaches and sinus tension.
Massage gently in a circular motion for 2 minutes.
Taiyang
Location: In the soft hollow at your temple — about one finger-width from the outer corner of your eye.
Use it for: Headaches, dizziness, insomnia and general tension.
Apply light, circular pressure — it’s a soothing one.
Kidney 1 (Yong Quan)
Location: On the sole of your foot, about one-third down from the toes, between the second and third toe line.
Use it for: Grounding, calming the mind, improving sleep and breathing.
It’s your anchor point — great when you feel “in your head” or ungrounded. Focus on breathing in for a count of 4 through the nose and out for a count of 8 through the mouth as you apply pressure to this point. Hold this point for 2-3 minuets each side.
Stress Relief Combination 2 – Buddha’s triangle
The buddha’s triangle is composed of 3 acupuncture points – Heart 7, Pericardium 6 and Lung 9.
This trio is my go-to for emotional overwhelm or restless sleep. It softens the heart, eases tightness in the chest, and brings the nervous system into its Rest and Digest function – its calming state.
Together these points are used to assist with anxiety, depression, sadness, repressed emotions, stress and insomnia.
The 3 points together, assist to rebalance and ground our body and give our body a much needed “hug”. These points can also be used to assist in meditation – to calm the mind and aid with enhancing the meditative process.
1. Heart 7
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.
Use it for : Calming the spirit, easing fear and anxiety, to clam heart palpitations, improving sleep ( sleep issues / insomnia).
2. Lung 9
Location: Level with Heart 7, but on the other side of the wrist. This point is found just to the outside of your radial pulse.
This point is the source point of the lung.
Use it for: Releasing grief, sadness, or emotional heaviness, tightness in the chest.
As a source point of the lung – it ensures that the lung organs functions correctly. It is used to move blockages in the lung – clear phlegm, assist with breathing issues, aid with asthmatic conditions and work on the emotions of the lung organ – which is “grief and sadness”. Therefore, it is an excellent point to aid with depression, grief, sadness and feeling “blue’ as well as heaviness within the chest.
3. Pericardium 6
Pericardium 6 is located directly in the centre of the mid wrist and is located by placing 3 fingers on the 1st crease of the inner wrist. Once you have done this, you will feel your finger falls on 2 tendons. PC 6 is located between the 2 tendons.
PC 6 opens the chest, calms the spirit and protects the heart, its useful for assisting with nausea and vomiting. PC 6 is a great point to assist with anxiety, depression, stress, and repressed emotions.
Stress Relief Combination 3 – The Four Gates
The 4 gates are a combination of 2 points – Liver 3 and Large intestine 4. From a TCM perspective, we use these points together to “open up all the doors and windows of the body” and allow the wind to clear stuck energy and emotions – so they are swept away”. This clears the body and enables the energy flow to flow smoothly and calmly.
When tension builds up and you feel irritable, stuck or overwhelmed, this combination opens things up — both physically and emotionally.
These points are great for pain, headache and general feelings of tension, stress, irritability, anger and feeling overwhelmed.
Large intestine 4
Location: Between the forefinger and thumb, about halfway along the hand bone that connects to your pointer finger. Dig around in the “fleshy” part of the skin for a sore point – you will feel it (it will be quite tender).
Location: In the fleshy web between your thumb and index finger (it will be quite tender).
Use it for: Headaches, jaw tension, sinus issues and emotional stagnation, stress, colds.
Liver 3
Location: on the top of the foot, in the hollow just below where your first and second toe foot bones meet. Feel around for a sore spot (again, you’ll find one!)
This point is used to assist with: soothing irritability, depression and anger, improves headache, clears the head and eyes, helps to regulate menstruation, insomnia and vertigo.
Bringing It All Together
You don’t need to do all of these points at once.
Start with one combination that resonates and notice how your body responds. Try it daily for a week — especially before bed or when you feel your chest tighten.
This is how healing often starts: small, repeated moments of awareness that tell your body it’s safe to rest.
If you’re craving deeper support — a way to balance your nervous system long-term and release the patterns holding tension in place — acupuncture and herbal medicine can take this work even further.
So, there you go! 3 amazing stress relief combinations that I use all the time in the clinic. Please use these routines whenever you are feeling stressed and anxious, or even have a headache and troubling sleeping!
Do you need a slightly stronger treatment to help reduce your stress or anxiety? Get in touch with us today or book in now with us to have a chat.
We currently offer telehealth appointments please call 0412 789 772 to book your appointment today!
About the Author.
Dr Julia Bartrop
Julia is the senior acupuncturist and owner of Rebalance Chinese Medicine in South Morang. She’s passionate about helping clients take control of their health through education and tools they can use between sessions.
She blends acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, acupressure and lifestyle guidance to support women & men through stress, anxiety, fertility, perimenopause and digestive concerns. Her approach is practical, evidence-informed and always focused on outcomes that last beyond the clinic room.
If you’d like support tailored to your body, book a session at Rebalance Chinese Medicine — we’d love to help.
This information is general in nature and not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Always consult your healthcare practitioner. If symptoms persist, seek appropriate care.
To book an appointment with Julia – please call 0412 789 772 or book online – book now!
