Sleep, which is so important to your overall well-being, isn’t always easy. From breathing exercises to a sleep-promoting diet, there are many ways to achieve that elusive night’s sleep. Another method you might want to try (but probably haven’t yet)? Acupressure, which has a history of thousands of years, is beneficial for the overall health of the human body, including improving eyesight. While this may not be the first sleep technique that comes to mind, it is accessible and can be done in bed.
Here’s a primer on acupressure exercises and an in-depth look at six sleep-inducing points — and, of course, how to use them to catch some much-needed zzz’s.
What is acupressure?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, blood massage is an alternative therapy derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been developed for thousands of years. “The core of this method is the belief that acupuncture points allow people to tap into the energy flowing through the body and heal various ailments,” says SleepingOcean’s medical content expert Po-Chang Hu, MD. “Each point is believed to be responsible for a specific organ or process in the body.”
Acupressure is “similar to acupuncture” and “can be done by a professional, usually an acupuncturist, massage therapist, or at home,” adds Charm owner Tom Ingegno, D.A.C.M., M.S.O.M., L.Ac, a licensed acupuncturist. Integrated Urban Health. “Instead of using acupuncture needles, it involves applying pressure to specific points on the acupuncture system with your fingers or a blunt instrument.” (
I will keep this acupressure ring with me all the time for peace of mind
How does acupressure help with sleep?
At a basic level, acupressure is a great way to find a moment of mindfulness and create some distance from the stress of the day, which in turn helps you fall asleep. Amrit Singh, R.Ac, says: “It’s like a self-massage, and when combined with an essential oil like lavender, it can calm a busy mind and body before bed.” Licensed acupuncturist known as @6babebeauty on Instagram.
Singh says the relaxing qualities of acupressure are an important reason why it’s so effective for sleep. “In Chinese medicine, poor sleep quality is often associated with the Shen, which we call the spirit or mind,” he explains. “People with busy minds often have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and acupressure can help break that cycle.”
In addition, there is a lot of scientific research behind acupressure and its many benefits. “Studies show that acupressure can be an effective tool in the fight against insomnia,” said Dr. Huu. “This could be explained by the fact that this treatment modality affects the nervous system and hormonal mechanisms (including hormones that regulate sleep).”
Acupressure first addresses the “root cause” of the problem, which in this case is sleep, Ingegno said. This is one reason why exercise can help with sleep. Think about it this way: Insomnia itself may be to blame, but sleep disturbances can be the result of many factors, including stress, anxiety, and pain. So, unlike other types of sleep aids that cause insomnia (think melatonin, some Rx drugs, or sometimes Benadryl), acupressure offers a solution to the underlying cause rather than the insomnia itself.
“Studies also show that acupressure can help relieve pain and anxiety,” added Dr Huu. “People with pain suffer from poor sleep quality. People with anxiety tend to be restless at night. And acupressure can improve both of these problems, so it can dramatically improve sleep quality.”
So before giving yourself acupressure, look at your sleep patterns, consider what might be behind your sleepless nights, and focus on the points that target the underlying problem. For example, if you are feeling stressed, you may want to focus on the Yong Kuan point (more on this in the next section).