How to do Facial Acupressure Massage for Health at Home

Most people get a massage treatment to reduce muscle soreness or as a way to relax. But have you heard about massage for health? 

Over the years, the health benefits of massage have been the focus of multiple studies. Some of the studies managed to find proofs that massage is beneficial for managing knee pain, fibromyalgia symptoms and mental wellbeing. 

The concept of massage for health itself has long been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Known as acupressure massage, this form of TCM treatment can be applied to both the body and the face. Moreover, although patients can visit TCM physicians to receive acupressure massage, some of the techniques are pretty easy, and anyone can do it on their own.

If you’re looking for quick relief for common ailments or discomforts, why not try acupressure massage? Read below to learn how to do facial acupressure massage for health at home!

What is Acupressure Massage for Health?

A type of acupuncture, acupressure, has been around since ancient China. Acupressure borrows acupuncture’s principle of acupoints activation. When stimulated through needles, pressures or heat, acupoints can treat diseases. Different acupoints have different effects on the body. 

Acupoints can be found all over the body, including the face. They are located along meridians or the channels in the body that are connected to the tissues and organs. In TCM, meridians maintain a person’s flow of qi and, therefore, their health. When an acupoint is activated, the sensation will impact not only at the local site (the location where the pressure is applied) but also on other body parts connected by the meridian. 

According to TCM, stimulating acupoints through acupressure can clear blockages, balance the yin-yang energy and promote the body’s self-healing. Because of this, acupressure massage is believed to remedy various health conditions, from removing toxins to treating high blood pressure. 

From the scientific point of view, acupuncture and acupressure work by stimulating the central nervous system. When the acupoints are activated, chemicals are released into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. This biochemical mechanism will then restore the body’s natural healing abilities.

How to Apply Facial Acupressure Massage for Health

Some acupoints are easy to find, and it doesn’t take much to activate them. You just need to apply pressure by massaging or kneading them. 

Here are the three acupoints on the face and how to stimulate them: 

Yin Tang (EX-HN3)

Where: Between the eyebrows. 

How to do the massage: 

1. Use your middle finger to put pressure on the acupoint for 2 to 3 minutes. 
2. Afterwards, slightly pinch the acupoint with your thumb and index finger for approximately 1 minute. 
3. Do it 3 times a day. 

Benefits: 

Yin Tang has several benefits, including dispelling wind and clear blocked meridian. It can also relieve pain, such as headaches. You can also perform this technique to help improve eye-related diseases, nose-related diseases (rhinitis, sinusitis), and improve the neurological system (facial palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, neurasthenia, dementia, forgetfulness). Those with hypertension may also perform Yin Tang to reduce blood pressure.

Ying Xian (LI 20)

Where: Beside nosewings. 

How to do the massage: 

1. Massage the acupoint with both index fingers for 1 minute each. 
2. In an upward-downward motion, press along the laugh lines and the sides of your nose with both thumbs. 
3. Do it 2 to 3 times for 1 minute every time.  
4. Drink warm beverages after the treatment. 

Benefits: 

This massage technique cools the lung fire, dispels wind and regulate qi. You can also use Ying Xian to help ease nasal diseases (runny nose, blocked nose, nosebleed, rhinitis, hyposmia, nasal polyp, upper respiratory infection, wheezing) and improve constipation. Performing this massage also helps with different conditions, such as deviated eyes and mouth, facial oedema, swollen lips, headache, sore eyes, boils, conjunctivitis.

Qiao Gong

Where: The muscle that goes from below the ear to the collarbone. 

How to do the massage: 

1. Press the acupoint behind the ear and push it toward the indentation above the collarbone using your thumb. Do this 100 times. 
2. Massage the left side first before moving on to the right side. Do not do both sides at the same time. 
3. Feeling of hardness and swelling is normal. 
4. Remember to do it softly and in uniform. 

Benefits:  

This technique helps regulate blood pressure.

Facial acupressure massage is relatively easy and has excellent health benefits. Furthermore, you can do it on your own, making it cost-free. Not only for relaxation, but now you can also receive massage for health.

This is an adaptation of an article, “Maintain Your Health With Acupressure Massage”, which first appeared on Eu Yan Sang website.