How to Use Acupressure Points for General Pain

Pain can affect all areas of the body for different reasons. Depending on the science behind your pain, your doctor could recommend anything from ice packs to prescription pain medication to find relief. But you can ease your pain yourself through acupressure. It's similar to acupuncture, where a licensed technician inserts needles in pressure points to relieve pain and other symptoms. But instead of needles, you massage the point yourself. The key to finding pain relief is to find the right pressure point.

Instructions

• 1

  Turn your hand so your palm is facing away from you. The most common pressure point to relieve general pain is found by locating the area where the joint of your thumb and your index finger meet. This is typically just below the webbing between your thumb and index finger.

• 2

  Apply pressure until you find the area that is the most tender. This is the pressure point you need to focus on.

• 3

  Massage this for three to five minutes or until you feel relief. For the best results, use the tip of your finger, your knuckle or the eraser end of a pencil. Acupressure works best after acupuncture, so you can talk to your acupuncturist about points that give you the best results.