How to Use Acupressure in Bed

Acupressure is an ancient Chinese form of medicine used to stimulate the body's natural healing response. Frequently used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia, snoring, narcolepsy, nightmares and restlessness, acupressure works by applying pressure to acupoints, or pressure points, along the body.

Things You'll Need

• Your fingertips or some other small, precise object such as the eraser on a pencil

Show More

Instructions

Use Acupressure for Deep Sleep

• 1

  Lie on your bed and work on the acupoint between your eyes. Massage it for 1 minute.

• 2

  Move down to your feet. On the top of your foot, between the first and second toes, there is a tiny depression. You want to apply pressure here until it begins to ache.

• 3

  Visualize your foot as it would be if it were divided into three sections. The portion one-third back from the tips of your toes reveals the next acupoint. It will be on the underside of your foot. Press into the point for several minutes.

• 4

  Spend the last few minutes on your ears. This is the last acupoint. Massage or rub them gently.

Perform Acupressure in Bed When You're Having Trouble Falling Asleep

• 5

  Locate the juncture where the wrist meets the hand. Using the thumb of your opposing hand, massage just below the initial crease in the wrist. This is your first acupoint.

• 6

  Apply pressure to the space between your eyebrows. You can use the fingertips of your second and third fingers. This is the second acupoint that needs attention.

• 7

  Move to the base of your skull. Rub the acupoint at the indentation at the base of the skull, moving an inch outward on both sides toward your hairline.

• 8

  Know whether it's working. Pressure on the correct acupoint locations causes feelings of tingling, tenderness, soreness, or slight discomfort.

• 9

  Be sure to apply correct pressure. You can rub or massage steadily using a circular motion.

• 10

  Spend enough time on each acupoint. It is recommended to spend about 1 minute on each point with beginners pressing no more than 5 minutes on each point.

• 11

  Learn more about the different ways acupressure can help you and your child by visiting the American Association of Oriental Medicine (see Resources below).