THERAPY
Sleep and Insomnia: Self-Massage Points from TCM
No needles needed: firm fingers on the right points do a surprising amount for sleep and insomnia. Here is the short list and how to work them.
The points, in order
- anmian: behind the ear, in the tender hollow halfway between the ear tip and the base of the skull
- shenmen: on the inner wrist crease, on the side of the little finger, in the hollow between the tendons
- yintang: right between the eyebrows
Technique
Use the pad of a thumb or a knuckle, press to clear comfortable soreness, and circle slowly for about a minute per point. Twice a day is the standard home rhythm. Soreness that melts as you keep pressing usually means you are in the right place.
What to expect
Acupressure is subtle. Changes build over days and weeks, not minutes, and it works best alongside the food and herb pieces of the plan rather than alone.
None of this replaces a practitioner who can look at your tongue, feel your pulse and ask awkward questions. Use this as background, not as a prescription.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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