Acupressure for Nasal Congestion: Acupoints Commonly Used in TCM
Nasal congestion is a very common problem. It not only affects breathing but may also lead to other discomforts. TCM has extensive experience with acupoint massage that can effectively relieve congestion symptoms. Massaging five key acupoints, promoting qi and blood circulation, and giving appropriate care for specific symptoms can all help ease congestion. The TCM approach to wellness focuses on the root cause, and ongoing care can also effectively prevent congestion.
Massage five key acupoints
According to TCM theory, every part of the body has corresponding acupoints. Massaging these acupoints promotes the flow of qi and blood, helping to regulate the body. To relieve nasal congestion, doctors recommend focusing on the following five key acupoints:
1. Yingxiang: located where the sides of the nostrils meet the smile lines, it's the acupoint most commonly used to improve nasal congestion. Press here with your fingers until you feel a sore, aching sensation; after massaging, you'll clearly feel your nose open up.
2. Inner Yingxiang: located on the inside of the nostrils, it's also a very important acupoint for congestion. Massaging it together with Yingxiang helps relieve congestion.
3. Shangyingxiang: located where the nostrils meet the eyebrows, it also helps open the nasal passages.
4. Yintang: located between the eyebrows, it can relieve nasal congestion, colds and other symptoms.
5. Shangen: located directly above the point between the eyebrows, it's another key acupoint for relieving congestion.
When pressing these acupoints, you can use a lubricant such as lotion or mint and massage up and down along the smile lines and the sides of the nose. This not only relieves congestion but also promotes local blood circulation and reduces swelling.
Promote qi and blood circulation
Besides acupoint massage, TCM has other ways to help relieve nasal congestion. For example, warm compresses and steam therapy use warmth to speed up blood circulation in the nose, easing congestion.
Doctors suggest soaking a towel in hot water, wringing it out and placing it near the nose and bridge of the nose so the steam enters the nose. This not only warms the nasal passages but also helps open them.
A hairdryer can have a similar effect. Just aim the hairdryer at the Feishu acupoint on the back (on the upper back, two finger-widths beside the spine) and keep warming it for a few minutes. This warms the whole body, promoting qi and blood circulation and relieving congestion.
Targeting specific symptoms
Nasal congestion from different causes may have different symptoms. TCM doctors adopt targeted treatments based on each patient's specific situation.
For congestion caused by allergic rhinitis, a TCM doctor may recommend heat-clearing, detoxifying herbs such as magnolia flower (Xin Yi) and ephedra (Ma Huang), used for nasal steaming or as a drink, to reduce allergic reactions and relieve congestion.
For congestion caused by a cold, herbs that dispel wind and cold, such as cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) and bupleurum (Chai Hu), may be used to expel cold pathogens from the body and promote blood circulation, opening the nasal passages.
TCM may also use acupuncture according to the individual's constitution, stimulating the corresponding acupoints to strengthen the body's self-regulating ability and solve nasal congestion at the root.
Further reading: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Nasal Congestion | Expert Insights from Cheng Mei TCM Clinic, Taoyuan
Easing the discomfort of nasal congestion
TCM also has methods for the range of discomforts caused by nasal congestion.
For symptoms caused by congestion such as thick postnasal drip and difficulty breathing, a TCM doctor may use herbal treatment combined with acupoint massage to help improve these discomforts.
Some herbs, such as ephedra and magnolia flower, help open the nasal passages and can be brewed as tea or used for nasal steaming; others, such as gardenia fruit (Shan Zhi Zi) and scutellaria (Huang Qin), clear heat and detoxify, relieving rhinitis symptoms.
Herbal treatment can not only relieve congestion itself but also effectively improve other symptoms caused by congestion, helping patients breathe better and improving their quality of life.
The TCM way of wellness
TCM treatment for nasal congestion can not only relieve current symptoms but also fundamentally prevent congestion.
TCM emphasises "preventing illness before it arises" and holds that prevention is better than cure. So developing good habits, such as keeping a regular routine and eating a light diet, helps strengthen resistance and prevent problems like nasal congestion.
TCM also recommends regular acupoint massage. Pressing key acupoints such as Yingxiang and Inner Yingxiang continuously promotes local qi and blood circulation and prevents congestion from recurring.
TCM doctors also suggest taking appropriate heat-clearing, nose-opening herbs such as magnolia flower and ephedra to prevent allergic rhinitis.
In short, TCM treatment for nasal congestion can both relieve current symptoms and fundamentally prevent the problem from recurring. As long as you keep up this wellness care, we believe you can get rid of nasal congestion for good.
Ongoing care is effective
Besides the acupoint massage and herbal treatment described above, TCM treatment for nasal congestion also requires patients to keep up long-term care to solve the problem completely.
For congestion caused by allergic rhinitis, TCM doctors usually advise patients to keep taking heat-clearing, detoxifying herbs along with regular nasal steaming. Long-term care can effectively relieve allergic reactions and reduce congestion episodes.
For congestion caused by colds, TCM doctors advise patients to keep up acupoint massage. Regularly pressing key acupoints such as Yingxiang and Inner Yingxiang promotes local qi and blood circulation and strengthens the body's self-regulating ability, preventing congestion from recurring.
TCM also emphasises that good habits are key to preventing nasal congestion. Keeping a regular routine, eating a light diet and exercising moderately all help strengthen the constitution and improve resistance, reducing congestion.
As long as patients keep up TCM wellness care, we believe they can get rid of nasal congestion for good and breathe freely again.
Table of acupoints for nasal congestion:
| No. | Acupoint | Location | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yingxiang | Where the sides of the nostrils meet the smile lines | Improves nasal congestion; after pressing, you'll clearly feel your nose open up |
| 2 | Inner Yingxiang | On the inside of the nostrils | Massaged together with Yingxiang, helps relieve congestion |
| 3 | Shangyingxiang | Where the nostrils meet the eyebrows | Helps open the nasal passages |
| 4 | Yintang | Between the eyebrows | Relieves nasal congestion, colds and other symptoms |
| 5 | Shangen | Directly above the point between the eyebrows | A key acupoint for relieving congestion |
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1. Stuffy nose and can't get air? A hairdryer plus 4 acupoints on your hands to open your nose - Health 2.02. [Clearing a stuffy nose] A TCM doctor shares how to solve long-term congestion (with 4 acupoints) - Bowtie3. "3 acupoints to relieve congestion": one press helps clear it! Even long-term congestion — doctors say it works great4. Stuffy nose and can't get air? A hairdryer plus 4 acupoints on your hands to open your nose | Health 2.05. Nasal allergies | Stuffy or runny nose? 5 acupoints and 1 steam remedy to clear the nose, reduce inflammation and boost circulation6. Acupoints to the rescue for nasal congestion | Health Encyclopedia - UDN Health7. Still congested after Western medicine for COVID? A TCM doctor teaches "massaging 4 acupoints" to breathe freely - Healthnews8. Nasal allergies | 6 ways to ease rhinitis discomfort, and a TCM doctor shows 2 acupoints to relieve allergy symptoms - HK01
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