Here's a series of acupuncture points that will help stoke your body's immune system - selected because they're powerful and particularly useful against highly infections viral diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is being credited as playing a significant role along with modern medicine to temper the outbreak of COVID-19 in China and to manage its potentially devastating symptoms.
Use the flat pads of your fingers or thumb to press into the specific acupuncture point(s). You can apply firm continuous pressure, or massage in a circular motion. These points may feel tender, and the acupressure should be firm and deep, but not to the point of pain. I call that pleasure/pain balance "delicious discomfort".
Stimulate each point about 50-100 times per point. That may sound like a lot, but it’ll take about a minute for each point. Remember that the meridians run along both sides of the body so each point is bilateral - do both left and right sides.
Make this part of your new quarantining routine!
Du-14
Chinese name: Da Zhui ( English translation: Great Vertebra)
Great point for consolidating the body’s defensive resources (“wei qi”), especially against infectious “wind-born” pathogens. This point is also great for dispersing fever and heat.
To find the point: The point is named for its location. Bend your neck forward and feel for the biggest bump (vertebrae) about the level of your shoulder. The point is directly below that great bump (the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae).
Instead of pressing on this point, warm up your hands (briskly rub them together) and place your hand over the point. Do this for about 3-5 minutes, or gently pat/clap to stimulate the point about 50-100 times.
Gall Bladder-20 (GB20)
Feng Chi (Wind Pool)
“Clears wind” or pathogens carried by air - particularly good for heat/febrile diseases.
Also one of the essential points used for headaches, and neck/shoulder tension so it’ll feel great to massage.
To find the point:
At the back of your head where the neck muscles meet the base of your skull.
Lung-1 (LU1)
Zhong Fu (Middle Palace)
Useful for all lung issues - particularly those involving phlegm and heat. Powerful for breathing problems, pulmonary issues, cough, infections.
To find the point:
Find the depression under the end of your clavicle by your shoulder at the top of your chest. The point is about 1cm below and slightly out.
Stomach-36 (ST36):
Zu San Li (Leg Three Miles)
Named for the point’s ability to invigorate energy, so that a person can walk another three miles, even when exhausted.
This is one of the most commonly used acupuncture points because of its powerful ability to affect all other systems. In addition to helping treat myriad digestive disorders from constipation to diarrhea to heartburn, bloating, nausea, and vomiting, ST36 is used to boost immune function, recover from fatigue, resolve chest fullness, palpitations, and phlegm disorders.
To find the point: Four-fingers below the bent kneecap, on the outside of the prominent shin bone.