Acupressure Points for Balancing Your Hormones

Acupressure is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, although with acupressure you use your fingertips instead of needles. Acupressure points are specific points on the body along the meridians. The meridians are energy channels. By using acupressure you can treat blocked energy (called qi in Chinese medicine) by applying manual pressure to specific points on the body.

There are hundreds of points on the body, and you use different points depending on the issues you are addressing. For instance you use different points for hormonal balance and motion sickness. Acupressure is believed to help with a range of conditions, and the best part is that you can do it at home. All you have to do is hold the pressure with your fingertip for about three minutes.

Acupressure points for balancing your hormones

Spleen 6 (three yin intersection)

This is a very special point as it is the crossing point of the three yin meridians Spleen, Liver and Kidney. In TCM these three organs govern the menstrual cycle and hormones. This means working with this point helps counteract imbalances.

Spleen 6 is located 4 fingers above the tip of your medial malleolus (the bony part of your inner ankle). If you are pregnant please don’t use this point, as this point is also used for inducing labor. 

Urinary Bladder 60

This point is great for getting things flowing. For instance if you experience period cramps, this is a great point to help ease the pain and get stuck energy flowing.

The point is located behind the external malleolus, in the depression between the tip of the external malleolus and tendo calcaneus.

If you are pregnant avoid stimulating this point as it can induce labor. 

Liver 3

This is a great point for balancing irregular periods. This point is also used for releasing anger and frustration.

The point is located on top of the foot in between the first and second toe.

Kidney 3

This is a wonderful point for fertility. Remember that in TCM the kidneys, liver and spleen govern the menstrual cycle and hormones.

Kidney 3 is located just behind the ankle bone on the inner side of the ankle. More specifically it’s located in the depression between the tip of the medial malleolus and tendo calcaneus.

I suggest that when you do acupressure you press each point with a finger for about three minutes. You can either simply press the point or give it a gentle massage. It might hurt a bit when you press these points. In TCM they believe that this is due to stagnant energy (qi). By pressing the points (or gently massaging them) you will start to unblock stagnant energy so the qi once again flows freely. It’s the stagnation of energy that causes imbalances, which is why we want the qi to flow freely and strongly.

If you want to do something extra you can use moxa on these points as well. The purpose of moxibustion is to strengthen blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health. You simply burn moxa (like incense) and you can then use it around the points. Moxa is relatively cheap and available in most spiritual stores or online.

If you have any questions about acupressure you are welcome to leave a comment.

Love,

Inika Superfoods