The 7-step acupuncture sequence you can do at home
This is a difficult time for anyone who has been used to receiving regular therapy to manage their long-term health and now finds themselves unable to benefit from the ongoing care they’ve been used to.
It’s also hard for us as therapists as well. We dedicate our working lives to the care of others, and I’ve found it even harder than I expected to be in a position where I haven’t been able to help patients who I know absolutely rely on me and Pouyan to safeguard their health.
Since lockdown began nearly six weeks ago, I’ve been spending time finding ways of providing remote help in the hope that it may support people until we’re all able to resume some sort of normal life, and I’m really pleased to be able to share a video with you that outlines a sequence of some of my favourite acupuncture points you can practice yourself in the comfort of your own home.
The link to my short YouTube walk-through guide that shows you exactly how to do the sequence I recommend is at the end of this article, and but before you head over and start to follow the steps, please read this guide to the acupuncture points and how my sequence can help to boost your immune system and their benefits.
Acupuncture Point 1 – Kidney 27 (The Elegant Mansion)
Working on Kidney 27 is particularly good for people who can be prone to upper respiratory flu-like symptoms. If you’re looking to relieve a cough, need to control asthmatic symptoms or experience issues with accumulation of phlegm, this is a really good exercise for you.
Acupuncture Point 2 – Ren 17 (Chest Centre)
Ren 17 – known as Chest Centre – is an immune system stimulator and can help to relieve shortness of breath or laboured breathing. If you’re experiencing a cough, or you struggle with asthma, or feel as though your chest is ‘full’, exercising this point can bring relief.
It’s also a good exercise to practice in order to ease any sense of anxiety of worry that you may be feeling.
Acupuncture Point 3 – Large Intestine 11 (Pool at the Crook)
This acupuncture point is particularly good in strengthening a weak immune system, which then helps to prevent colds, flu symptoms and other conditions that compromise the immune system.
Specifically, Large Intestine 11 is used to reduce fever and can be remarkably effective at easing a sore throat.
Acupuncture Point 4 – San Jiao 5 (Outer Pass)
This acupuncture point is used to balance the immune system. It’s particularly effective and beneficial in the treatment of febrile diseases – diseases that have the effect of raising the body temperature and inducing fever.
Acupuncture Point 5 – Lung 7 (Broken Sequence)
Located on the lung meridian, this is one of the most powerful acupuncture points in the body and this exercise can be really useful in stopping a persistent cough or relieving a sore throat.
But it’s not just useful for conditions that manifest as symptoms of a cold – it also treats conditions related to the head and the neck, including headaches and migraines as well as muscle or joint stiffness.
Acupuncture Point 6 – Large Intestine 4 (Joining Valley)
This is a key anti-inflammatory point which is also highly effective when it comes to relieving blocked sinuses. More than that, the Large Intestine 4 exercise is also a powerful aid for relieving head pain and head issues and will help you to strengthen your immune system
Acupuncture Point 7 – Stomach 36 (Leg Three Miles)
This is one of my favourite acupuncture points because it’s so versatile and can help to treat so many conditions. It’s also one of the most effective points at strengthening Qi, which is the ancient name for the internal energy we all have that is so critical to good health.
More specifically, this exercise is good at dealing with fatigue, can boost endurance and is a wonderful way to improve the immune system.
It’s really important to say, though, that if you are concerned about your health you should contact the NHS on 111 in the first instance.
The sequence I’ve described here, and which you can follow in my video, are also not intended to be a substitute for advice you may be given, or may have been given already, by your doctor.
Here’s the link to the video – and don’t forget to share it with other people who you think might find it useful in the coming days and weeks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPdMyKWiRS0&t=9s
If you would like to know more about these sequences and how they can help, or you’d like to talk to me about acupuncture and the benefit it can have in managing your health when we reopen, why not pick up the phone and give me a call? I’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, stay well