Acupressure For Travelers
It’s the end of May, early June. This summer I will be traveling (driving) long distances, and a lot of you are frequent travelers, so let’s look at several acupoints that will come in handy as we make our way to distant places.
When I travel, whether by plane or car, I typically have issues with 1) My Head - like headaches, disorientation, fogginess, and anxiety; 2) My Upper Body - my neck, shoulders, and upper back get tight from carrying luggage, driving, and being out of my familiar space; and 3) My Digestion - I get upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn.
Points for Headaches and Associated Issues
SI 2 - Press this point to treat a headache, sore throat, neck pain, tinnitus/ear pain, and eye pain.
LI 4 - This is a commonly used point to help with stress, facial pain, headaches, dizziness, toothaches and neck pain.
GB 12 - This point helps a headache, stiff or sore neck, and toothache.
Points for Stress, Tension, Upper Body
K1 - Press K1 to ground and calm yourself, dispel negative thoughts, relieve insomnia, and reduce dizzy spells.
LV 3 - This point helps release pent-up energy, reduce anxiety and irritability, and dispel tension headaches and PMS. Press LV 3 when you’re feeling on edge.
L 1 - Press L 1 to loosen a tight chest and alleviate shoulder pain and upper back tension.
GB 21 - This is a classic point to treat neck stiffness, shoulder tension, and headaches.
GI Issues
P 6 - This is a go-to point to reduce nausea and motion sickness.
LI 11 - Press LI 11 to relieve diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain.
ST 36 - This is a powerful point. Among its many benefits, it improves digestive imbalances like gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
This is a small but handy list of acupoints to press or massage as you go about your travels to keep you enjoying your trip. Yes, it’s nice to have ibuprofen and antacids handy, but why not address your discomforts naturally if you can. You won’t have to deal with the side-effects of medication.
