5 Best Acupressure Points for Fever, Cold and Flu

Most of us don’t take common colds, flu and fever seriously but by doing so; we actually underestimate the real impact that these small maladies might have on our health in the long run. It is impossible to your 100% at job, in home or anywhere else if you are constantly pestered by these chronic diseases and colds and flues have a tendency to linger in the body slowly weakening the body’s defense power and immune system, making it weak and lowering the energy level of the body. Acupressure and reflexology has been proved useful in curing various kinds of diseases and it can be effectively used in keeping the symptoms of cold and flu at bay.

Causes and Symptoms of Cold, Flu and Fever:

Common cold may be caused by any of the 100 different types of viruses, but in most of the cases it is the Rhinovirus that leads to sneezing, sniffling, runny nose and sore throat. Rhinovirus is highly contagious and multiplies in low-humid environment, that’s why colds and flu are most common during early winter or early spring. The virus is transferred when an affected person coughs or sneezes and spreads the virus through the air.

The most common symptoms of Cold are:

• Runny or blocked Nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Headache
• Body ache
• When all these symptoms are accompanied by fever it is called flu

Acupressure to Fight Cold and Flu:

Most of us think that there is nothing much to do about a flu rather than popping some over the counter pills and waiting for it to pass away, but in reality, reflexology and acupressure can help in effectively fighting these chronic ailments and removing them from the root. White blood cells present in the blood stream fights infections and protects the body from diseases and acupressure can help in stimulating the production of white blood cells that prevents infections and protects the body from the bothersome hands of common cold, flu and fever.

Union Valley:

This is an extremely vital acupressure point that’s helps in healing several pains and ailments. It is located in the webbing between the index finger and the thumb. Stimulating this point on both hands alternately helps in clearing congestion and helps relieve headaches.

Great Abyss:

This point is located below the thumb, on the wrist crease on the palm side of the hand. Stimulating this point on both arms alternately regulates the flow and balance of “Qi” in the lung, reduces excess phlegm and opens the chest. It also helps in relieving ankle pain effectively.

Outer Gate:

This point is located three fingers width above the wrist crease, on the outer side of the forearm, in the center, between the two tendons. Stimulating this point on both arms alternately increases the body’s resistance to colds.

Crooked Pond:

This point is located at the top of the elbow crease, at the edge of the joint. Stimulating this point on both elbows helps in relieving symptoms of cold and reduces fever.

Wind Pool:

This point is located in the ridge of the occipital bone, half way between the ear and the spine, between the two muscles. This is the most important point that helps in relieving persistent cough, cold and flu.

Stretching the Meridians of Arms and Chest:

It is important to stretch the upper body before getting on with the reflexology session so that energy or Qi can flow freely throughout the body.

• Stand straight with your feet shoulder width apart
• Bend your knees slightly
• Raise your arms to the shoulder level keeping your palms facing towards the ground while inhaling
• Spread your arms backwards at shoulder blade level while rotating your palms upward
• Exhale and bring your arms back to your side
• Repeat this exercise 3 times

5 Steps for Making the Acupressure Session Successful:

Acupressure is an age old natural remedy for all types of diseases. Now that you know the most important acupressure points for relieving colds and flu, here are a few steps that will help you in making your reflexology session more effective.

• Start off with the pressure points on the arm and work on Union Valley, Great Abyss, Outer Gate and Crooked Pond on both the arms allotting 1-3 minutes of time to each point.
• Use the bilateral approach on Wind Pool, alternating pressure on each point
• Use sustained pressure on the points that feel lack of energy
• Use alternate pressure on points that you feel have excess of energy
• Lie down and relax, think your defense system is full of Qi and is actively destroying the disease causing agents

The seriousness of flu and colds should never be under-estimated and treated at once because approximately 30000 deaths in U.S.A are reported per year because of flu and it is the older people and babies who are most susceptible to the virus that leaves the immune system extremely weakened. Therefore, the next time you feel heavy in the head or your tiny tot complains of a sore throat or choked nose, try stimulating the above mentioned acupressure points and get lasting relief from colds and flu.