Good sleep is the key to a healthy life. However, it’s no secret that for many of us, a sufficient amount of sleep is hard to come by. Nightmares, restlessness, insomnia and stress are all factors that lead to an unhealthy life under the covers. Nevertheless, there are many tips, tricks and methods that are useful in achieving better sleep, faster. One of those methods is acupressure.

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure is basically a non-invasive variation of acupuncture. It is a form of physical therapy where pressure is applied to specific points on the human body. These points on the body are believed to be important points that are responsible for balancing of energy in the body. Many common ailments and even sicknesses are also believed to be treatable through acupressure.

Acupressure points are the specific points on the body that are believed to help in achieving the entire goal of acupressure — attaining enough sleep with a relaxed body and mind. Overall, there more than 400 acupressure points in total. While the services of a professional would produce the best results, there are practical ways to try practicing acupressure at home. These are the seven most important points that are worth trying:

B10 Pressure Point

The B10 is an important pressure point for treating headache, neck pain and dizziness. This point is positioned on the back of the neck, one-half inch below the base of the skill, on the muscles located on the outer side of the spine. This pressure point is good for the mind as it leaves your head and neck feeling relaxed. Other upper-body ailments such and shoulder and back pain are also alleviated by applying pressure on the B10 pressure point. In order to properly stimulate this point, curve your fingers and place the fingertips on the thick muscles on the back of the neck. Then apply firm pressure on the muscles for 1 minute as you breathe deeply.

Third-Eye Point

The third-eye point, also called GV24.5 point, is the most common point to heal various diseases. This point is situated right between the two eyebrows, above the bridge of the nose. You should see the picture to know the exact place of third-eye point. To effectively work on the third-eye point, you should apply gentle pressure on this point with your thumb or index finger, then hold the pressure for two minutes. Third-Eye Point is helpful to get quick relief in anxiety and headache, and it also relaxes the central nervous system.

Sea of Tranquility Point

The Sea of Tranquility Point, or CV 17, is an acupressure point located on the middle of the chest, right on the breastbone. This area is believed to be the heart-energy center of the body, and according to popular belief, the heart center carries the body’s emotions. It is also theorized that this area is responsible for the energy balance between positive and negative energy within the body. This means that when someone becomes stressed, this area becomes sore and puts the rest of the body out of sync. It is therefore important to work on this area to relieve emotional stress and anxiety.

When working on the area, you can locate it about four finger-widths above the base of the breastbone — almost directly in the center of your chest. Start by placing your fingertips in the small indention in this area. Applying gentle pressure, slowly rub up and down the center of your breastbone until you find the perfect spot. Next, sit with your spine straight and upright, then place your palms together with your fingers pointed toward the ceiling. This is called the prayer pose. As you are in this position, use the back of your thumb knuckles to apply gentle pressure into the center of your Sea of Tranquility Point for about 2 to 5 minutes. While doing this, close your eyes, inhale and exhale with deep, regular breaths, keep your head upright, and relax your neck and shoulders. If done properly, this method should be quite effective in relaxing your entire chest area and therefore achieving a state of balance, relaxation and calmness. If time is not on your side, however, gently tapping this area with your fingers for a bit before you sleep can also prove helpful.

B62 Pressure Point

The B62 acupressure point is an important acupressure point for treating sleeping disorders. This point is located right below the outer anklebone. This point is also called the Extending Vessel. It helps in curing lower back pain, spinal problems, stiff neck and epilepsy.

Inner Frontier Gate

The Inner Frontier Gate Point is an acupressure point found on your inner forearm between two tendons. This acupressure point is useful for curing or alleviating insomnia. To find it, place the hand palm up and use three fingers to measure roughly an inch down the wrist. The inner gate point is here, approximately in the center of the wrist. To start working on this point, turn your hands over so that your palms are facing upwards. Then take one hand and count three finger widths down from your wrist crease. After this, apply a steady downward pressure between the two tendons in this location. Finally, use a circular or up-and-down motion to massage the area for four to five seconds. You should see an improvement in your sleep pattern or a reduction in the severity in your insomnia.

Anmian Acupressure Point

This pressure point can be found just behind your ear. It’s the soft area just before the point where your neck muscles meet your jaw line. This acupressure point can be effectively massaged by using your thumb or index and middle fingers for about 15 to 20 minutes. This pressure point is the easiest of all to work on, and does not require much dexterity — basically anyone with patience can do it. The word “anmian” actually translates to “peaceful sleep.” This pressure point assists with restful sleep and helps to prevent waking up prematurely.

Shimien Pressure Point

This acupressure point can be found on the bottom of the foot and is also known as the insomnia point. To find this point, you will need to trace a line from each of your ankle bones down the bottom of the foot — where the lines meet in the middle of the foot is the Shimien. It’s in front of the heel and it can be sensitive. You might need to use a light pen mark to trace from the ankle to the foot to find the correct spot. This point is regarded as the best point for falling asleep quickly due to its relative simplicity and effectiveness. All you need to do is massage this pressure point gently and wait.