Questions and answers

Yes, most of them — classical self-care manuals assume you are working on your own body. Use your thumb or a knuckle, press for about a minute, and stop if anything feels sharp.

A small number of points (for example along the lower abdomen and sacrum in pregnancy) are classically contraindicated. Every point page on Acupoints carries a safety note when one applies.

Qi (氣) is the TCM name for the body's capacity for coordinated movement and change — breath, circulation, digestion, warmth — not a mystical energy.

For a fuller definition in plain English, see the What is qi? basic and the glossary.

Around 30 to 60 seconds of steady pressure is a good default. You can repeat two or three times with a short break between.

If you are working on a tight muscle, longer holds of up to two minutes are fine. If a point feels sensitive, shorten the hold rather than pressing harder.

Firm enough to feel a dull, heavy sensation — the classical de qi — but never so hard that it hurts sharply.

Sharp pain usually means you are on tissue next to the point, not the point itself. Ease off, shift a few millimetres, and look again for the steady, spreading sensation.

A few classical points are contraindicated during pregnancy (notably LI4 and SP6), and you should avoid pressing directly on broken skin, burns, or recent surgical sites.

When a point has a specific caution — pregnancy, pacemaker, anticoagulant medication — the point page on Acupoints carries a safety note at the top.

No. Acupressure is a complementary self-care practice, not a substitute for medical care. Anything persistent, severe, or unexplained should be seen by a qualified clinician.

Acupoints publishes reference material and traditional uses. We do not diagnose or treat conditions, and we do not recommend acupressure in place of prescribed treatment.

De qi is the dull, heavy, or radiating sensation that signals a classical acupoint has been correctly located — the cue you are looking for in self-acupressure.

Use the point page's "how to find" steps and body-proportional cun measurements, then press gently and watch for a steady, spreading sensation rather than a sharp one.

A good rule of thumb: if you have drifted a few millimetres off, you will feel tissue or bone. When you land on the point, the sensation changes in character, not just intensity.

Some people find acupressure helpful for relaxation, tension, and nausea. The research evidence is mixed, and acupressure is considered complementary — not a replacement for medical care.

If you have a condition that concerns you, see a licensed practitioner or your doctor. Acupoints publishes traditional uses and WHO coordinates; we do not make clinical claims.