Brought to you by Evolution Healthcare and Fitness Acupuncturist Danielle Melanson for Acutake- written by Sara Calabro

Press This Point for Ear Problems

TripleHeater21

Triple Heater 21 is a go-to point for ear pain, ear infections, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Sinus pressure commonly leads to discomfort in the ears, so with spring allergies ramping up, this is a good time to get acquainted with Triple Heater 21.

The point is helpful as well if you have kids, who often suffer from ear aches and infections. It’s safe to apply gentle pressure to Triple Heater 21 on children of all ages.

Triple Heater 21 is located in front of the tragus, the small flap on the outside of your ear. Here’s a trick for finding the exact point location: Place your finger in front of your ear, like in the photo, then open and close your mouth. When the mouth is open, you’ll feel a depression. That’s where the point is located.

Triple Heater 21 can be very tender, especially on people who have acute ear pain or an infection. Slowly apply firm pressure and hold for 1-2 minutes while breathing steadily.

Press This Point If You’re Feeling Faint or Tongue Tied

Pericardium9The primary indication for acupuncture point Pericardium 9 is to revive consciousness. If you’re with someone who faints, or if you’re feeling lightheaded yourself, this is a good point to press.

Pericardium 9, because of its relationship to the Heart system, is also used for issues related to the tongue and speech.

Here’s why:

There are five sensory organs in acupuncture, each associated with an organ system. The tongue is associated with the Heart. And the Heart system governs our ability to connect with the world around us. As the organ system that relates most directly to spirit, the Heart system controls our sense of self-awareness, of understanding our role in a given situation and acting accordingly. As this relates to speech, the Heart allows us to choose the right words and deliver them in an appropriate way. It allows us to connect through dialog.

The Pericardium has a direct relationship with the Heart, and Pericardium 9 is known as the most powerful point for affecting Heart-related tongue and speech problems. You might experience this as a stiffening of the tongue, pain at the root of the tongue, or just that frustrating feeling of not being able to access the right words.

Pericardium 9 is located in the center of the tip of your middle finger. To really get at the point, try using your fingernail or the tip of a closed pen. This point should be pressed firmly, especially when being used to revive consciousness. Hold for at least 1-2 minutes.