Acupressure Points for Cough Relief:
As winter creeps up and the seasons turn, most of us start bracing for cold and flu season. We reach for prescribed and over-the-counter medicines for flu symptoms, and coughs especially. They’re everywhere in winter. But there are natural options too, and acupressure points are known to give relief from coughs.
That said, if you get a severe cough you can’t control while using these points, see a doctor. Left alone, coughs like that can turn into serious illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and influenza.
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If your cough comes with a common cold or the flu, try the reflexology points below to calm the coughing fits. You can use them alongside your prescribed medication, and they work well together.
Relieve Your Cough With Acupressure Points:
You don’t need to use every technique here at once. Try them, work out which points suit you best, and stick with those to bring your cough down.
Acupressure Points for Cough Relief Infographic:
The Elegant Mansion:
You’ll find the Elegant Mansion point in the hollow below your collarbone, next to the breastbone. Press firmly with two fingers for five minutes. It’s an easy one to do on your own whenever you have a free hand, and it’s worth repeating through the day. People use it for breathing issues, anxiety, asthma, and coughing. It also helps you relax, and it’s good for neck and shoulder pain.
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The Ding Chuan:
The Ding Chuan is a great point for easing coughing. It also helps relieve:
- Throat problems
- Shoulder & neck pain
- Thyroid imbalance
The Ding Chuan sits on the vertebra at the top of your neck, the one that lets you bend your neck. Massage the point in small circles for 2–3 minutes a day and you’ll get the best results.
The Heavenly Pillar:
Look for the Heavenly Pillar below the base of your skull, on the thick muscles 1 ½ inches out from either side of your spine. Pressing both sides helps with sore throats, headaches, fatigue, stress, and overexertion. You’ll need a hand with this one, though. Ask someone to massage the point in a circular motion with their middle and index fingers for 8 minutes. Do it thrice daily, until the cough settles.
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The Heaven Rushing Out Pressure Point:
The Heaven Rushing Out point is another handy one. It sits in the hollow right under the Adam’s apple. Place your index finger on it and press firmly for 2–3 minutes, at least three to four times during the day. Got congestion in your throat? This one is made for it. Pressing here eases coughs, and people also use it for:
- Sore throat
- Chest congestion
- Heartburn
- Dry coughs
- Bronchitis
Natural Remedies To Use Acupressure Points for Cough Relief:
Medicines can treat coughs from sinus infections, allergies, and colds. But if you’d rather not pump your body full of chemicals, try the natural methods below alongside acupressure therapy and see if they shift your cough.
Honey: People have used honey for centuries to soothe a sore throat, and it’s great for coughs too. Stir it into herbal tea with lemon juice and warm water and you have a simple, soothing mix.
Bromelain found in pineapple: Bromelain is an enzyme in this tasty tropical fruit. It loosens mucus in the throat and calms coughs, and it pairs well with the acupressure points above. One warning, though. If you’re buying Bromelain supplements and you take blood thinners, you should avoid them. Talk to your doctor first before using it.
Peppermint: Peppermint leaf oil is known for its healing properties. The menthol soothes your throat and breaks down mucus. You can drink peppermint tea, or breathe in the steam. Add four drops of peppermint oil to hot water, drape a towel over your head, and breathe deeply just above the water.
Thyme: Thyme has a long history with respiratory illnesses. For thyme tea, crush two teaspoons of thyme, pour over one cup of boiling water, cover the cup, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain it and drink.
Ginger: Ginger is another old favorite, and it works well with these acupressure points for cough relief. Take a small piece and wash it properly. Peel off the skin, cut a thin slice, and rest it on the back of your tongue. It eases a sore throat. Keep it there for 10 minutes, then repeat with a fresh piece several times through the day. Or make tea: put a ¼-cup of ginger in two cups of water and bring it to a boil.
Take care of your health:
Look after yourself this winter. Eat well, and don’t drink impure water. Hot tea soothes the throat, especially with the natural ingredients above and the acupressure points for cough relief. Keep smiling. Winter feels long, but it’s over in the blink of an eye.
Everything You Need to Know About a Cough
Everyone has coughed, whether it’s from a cold or just something tickling the throat. Sometimes a cough can save your life, because it clears an obstruction out of your airway. It also clears pollen, dust, and other pollutants out of your lungs.
Fluid or food going down the wrong way can set off a fit. A regular, on-and-off cough can also be a nervous tic, or even a sign of boredom. Colds cause plenty of coughs. Others are more serious. So how does a cough form in the chest, and why is yours worse at night?
If you’ve got a cough that’s driving you mad right now, let’s find some answers and get it eased.
How Is A Cough Formed in The Chest?
Got a chesty cough? There’s probably too much mucus sitting in your chest. A mucus cough is productive, because it brings the stuff up and out. Non-productive coughs are different. They’re dry and tickly, and they irritate the back of the throat.
A viral infection, like the flu or a cold, is the usual cause. So why do we make mucus at all? Your lungs pull oxygen into the bloodstream, and in the tubes connected to them, mucous membranes make mucus to trap unwanted particles.
When flu or a cold gets into your respiratory system, your body makes extra mucus to wash the bugs away. It gathers there, and coughing is how you clear the excess phlegm out. A few home remedies are worth trying for a chest cough:
- Drink enough water. It keeps your throat hydrated and helps fight infection
- Drink good quality honey in hot water to soothe the area, and add a slice of lemon to fill your body with vitamin C
- Gargle salt water. It helps stop the infection
- Inhale steam from hot water, which loosens the mucus so you can expel it from the body
People also ask why a cough gets worse at night. Simple, really. You’re lying flat, so mucus pools at the back of your throat and sets you off. Sleep with your head raised and the postnasal drip will bother you less.
Is Coughing A Sign of Cancer?
Coughing doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it can be a sign of it. Catch lung cancer early and it is treatable. The trouble is, there’s no way to tell from a cough alone whether disease is behind it. So when is a cough serious? These symptoms say it’s time to see the doctor:
- Chronic coughs lasting up to eight weeks. They can be dry or come with mucus, at any time of day
- You cough up blood
- You get short of breath climbing stairs
- Pain in the lung or chest, which could come from the pressure of a tumor or from sore ribs
- Your voice changes and sounds hoarse from all the coughing
- You’re losing weight and you cannot explain why
- You keep getting respiratory infections, such as bronchitis
- You quit smoking on your own to relieve a cough, without having trouble doing it
If your cough won’t go away, even when you’re not smoking, that list is reason enough to book an appointment. And if you’re coughing up yellow or thick green phlegm and wheezing, don’t wait. See your general practitioner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coughing
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Why does coughing hurt your throat?
Coughing puts a lot of strain on your throat, and it dries out, which is how you end up sore. A cough can also be a sign of a bacterial infection, or a viral one like a cold, on its way. Drink fluids to keep your throat hydrated, or gargle some salt water.
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Why does the stomach hurt when you cough?
When you cough, you use muscles in your ribs and stomach that you don’t usually use. Leave any muscle unused for a long time and it gets sore when you finally work it. These are no different.
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Do cough drops help with a sore throat?
Yes and no. It depends on the brand. A cough drop like Halls soothes a sore throat because it contains a lot of menthol, and menthol has a soothing effect on the body.
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Can a cough be the cause of allergies?
Yes. Pollen, dust, and other airborne irritants can set off an allergic reaction, even in people without asthma. A stuffy nose often comes with an allergy cough.
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Can a cough cause a headache?
Yes, it can. Sneezing, coughing, and blowing your nose can all bring one on.
Are There Gluten-Free Cough Drops
Yes, gluten-free cough drops are out there. If you have a gluten sensitivity, these are some reputable brands to look at:
Fisherman’s Friend
You can get them in regular menthol eucalyptus, which is sugar-free, and other flavors are available too. They’re allergen-free, suitable for vegans, and fine for halal and kosher diets.
Jakemans
This cough drop from England has been around for a long time. It comes in various flavors, and all of them contain menthol as an active ingredient. It’s gluten-free and meets both European Union and US standards.
Luden’s Lozenges
These cough drops count as gluten-free. Within the range, only the Original Menthol and Honey Licorice tablets contain menthol. The rest use pectin, a natural fruit-based thickening agent.
Pine Brothers
These cough drops are soft and oblong, and they come in four flavors. All are labeled gluten-free. If you have a nut allergy, though, you’re best avoiding them.
Smith Bros
The collection has different tablets, and every one of them is gluten-free.
Wedderspoon Organic
A cough drop made with Manuka honey, in seven flavors: dairy, nut, GMO, and gluten-free.
Final Thoughts
We hope this helps you find a way to ease your cough, and that you understand a bit better how a cough forms and how to manage it. If yours persists, don’t ignore it. See a doctor and get it looked at. Eat a healthy diet and exercise, and keep your mind and body fit. And remember, coughing does a job. It clears your airways.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jian Times
Last updated: October 22, 2026