Is Acupressure Good for Pain?

Is acupressure good for pain?

Acupressure comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and at heart it’s massage with a focus. You press specific points on the body, called acupoints, and hold the pressure there. Working those points can ease all sorts of physical problems, and a lot of people find it helps them switch off and relax too. Done right, acupressure can work surprisingly well. 

Acupressure: Benefits

Pressing the points gets blood moving and loosens tight muscles. People use it for all kinds of ongoing pain, and even chemotherapy pain can ease if you practice regularly. 

Pain:

It can ease plenty of everyday pain: lower back pain, headaches, pain after surgery, and more. One point, LI4, helps with headaches and helps you relax, whether the pain is new or it’s been hanging around for a while. 

Cancer:

Most people face extreme pain after their chemotherapy sessions, especially nausea. Regular practice at specific points may help ease that. Regular acupressure practice helps maintain your energy and alleviate different pains. Acupressure has also been known to lessen the 

Anxiety:

There are multiple studies on how mood and fatigue can be improved. Many people also use acupressure to help manage anxiety and low mood, which are very common. There are different acupoints for anxiety; pressing them may help you feel calmer and better overall. 

Early Labor:

Pregnant women who have crossed 39-40 weeks can try to induce labor through acupressure with their physician’s assistance. People also say it helps when labor still hasn’t started after the due date. 

Relieves Vertigo:

Some people get vertigo now and then. They can try acupressure for it, and many feel the episodes ease off in day-to-day life. 

Osteo-Arthritis:

Older people with arthritis know just how bad that pain can get. Regular acupressure practice can help them get through the worst of it. Done regularly, it’s said to ease the pain and relax people living with different kinds of Arthritis pain. 

How to Practice Acupressure?

Once you know where the points are, you can press them yourself. There’s nothing tricky about it. It doesn’t require a professional or experienced therapist to help you perform acupressure. 

Acupuncture is different. For an acupuncture session, you’ll want an experienced therapist. With acupressure, you just press the points, gently or firmly. 

Wrapping Up

For most people, acupressure is a safe way to treat pain, and it works. You can perform it yourself, so there’s no need to hire a professional to help you. If you’re pregnant, though, check with your healthcare provider first. 

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jian Times

Last updated: October 22, 2026