Some people have the habit of drooling when they sleep, even from a young age. When they grow up, the problem doesn't go away and they often wake up with a dirty pillow, which is very unpleasant and embarrassing. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches you how to massage the Taibai acupoint to treat drooling during sleep. How to find the location of the Taibai acupoint?
Location of Taibai acupoint
Causes of drooling during sleep:
1. Breathing through the mouth
When sleeping, many people unconsciously breathe through their mouths, which often leads to drooling during the night.
You might ask, how can we control whether we breathe through the nose or mouth when we are asleep?
Usually, it's because the nose is not receiving enough oxygen that we open our mouths to breathe. Identifying and treating the underlying causes is the key to solving the problem.
Common causes include nasal congestion, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, allergies, and deviated septum.
2. Side effects of certain medications
Some medications can cause excessive salivation as a side effect. When taking these medications, you may suddenly find yourself drooling during sleep.
Central nervous system depressants, such as antidepressants, are the most common medications that can cause this side effect. Alcohol can also have a similar effect.
3. Sleeping position
When sleeping on your stomach or side, your jaw tends to open unconsciously, which increases the likelihood of drooling. When sleeping on your side, a large amount of saliva can accumulate at the corners of your mouth and flow out without triggering the swallowing reflex.
When sleeping on your back, due to gravity, saliva can accumulate at the back of the throat, triggering the swallowing reflex.
Massage method for treating drooling using the Taibai acupoint:
To alleviate the annoyance caused by drooling during sleep, you can massage the Taibai acupoint. This acupoint is located on the spleen meridian and has dual functions, not only treating drooling during sleep but also relieving body heaviness and pain. It is an important acupoint on the spleen meridian. Massaging the Taibai acupoint can be painful and inconvenient, as it is difficult to reach with your hand.
1. Gently massage the Taibai acupoint for 3-5 minutes. Do not apply too much pressure, just enough to feel a slight soreness.
2. Pay attention to the intensity of the massage. It should be slightly sore but not too strong. Massage the acupoint for 3-5 minutes every day, and you can nourish your spleen without taking any medication.
3. Stand up and alternate between stepping on the Taibai acupoint of each foot. Do it slowly and avoid excessive force to prevent injury. Usually, 3 minutes of massage is sufficient.
Location of Taibai acupoint
There is another method:
Take two slightly larger soybeans and stick them on the Taibai acupoint with a band-aid. Kick one foot against the soybean of the other foot while watching TV. Alternate the kicks. Remove the soybeans before going to bed and dispose of them.
If you massage the Taibai acupoint and then perform moxibustion on the Taibai acupoint of both feet for 10 minutes, the effect will be even better!
How to find the location of the Taibai acupoint:
1. Standard positioning
The Taibai acupoint is located on the inner edge of the foot, below the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
2. Method of locating
When locating the acupoint, you can lie on your back or sit up straight with your foot placed flat. The Taibai acupoint is located on the inner edge of the foot, below the head of the first metatarsal bone.
Sit up straight or lie on your back and locate the acupoint at the red and white junction behind the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
Quick location: The Taibai acupoint is located at the depression where the joint formed by the big toe and the instep meets on the back of the foot.
3. Anatomy of the acupoint
Below the Taibai acupoint are the skin, subcutaneous tissue, flexor digitorum brevis tendon, and abductor hallucis tendon. It is supplied by the dorsalis pedis venous plexus, medial plantar artery, and medial tarsal artery. It is also innervated by branches of the tibial and sural nerves. The skin is supplied by the medial cutaneous nerve of the dorsalis pedis nerve.
The needle passes through the skin, subcutaneous fascia, flexor digitorum brevis tendon, and abductor hallucis tendon, which are innervated by the medial plantar nerve.
