When you feel unwell, your first reaction may be to take Western medicine. However, medicine can be harmful to your body. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners recommend massaging acupoints for minor problems such as headaches, coughs, and constipation. This can also achieve therapeutic effects. 
Traditional Chinese massage helps to relieve physical discomfort
Relieve nausea with Neiguan acupressure
When experiencing nausea, you can use your middle finger to apply pressure to Neiguan acupoint (two inches above the transverse wrist crease, between the two tendons). If you feel a sore and bloated sensation while pressing, it means you have found the correct acupoint. After 2 minutes, the feeling of nausea and vomiting can be relieved.
Stop a nosebleed by squeezing the heel
When your nose is bleeding, you can immediately use your thumb and index finger to squeeze the heel (the depression between the ankle joint and the heel bone). Squeeze the right heel if the left nostril is bleeding, and squeeze the left heel if the right nostril is bleeding. After about 3 minutes, the nosebleed can be stopped.
Relieve coughing with Shao Shang acupressure
Shao Shang acupoint is particularly effective in treating coughs. It is located on the outer side of the thumb, about one-fifth of the distance from the thumb's nail corner. When experiencing persistent coughing, you can use your thumb and index finger to firmly press on the Shao Shang acupoint until you feel a sore and painful sensation. This can immediately stop the coughing.
In addition to acupressure, Shao Shang acupoint can also be stimulated through bloodletting therapy. Shao Shang is an influential acupoint, and bleeding at this point can alleviate throat pain. This is because the lungs are sensitive to heat and prefer coolness. Bleeding at Shao Shang acupoint draws out the hot blood in the lungs, providing a cool environment for the lungs. During bloodletting, disinfect the needle and skin with alcohol, then pinch a small amount of skin at the Shao Shang acupoint, quickly prick the skin twice with the needle, and squeeze out three to five drops of blood. Finally, apply gentle pressure with a cotton swab to stop bleeding.
Treat shock by pressing Renzhong acupoint
Renzhong acupoint is located in the middle of the groove between the upper lip and the nose. It is an important acupoint for first aid and is used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, unconsciousness, convulsions in children, facial swelling, and severe back pain. When sudden unconsciousness, respiratory arrest, hypotension, shock, or other emergencies occur, pressing the Renzhong acupoint with the tip of the thumb can provide emergency relief.
We often say "press Renzhong" when someone faints. However, pressing Renzhong is just a simple emergency measure. It is also important to promptly seek medical assistance from a hospital to avoid worsening the condition.
Relieve headaches by pressing the temples
When experiencing a headache, you can use both hands' index fingers to press on both temples (one inch behind the midpoint between the eyebrows and the outer corner of the eye). Press until you feel swollen and painful, and then rotate in a clockwise direction for about 1 minute. This can alleviate the headache.
The temples are important acupoints on the head. When people use their brains continuously for a long time, they often feel heavy pressure or pain in the temples, indicating brain fatigue. Massaging the temples can provide beneficial stimulation to the brain, relieve fatigue, invigorate the mind, alleviate pain, and help maintain concentration.
Relieve constipation by pressing Tianshu acupoint
Tianshu is the acupoint of the large intestine and is an important acupoint for regulating the function of the intestines and stomach, relieving stagnation, promoting digestion, and tonifying the middle. Numerous experiments and clinical verifications have shown that needling or moxibustion at the Tianshu acupoint has significant effects on improving intestinal function and relieving various symptoms caused by intestinal dysfunction.
When experiencing constipation, use the middle finger of your left hand to press on the left Tianshu acupoint (2 inches to the left of the navel). If you feel a significant sore and bloated sensation, hold the position for about 1 minute. Then hold your breath to increase intra-abdominal pressure. After a while, you can defecate.
