6 Chinese Reflexology Points for Seasonal Allergies: How to Massage Your Feet for Natural Allergy Relief

If you’ve got seasonal allergies and are looking for a natural alternative to allergy pills, here are 6 Chinese reflexology points that can harmonize and strengthen your body’s Qi (life force energy), which can then in turn, bring on relief from your symptoms.

I used to suffer from seasonal allergies too, but it’s been over 15 years since I’ve been allergic to pollen and grass.  I do remember that freshly mowed lawns were the worst!  It’s been so long that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to have allergies. However, I got a poignant reminder recently, and that’s why I’m inspired to share these reflexology points with you.

The other day, my son was invited over to his friend’s house for a playdate.  R was so excited to have a friend over and rushed out of his house to greet us. However, after the initial excitement wore off, I noticed that R was rubbing his eyes a lot. His mom mentioned that he had allergies and she brought him a wet facecloth to soothe his eyes. As the little guy held the cool cloth over his face, I felt so bad for him because he was clearly not having a fun time with allergies.

I showed R’s mom some reflexology points related to allergies and she was very open to giving them a try. After rubbing her son’s reflexology eye point for about 30 seconds, she studied R carefully and remarked that his eye looked a bit better. When I saw how quickly her son had responded to the reflexology (children often respond very quickly to energy healing), I knew that I had to get off my butt and write this article. So, here it is.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective on Allergies

The Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on allergies is that they’re a result of weak Qi (life force energy). In a simplistic nutshell (keep in mind that I’m summarizing thousands of years of practice into three lines here), here’s what’s going on:

  • Weak Lung Qi – The Lung channel is considered the first defense against invasion of “external evil” (e.g. dust, pollen). When it’s weak, allergens can “invade” the body.
  • Weak Spleen Qi – A weak Spleen channel is unable to carry out one of its basic functions, which is to transform fluid in the body (aka clear out mucous)
  • Weak Kidney Qi – Kidney Qi is like the battery pack of your body so if Kidney Qi is weak, often the other types of Qi are also deficient. Interestingly, Kidney Qi is considered to be depleted by long-term use of medications and that would include allergy pills, antihistamines and cortisone shots. How ironic.

The good news is that you can strengthen your Qi with Chinese Reflexology. Keep reading to learn how.

Holistic View on Allergies

From a holistic point of view, allergies are a result of the body’s immune system going into overdrive.  The reason it does this is because it’s overloaded and overreacting.  Things that overload the immune system include stress and toxins.

Your body can be exposed to toxins through what you eat, what you breathe and what you touch. For example, chemicals and preservatives in food, medications, mold in the air, VOC’s in paint, chemicals in household cleaners, chemicals in health and beauty products, and even walking through a field of pesticide sprayed grass.

Emotional Causes of Allergies

Louise Hay, one of the pioneers in linking illness to emotion, shares in her book, You Can Heal Your Life, that allergies are related to the following:

  • Denying your own power – Louise writes, “Who are you allergic to?”
  • Emotional congestion. Fear of the calendar. A belief in persecution. Guilt.

Allergies are a physical manifestation of feeling overwhelmed or unsafe.

Please note the link to Louise Hay’s book is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. However, I only share books that I value and find useful. The small commission goes towards the cost of hosting this website. Thank you for your support.

Chinese Reflexology Points for Allergy Relief (Seasonal Allergies)

As you can see, there’s a lot going on when it comes to allergies—physically, emotionally and energetically. Allergies involve your whole body. It’s not just your nose, eyes or lungs. The symptoms are like flags flapping in the wind, to let you know that your body’s systems are not in balance.

To eliminate allergies completely, it takes time because allergies are the result of a systemic condition that has probably been ongoing for many years.  While that sounds a bit intimidating, what you need to focus on is looking after your body as a whole and being open to the idea of a long-term solution, rather than a quick fix for symptoms.

You can strengthen your body by:

  • Reducing the toxins in your body and your exposure to toxins
  • Strengthening your Qi: when your energy is balanced and strong, the physical body follows

This article will focus on 6 Chinese Reflexology points for allergies.  All of these points are geared towards alleviating the energy imbalances associated with allergy symptoms (e.g. itchy eyes, sniffly nose and scratchy throat).  As well, two of these points help to balance and strengthen the body’s Qi for longer-term results. However, to really notice a difference, you’ll need to commit to practicing Chinese Reflexology regularly as part of your lifestyle.

Here’s what you’ll learn for natural relief from seasonal allergy symptoms:

  1. Lung reflexology point (for symptoms and long-term Qi harmonizing)
  2. Main reflexology point for sinus (symptoms)
  3. Nose reflexology point (symptoms)
  4. Throat reflexology point  (symptoms)
  5. Reflexology point for the eyes (symptoms)
  6. Lymphatic drainage reflexology point (symptoms and long-term Qi)

If you want to learn how to use Chinese Reflexology to correct the imbalance that is the root cause of your allergies, you’ll need to learn a few more points than what’s covered in this article. A great starting point would be my introductory course to Chinese Reflexology, Sole Fundamentals.

Disclaimer

First, here’s the usual disclaimer that I have to include.  I copied this from a website and added stuff I remember seeing elsewhere :).

The information and materials contained here are intended for informational and educational purposes only, and are not in any way intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment or care.

As well, if you are pregnant or have an acute heart condition, do not practice reflexology.  If you are not sure whether it is appropriate for you to practice reflexology, consult your medical practitioner.

1) Chinese Reflexology Point for Lungs

As I mentioned above, in Chinese Medicine, the lung meridian is your first barrier of defense against “external evil”, basically the stuff outside your body that makes you feel sick when it gets inside your body. With respect to seasonal allergies, this would be pollen and other airborne allergens that trigger a reaction in your body.

The Chinese reflexology point for the lungs isn’t a point, but actually a large area on the soles of your feet. The reflexology lung point is located on the ball of your foot, under the three middle toes.  You’ve got one on both your left foot and your right foot.

To massage this area, press deeply with your thumbs and when you feel a point that is tender to touch, press more deeply and massage using small circles. Move slowly across the lung point and be sure to massage the entire area.  You should aim to massage this area for about 60 seconds per foot.

2) Main Reflexology Point for the Sinus

This point is pretty amazing at helping to clear stuffiness in your nose.  While everybody is different and they react differently, I’ve found that massaging the sinus point can be quite effective at clearing congestion in the nose.

There are actually five reflexology points for the sinus on each of your feet, but we’ll focus on the main reflexology point for the sinus because this is where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

This point is located on the tip of your big toe on the pad of the toe (bottom of your toe). To massage this point, imagine that you’re crushing dried oregano between your thumb and fingers to sprinkle on a yummy Greek salad. Hold your toe with your forefinger and rub with your thumb (right hand for right foot and vice versa for the left side). Do this for about 60 seconds for each foot.

3) Chinese Reflexology Point for the Nose

The Nose reflexology point is located on the edge of the big toe, right where the sole (pink) meets the skin (white).  It’s beside your toenail, just above the toe knuckle.

You’ve got a nose point on both of your big toes. The left toe corresponds to the right side of your nose and the right toe corresponds to the left side of your nose.

Yup, that’s confusing, but that’s how your body’s energy meridians work. They cross over at the neck.

This point will help harmonize the energy in your nose region, that’s affected by sneezing and mucous.  Primarily, the benefit of this point is for symptom relief as your nose is merely the vessel for the mucous to pass through and not the root cause of the mucous.  But, if your nose is bugging the hell out of you, this point is worth massaging, especially in tandem with the reflexology point for sinuses.

To massage this point, you’re going to go back to the crushing oregano metaphor, but you’ll switch hands. Use your right hand for your left toe and left hand for your right toe.  Grasp and support the toe with your index finger and rub side to side with your thumb.  It’ll be like you’re rubbing from the toenail to the toe pad back and forth, back and forth. Do this for 30 seconds for each foot.

4) Chinese Reflexology Point for the Throat

throat reflexology point, acupressure for sore throat, Chinese Reflexology throat point

The throat reflexology point is very easy to find. It’s located at the tip of the webbing between your big toe and second toe. You’ve got a throat point on both of your feet.

To massage this point, use the knuckle of your index finger to press into this point with a digging and twisting motion. You’ll press and rotate at your wrist as if you’re twisting a door knob back and forth or turning a key in a lock.

It’s important to find the right amount of pressure without pressing too hard. The tops of your feet are much more sensitive than the soles of your feet.  You definitely don’t want to press so hard that you cause bruising as this is counterproductive and can negatively affect your body’s Qi in the throat area. Twist in both directions for about 20 to 30 seconds depending on your symptoms (more time if your throat is very scratchy, less time if it’s not as scratchy).  Repeat for the throat point on your other foot.

5) Chinese Reflexology Point for Eyes

eye reflexology point, Chinese Reflexology eye

Your eye reflexology points are located on the undersides of your second and third toes. It’s like a U-shaped area below your toe pads.

Because the energy meridians in your body cross over each other at the neck, the reflexology point for your LEFT eye is on your RIGHT foot. And conversely, the point for your right eye is on your left foot.

To massage these points, use your thumbs to press and rub the U-shaped area in an up and down motion. Depending on how itchy your eyes feel (the itchier, the more the Qi needs balancing and strengthening), rub the eye reflexology points from anywhere between 30 to 60 seconds on both feet.

6) Lymph Drainage Reflexology Point

WARNING: Do not massage the lymphatic drainage if you are pregnant because this reflexology point crosses over Liver 3, which is used to induce labor.

The lymphatic system plays an important role in the proper functioning of your immune system. Here’s a great description from the RWJ University Hospital Hamilton:

“The lymphatic system is a defense system for the body. It filters out organisms that cause disease, produces white blood cells, and generates disease-fighting antibodies. It also distributes fluids and nutrients in the body and drains excess fluids and protein so that tissues do not swell.”

There are several reflexology points related to the lymphatic system, but today, we’ll focus on the point that’s associated with lymphatic drainage in the breast/armpit region.

This reflexology point is located in the webbing between the bones of your big toe and second toe. Most people find this point is very sensitive, probably because the only way to move lymph fluid in the body is through movement and exercise. Sitting at a desk simply doesn’t cut it, so many people have sluggish lymphatic systems.

To massage this point, use the knuckle of your index finger to press and stroke downwards from the base of your toes towards the bottom of the V that’s formed where the bones meet. When you reach the bottom of the V, lift up your knuckle and place it back at the base of your toes and stroke downwards again. Repeat for 30 strokes. Because this point is on the tops of your feet which are more sensitive than your soles, be careful not to press so hard that you irritate the skin.

Putting It All Together

Now that we’ve covered most of the main points for harmonizing the energy (Qi) related to allergy symptoms, here’s a quick summary of what to massage and how often.

Lung Points60 seconds
Sinus Points60 seconds
Nose Points30 seconds
Throat Points20 to 30 seconds
Eye Points30 to 60 seconds
Lymph Drainage Points30 strokes

I would recommend massaging these points on a daily basis, but ONLY FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE WEEKS. While some people may experience immediate relief with some of these points, it’s likely that it may take up to two weeks before you notice a difference. Everybody’s body is different and responds differently.

Chinese Reflexology is not about popping a pill to mask symptoms. It’s about helping your body return to a state of balance so that it’s not so overwhelmed and can thus, better manage allergy symptoms.

To address the root cause of allergies, my best recommendation is learning the complete system of Traditional Chinese Reflexology. I teach an introductory program as well as an in depth six-month program. Click here to learn more.  


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26 thoughts on “6 Chinese Reflexology Points for Seasonal Allergies: How to Massage Your Feet for Natural Allergy Relief”

    1. Hi Holly,

      Thank you for sharing. I would like to know if you have information to relieve mental breakdowns.

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

  1. Hi Holly,

    Thank you so much for sharing, I suffer from seasonal allergies for 7 years already, for the entire 2 months, I massage these area on a daily basis, and I feel I am full with energy now because I can actually sleep at night without waking up every 2 hours, not to mention that the allergy symptoms have gone away. Life is beautiful with healthy body! I want to tell everyone who’s reading this article – Allergy is not a mystery anymore.

    Holly, I suffer from period pain every month, and I believe this is common for a lot of women, if you have any information on this, that will benefit many people.

    Again, thank you so much for taking the time and effort putting all these together.

    1. Hi Sophie,

      You are very welcome. Thank you for sharing. I am SO HAPPY to hear that the article helped you with your allergies and most importantly, you are sleeping well and feeling healthy. And also, life is beautiful!

      I am going to be teaching an online workshop on Women’s Health within the next 3 months or so. And I will be covering menstrual cramps and how to relieve them with Chinese Reflexology. If you haven’t already done so, I’d recommend signing up for my free monthly newsletter. I will announce the workshop details in my newsletter and newsletter subscribers also receive exclusive savings on workshops.

      Wishing you and your family amazing health,
      Holly

  2. Thanks for this article! My wife suffers from seasonal allergies, but is also allergic to cat dander. Having two cats, doesn’t help that situation, but they are part of the family. Will the points in the article help deal with that? If not are there other points that will?

    Thanks again!

    1. Yes, the points in the article will help with symptoms, and there are even more points that support the body in balancing Qi (life force energy) disharmonies related to allergies. My husband used to be extremely allergic to cats to the point where his throat would seize up after about 20 minutes of being in an apartment with a cat. Guess who had a cat? Yup! Me 🙂

      My husband used a combination of Chinese herbs, acupuncture, meditation and Chinese Reflexology to cure himself of his cat allergies. I wrote about his cat allergies in an article for Catster. http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/boyfriend-allergic-to-my-cat-allergy

      If you are interested in learning the other points, I taught them in an online workshop this spring and a recording is available for sale. You can read the workshop details here: https://chinesefootreflexology.com/asthmaallergyworkshop/

      Even though the workshop has passed, if you decide you’d like the recording, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

      Wishing you and your wife amazing health!

      Holly
      If you’d like to purchase the

    1. You’re welcome. Please go slowly with children as if you try to do too much at once, they may not like it. It’s better to start with 5 to 10 seconds of light pressure at a time, so that your daughter gets used to it and finds the experience fun.

    1. The Chinese Reflexology point for the lungs would be an excellent point for you to rub. One thing to note is that it will take longer before you notice any shifts in your lung qi (energy) and that the lung point will likely be very sensitive. This is because things that have been ongoing for awhile take longer to balance than things that have been ongoing for a short duration (e.g. common cold vs. asthma).

      I hope you will continue practicing reflexology on yourself and start feeling better.

  3. Hi Holly,

    I recently found out that I am pregnant, I have stopped the massage after we decided to have a baby because some Chinese study said that it might not be OK to practice reflexology when you are trying to conceive, it will increase the chance of miscarriage. Since I stopped massaging these points for almost 2 months already, I start getting back to my old schedule where I wake up every 2 hours at night and running nose like crazy. What’s your suggestion for pregos like myself?

    Thank you so much for your time Holly!

    1. Hi Sophie,

      Congratulations on the new addition to the family.

      Yes, it’s best to stop while you are trying to get pregnant and during the first trimester. To be on the safe side, it is advised not to practice reflexology while you’re pregnant because there are points on the feet and near the ankles that can stimulate labour.

      Unfortunately, you’ll have to put up with the allergies. However, there’s a silver lining!

      Your body changes when you are pregnant. In Chinese Medicine, pregnancy presents the opportunity for you to change your body constitution, meaning you can build it up and get stronger. Look after yourself well and you may find that if you strengthen your body, you may not have allergies any more.

      Resume reflexology immediately after giving birth as postpartum is when it is most critical for strengthening your body.

  4. my 5 yr. old son was born premature (24 wks) his lungs are so weak that he suffers of pneumonias due to allergies and asthma, i’m tired of all the medicines like albutherol, singulair, zyrtec etc. i know that living in Texas makes things worse, but i would like to try some alternative methods to improve the health of my son’s lungs and immune system, do you think this will help him?

    1. Yes, daily massage can help to strengthen your son’s Qi (life force energy). As his Lung Qi strengthens, you will notice changes. However, to get the most benefit from Chinese Reflexology, you have to practice consistently (e.g. daily or minimum twice a week).

      For kids, start off slowly and gradually work up to the total massage time. You want the foot massage to be an enjoyable experience, not one where they fight you and squirm away because you’re holding their feet too long.

      Change happens slowly. You will not notice day to day, but it is the type of thing where you look back a year and realize what a difference it has made. That said, children always amaze me at how quickly they respond to energy healing.

      If you choose to practice regularly, please keep me posted on your son’s progress. Thank you.

  5. Catherine Jamison

    I am currently working as a labourer and have just added everything up and realise that I am having reactions to dust when we have a particularly dusty job. For a period of a couple of months before Christmas I had terrible dry lips with angular chelitis, some psoriasis patches and a rash under my armpits. I also had intermittent pain on the balls of my feet. It all cleared up when we stopped for Christmas. This week we have had very dusty work again and suddenly all these things have flared up again. The balls of my feet are aching. Clearly this is all detived from a reaction to the dust in my lungs. Apart from wearing dust nasks, what else would you recommend to clear these things up? After reading this I will definitely be doing the reflexology points. Thank you

  6. Pingback: 6 Ways to Relieve Allergies...Naturally

  7. Hi Holly, My 7 yr old son suffers from seasonal allergies & we have been working on your techniques. I haven’t figured out how to help ease the cough. We are trying both his allergy meds & reflexology. Any suggestions?
    Also, can we use the points on his hands when feet aren’t convenient?
    Lastly, is more than once per day ok? (Hands and/or feet)
    Thanks so much!
    P.s. He asks for his “foot massage” every night.

    1. Hi Beth,

      Wonderful to hear that your son enjoys his foot massage. That says a lot about you as a mom too! It means you’re going at a pace that’s comfortable for him and really listening to his feedback.

      Yes, you can use hands too, but the feet are most effective. For a cough, follow the recommended massage times for the cold routine for the lung and sinus points. http://wp.me/p22bhU-I

  8. I love this article and have been telling others about it recently. My kids feet are so ticklish that I’m struggling to massage for them (they get that from me, I know!), but I’ve printed out the chart and encourage them to try it themselves. I’ve been using essential oils in conjuction with the reflexology, and between the two I’ve seen noticable improvement in some of their symptoms. Thank you so much for sharing this information!

  9. Just found your website today and I am hooked! My child has been diagnosed with a an adnoid infection and will require surgery if it doesn’t clear up in 3 weeks. Will apply these massages as he has allergies as well – was wondering if there is anything else you would suggest, he’s a wreck at the moment after multi antibiotic courses and other colds/bugs on top of it. thanks

  10. Hi Holly, just found your website and I feel that I get a new energy???? My 4 yo son got this cough more than 2 weeks, We’ve met pediatric for the second time. All of them said (and I’m pretty sure) that he has allergy too. It’s not easy to massage him, especially when he’s awake. Is it ok if we do massage while he’s sleeping?
    Thanks

  11. I wanna take this opportunity to say thank you not even thank you is enough i wish i can hug u for all the info u have on this site i am a firm believer in reflexology…. I always find relief from the points areas its amazing and i wish more ppl were open to try because it has helped me greatly!!
    You are awesome never stop ur teachings please u do make a differece … Much love

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