Finding Calm Within Chaos: Reflexology and Acupressure Points for Instant Stress Relief

If you’re feeling stressed out, worried or overwhelmed, massage these five points to calm your body, mind, heart, and spirit. These Chinese Reflexology and acupressure points powerfully relieve stress and anxiety so that you can clear your mind and feel more relaxed and peaceful. In a calm state of mind, it’s easier to get ideas and inspiration that can help transform the stressful situation into one that feels calmer and more peaceful.

reflexology acupressure points for stress relief and relaxation

I originally posted this article on natural stress relief a few weeks ago. However, recent events have prompted me to revisit the article and add a few words. With so much chaos in the world lately (racism, prejudice, shootings, bombings, Brexit, divisive U.S. presidential campaign, etc.), it would appear that we are on a negative trajectory. Fear, darkness, hate, and anger abound. It seems that the “bad guys” are winning and it’s “us against them.” All of this can leave us feeling powerless—causing even the most cheerful people to feel anxious, afraid and overwhelmed. [Note from Holly: this was written in 2016]

But are we truly powerless?

Within this backdrop of chaos and calamity, one of the best gifts we can give ourselves (and the world) is a sense of peace and calm. While these feelings won’t solve our problems right away, neither does worry, hate, fear, anger, despondency, or pessimism.

World peace can’t arise when its residents are anxious and stressed out. It’s totally okay and normal to feel negative emotions, but when we let go of them, then we can move forward into a space of calm so that we can find solutions and bring people together.

The best ideas and solutions come about when we are open to receiving them. The only way to diffuse fear, anger and hate is through peace, calm, love and compassion.

So how do you find calm within the chaos? As a Chinese Reflexologist (as in a practitioner of Chinese foot reflexology as opposed to a reflexologist who’s Chinese, although I’m that too), I have some amazing reflexology and acupressure points to share with you—they powerfully reduce stress levels in your body and create a feeling of calm and relaxation. Some of these points can give you instant stress relief, and others help mitigate the effects of stress on your body.

Simply follow the instructions in this article and by the time you’re done, I hope you’re feeling calmer and more at ease. Your qi (life force energy) will be flowing more abundantly and effortlessly, and so will the ideas and inspiration.

So let’s get started with these powerful Chinese Reflexology and acupressure points to help relieve stress, worry, and anxiety.

1. Chinese Reflexology Point for the Brain

Chinese Reflexology Brain Point

We’ll begin with the brain point because when you’re stressed out and worrying too much, your body’s qi (life force energy) gets concentrated in your head. If too much qi gets “stuck up” in your head, this can lead to headaches, insomnia, and irritability.

How to Locate and Massage the Brain Reflexology Point

The reflexology point for the brain is located on the big toes of both of your feet. The brain point covers the entire toe pad.

To massage this Chinese Reflexology point, use your thumb to press and rub your toe pad in an up and down motion, where up is towards the tip of your toe and down is towards the base of the toe pad. As you massage your toe, move across the toe pad from one side to the other. Massage each of your big toe pads for 30 seconds.

Yup, go ahead and try it right now!

2. Chinese Reflexology Point for the Temporal Area

The temporal area reflexology point corresponds to the sides of your head, in and around your temples. If you worry a lot or think too much, you may be holding a great deal of stress and tension in your head, jaw, neck, and shoulders.

Over time, tension in these areas will constrict the smooth flow of qi to and from your head, and especially along the sides of the head. If the energy disruption continues for a long period of time, it can result in physical issues such as chronic migraines, tinnitus, dizziness, and even vision problems.

Massaging the Chinese Reflexology temporal area point improves the flow of qi and blood to and from the head, which can then help clear energy constrictions caused by worrying and thinking too much.

How to Locate and Massage the Temporal Area Reflexology Point

Stress relief with the Chinese Reflexology temporal area point

This point is also located on your big toe along the inside edge of the toe. It starts beside the toenail and extends down to the bottom of the toe pad.

To massage your temporal area point, reach your thumb across the top of your big toe and press on the inside of the toe. Start beside the toenail and work your way down the toe, rubbing side to side (from top surface of toe to bottom surface of toe). When you get to the base of the toe, lift up your thumb, place it back at the top of the toe and repeat the massage. Practice this for 30 seconds on each of your big toes.

3. Chinese Reflexology Point for the Spleen

The Spleen reflexology point is good to massage because in Chinese Medicine, the “emotions” associated with the Spleen are worry, pensiveness, and over-thinking. Healthy Spleen qi plays a critical role in helping your body to properly digest food. When people are stressed, worried, and anxious, they often experience “sensitive stomachs” because the chronic stress weakens the Spleen’s energy.

How to Locate and Massage Your Spleen Point

The Spleen reflexology point is a little tricky to locate because the best way to find it is by first locating the Heart and Kidney points. The Heart and Kidney reflexology points are right beside the Spleen, so if you don’t get your Spleen point right, you may accidentally massage one of these two points instead.

WARNING: If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, you should NOT try massaging your Spleen point.

Massaging the Heart point can increase the flow of qi and blood to the heart, so if you have a heart condition, you should check with your doctor first to see if it is okay for you to practice reflexology—just as you would if you were starting a new exercise routine.

If you are pregnant, do not massage your Spleen point because if you don’t locate it correctly, you could accidentally massage the acupressure point Kidney 1 which is sometimes used in acupuncture to induce labour.

For everyone else, the Spleen point is a really good point to massage because it helps counteract the effects of stress and worry on the Spleen.

Chinese Reflexology Point for Stress, Worry and Anxiety

This reflexology point is located on the sole of your left foot only. Imagine two lines, both vertical and horizontal, dividing your foot into quadrants. When dividing your foot in half horizontally, be sure to measure from the tip of your big toe to the base of your heel. Sometimes people only measure the sole and forget their toes. 🙂

The Spleen point is a “blob” located in the top right quadrant just above the horizontal halfway line. Feel above the horizontal halfway line and the Spleen point is usually the area that feels most sensitive when you press on it.

To massage the Spleen point, use your thumb to rub in an up and down motion, where up is towards your toes and down is towards your heel. Massage this point for 30 seconds.

4. Acupressure Point: Liver 3 (Tai Chong)

WARNING: Do not massage Liver 3 if you are pregnant. This point is used in acupuncture to induce labour.

Stress, especially when related to anger and frustration, negatively affects the Liver and its ability to keep qi flowing smoothly through your body. As a result, qi can stagnate, congest, and even flow in the wrong direction.

A disharmony in the Liver meridian often results in too much qi being driven upwards to the head. When this happens, it can cause you to feel irritable, angry, depressed and/or anxious—which can then make you feel even more stressed out.

liver 3 picture, taichong, tai chong

Liver 3 is an acupuncture/acupressure point along the Liver meridian. It’s good for stress relief because it helps to harmonize the Liver meridian and clear energy imbalances that exacerbate feelings of stress, irritability, and frustration.

How to Locate and Massage Liver 3

This acupressure point is located on the top of your foot in the webbing between the big and second toes. Use your thumb to feel for the bones of these toes, and follow them down your foot until you feel where they intersect and form a “v”.

Then slide your thumb about a thumb-width above the bottom point of the “v” and press into the webbing between the bones. Press and hold for 60 seconds per foot.

5) Acupressure Point: Heart 7 (Shenmen)

Heart 7 is an acupuncture/acupressure point along the Heart meridian. The Chinese name for this point, Shenmen, means Spirit Gate. This is a very powerful point for calming the heart, mind, and spirit, which is why it’s an amazing point for stress relief and anxiety. In fact, Heart 7 is commonly used in acupuncture to treat insomnia due to emotional issues or anxiety.

How to Locate and Massage Heart 7

How to locate Shen Men, shenmen, heart 7 acupuncture point

The acupressure point Heart 7 is located along your wrist crease. If you hold your hand up with the palm facing towards you, you’ll notice a prominent crease between your hand and wrist.

If you feel along the crease below the ring and pinky finger, you’ll feel a slight depression next to the tendon of your forearm. The depression is where Heart 7 is located. For relieving stress, press and hold this acupressure point for about 60 seconds on each wrist.

Pressing this point helps to balance your Heart meridian, which helps to calm your mind. In Chinese Medicine, the Heart acts like an anchor to counterbalance an overactive mind. When you stimulate this acupressure point, you strengthen the Heart’s ability to anchor the mind.

More Reflexology and Acupressure Points for Stress Relief and to Help You Sleep

After massaging these five Chinese Reflexology and acupressure points, you should be feeling calmer and more relaxed, and I hope that helps you sleep better. In Spring 2024, I’ll be releasing a course on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Reflexology for a Good Night’s Sleep.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll learn when the course is available and how you can save with introductory pricing.

If you’re not yet a newsletter subscriber, sign up for monthly tips for health and harmony. You’ll get free Chinese Reflexology charts that you can download, plus a free mini course!

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17 thoughts on “Finding Calm Within Chaos: Reflexology and Acupressure Points for Instant Stress Relief”

  1. hi Holly?
    I wanted to relate how the info above helped me immensely!
    I was feeling really wound up and unable to sleep, when I came across your site. I decided there’s no harm in trying to work on these points as described.
    Sure enough my kidney point was sensitive!
    Holly you wouldn’t believe what happened next. ( or maybe you would ) I felt a surge of relief and wassuddenly overwhelmed by emotions.I JUST broke down and cried out myself to sweet refreshing sleep!
    when I got up I felt cheerfull,and relaxed!
    If I was reading this, I wouldn’t believe it. Yet it ACTUALLY happened to me!
    wow!
    Go gal, go on and shine your healing light!
    many thanks, Glorianna

    1. Wonderful to hear!

      Many years ago, I was really sick. My boyfriend (now husband) told me about Chinese Reflexology and I said, “Isn’t that where they rub your feet? How can that help me?” Obviously, it did help me and now I’m a big believer :).

      Thank you for sharing. I’m sure your words will inspire others to try massaging their feet.

  2. Hi Holly,
    THanks for this stupendously calming information. I love your sense of humor as well. So glad you’re having fun with your beautiful young son.
    THanks again for your helpful charts, tips, and suggestions.
    Yes, continue shining your beautiful light. Do hope your book is a great success!!!
    Congratulations on that!

  3. Hi Holly, thank you very much for introducing this instant stress relief massage, it realy help me recover my inner strength. It realy works,my stress is slowly fading and everything works okay.
    More power to your site and always stay reachable.

    1. I am so happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing. Your words may inspire another person to give the routine a try.

  4. Hello Holly. Thank you for your fantastic and well presented reflexology info and charts. I’ve helped myself many sleepless nights with your advise here. I have a question I am unable to find an answer to anywhere online, and thought you could provide some insight.. My spleen was removed when I was 5 (41 years ago) due to a blood condition called spherocytosis, and I wonder about massaging the reflexology spleen point. How can I address my imbalance, being “spleenless”. Thanks for any words…

  5. Hi Holly,

    It is my pleasure to join u. Ive learn a lot about this reflexology. Its really help me, i was nervous, afraid of for something, my heart beat so fast, but when i start to do it for my hands, i was cure and thanks for everything. May GOD Bless you and your family.

  6. Thankyou for sharing Holly !❤ As a licensed massage therapist I love foot rubs! Funny thing is I never studied reflexology in massage school. I’m happy to find your site to learn. I’ll practice on my clients too ????

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