Stimulate pain-relieving acupressure points

This arm of traditional Chinese medicine, based on the concept of ‘qi’ (or energy flow), has been used in pain management for centuries. But if you can’t access an acupuncturist, you can stimulate acupressure points at home with no need for needles.

Acupuncturist Saffron Pretty explains: “An acupuncture point is a bundle of fibres, one of which is usually a nerve. You should press these points firmly with your thumb until they hurt, so you get a response from the nerve and, therefore, the brain.”

She recommends you consult an acupuncturist for the most effective treatment as “points are not just specific to the condition but also the person”. However, as a generic pain reliever, Pretty suggests stimulating what are known as the four gates. “This is an ancient combination of two points – large intestine 4 (LI4 – a point on the hand) and liver 3 (Liv3 –on the foot). They’re often used to manage pain in childbirth and some dentists learn LI4 as it’s also good for toothache.

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