Acupressure to help treat sore throat

During acute pharyngitis, the lymphatic follicles must proliferate and enlarge to produce more white blood cells to fight bacteria. During the inflammation, the blood vessels under the pharyngeal mucosa also dilate to bring more blood and white blood cells to the pharynx.

When the lymphatic follicles have to swell for too long, they become hardened, unable to shrink and return to their normal state, but instead clump together into thick clumps, protruding from the mucosal surface. Therefore, people with pharyngitis often feel something stuck in their throat and can cause nausea with just a slight stimulation...

More seriously, the lymph nodes overgrow, forming red, rough bands running along the two posterior pillars of the tonsils. These pillars are the main cause of itching and feeling stuck in the throat, throat irritation and coughing.

According to Oriental medicine, stimulating certain acupoints on the throat helps reduce inflammation in the throat lining. If you experience symptoms such as sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, you can practice stimulating the following acupoints to help reduce inflammation in the throat lining.

1. Massage Phong Tri acupoint to help relieve sore throat

Fengchi is an acupuncture point used to treat colds, acute upper respiratory tract infections, acute back pain, and neuralgia.

How to do:

- Spread both hands, place the hollow in the middle of the palm on the top of the two ears, fingers tightly hug the head, thumbs pointing towards the back of the neck. Then rub the two thumbs from top to bottom, pass a bony mound and fall into a hollow on both sides of the muscle mass behind the neck, that is the location of the Phong Tri point.

- Use two thumbs to press the acupoint clockwise for 2 minutes; the other fingers hold the head tightly for support.

2. Massage the Danzhong point

- This acupuncture point is used in cases of chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, hiccups; it is used to support the treatment of cough, sore throat, bronchial asthma...

- Acupuncture point location: The meeting point of the vertical line in the middle of the sternum with the line passing through the 2 nipples (male) or the line passing through the upper edge of the 2 5th sternum joints (female) is the Danzhong acupuncture point.

- Use the thumb of your right hand to press the Dan Trung point for 2 minutes until you feel a numb feeling.

3. Massage the Lung Du point

- This acupuncture point is used to treat respiratory tract infections (bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis).

-Cross your hand around the neck to the opposite side of your back, the point is located at the tip of the middle finger, 1.5 inches from the midline of the spine.

-Use your middle finger to press the acupoint for 2 minutes until you feel a feeling of tension.

4. Massage the Dai Chui point

- This acupuncture point has the effect of clearing the body's yang energy, clearing heat and detoxifying, and dispelling evil spirits. It is often used to treat respiratory diseases.

- Sit with your head slightly bent, turn your neck left and right, the highest bone that moves the most under your fingers is the 7th cervical vertebra, the acupoint is located right below this bone.

-Use your index finger to press the Dai Chui point for 2 minutes until you feel a warming sensation in the point area.

5. Massage the Lie Que point

- This point is often used in cases of respiratory tract inflammation such as sore throat, cough, chest pain, allergic rhinitis. Impacting the Liet Khue point helps reduce cough and headache.

-The point is located on the inside of the wrist, about 3 cm from the horizontal line of the wrist.

- Use your thumb to press the acupressure point on the opposite hand, and use the remaining four fingers to circle around the wrist. Massage for about 2 minutes, then switch sides.

6. Massage Phong Long point

-This acupuncture point is often used to support the treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throat...

-The point is 8 inches above the highest convexity of the lateral ankle, in the groove of the common extensor digitorum and the short lateral peroneus muscle (flex the foot, rotate the foot outward to clearly see the muscle groove).

-Use two thumbs to press and massage two phong long points at the same time until you feel a feeling of tension.

7. Massage the Kunlun point

- Is an acupuncture point used to treat chronic pharyngitis

- Determine the highest point of the outer ankle and the outer edge of the Achilles tendon, the point is in the depression between these two positions.

- Use your thumb to press the Kunlun point for a minute until the point feels warm.

To effectively treat sore throat, it is necessary to do it every day and maintain it regularly for a certain period of time. Do it twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and at night before going to bed.

When practicing, keep your mind relaxed and focus on pressing the acupoints. Determine the location of the acupoints and press them to ensure the force is applied in the above manner.

Stop exercising and see a specialist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

- Chest pain;

-Difficulty breathing, having to make an effort to breathe, not helped by rest;

-Hypothermia, unusual sweating, cold hands and feet…