Acupressure massage can help treat sore throat.

During an acute pharyngitis episode, the lymphatic follicles must proliferate and swell to produce more white blood cells to fight bacteria. During the inflammatory process, the blood vessels beneath the pharyngeal mucosa also dilate to deliver more blood and white blood cells to the throat.

When lymphatic follicles remain swollen for too long, they become hardened and unable to shrink back to their normal state. Instead, they clump together into thick, protruding masses on the mucous membrane, causing a feeling of something stuck in the throat and potentially nausea with even a slight stimulus.

In more severe cases, the lymphatic follicles become hypertrophic, forming red, raised bands running along the two posterior pillars of the tonsils. These pillars are the main cause of itching and a feeling of something stuck in the throat, throat irritation, and coughing.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, stimulating certain acupoints in the throat can help reduce inflammation in the throat lining. If you experience symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion, or headache, you can try stimulating the following acupoints to help reduce inflammation in the throat lining.

1. Massaging the Fengchi acupoint helps relieve sore throat pain.

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

How to do it:

- Spread both hands, place the hollows of your palms on the tops of your ears, your fingers tightly gripping your head, with your thumbs pointing towards the back of your neck. Then, gently stroke your thumbs downwards, past a bony prominence, and down to a hollow on either side of the prominent muscle mass at the back of your neck; this is the location of the Fengchi acupoint.

- Use both thumbs to massage the acupoint in a clockwise direction for 2 minutes; the other fingers should firmly cup the head for support.

2. Massage the Danzhong acupoint.

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

- Location of the acupoint: The Danzhong acupoint is the point where the midline of the sternum intersects with the line passing through the two nipples (in men) or the line passing horizontally across the upper edge of the 5th sternocostal joints (in women).

- Use your right thumb to massage and press the Danzhong acupoint for 2 minutes until you feel a tingling or numb sensation.

3. Massage the Lung Meridian point.

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

ButCross your hands around your neck to the opposite side of your back; the acupoint is located at the tip of your middle finger, 1.5 cun from the midline of your spine.

ButUse your middle finger to massage and press the acupoint for 2 minutes until you feel a tingling or aching sensation.

4. Massage the Dazhui acupoint.

- This acupuncture point is used to promote the flow of yang energy throughout the body, clear heat and detoxify, and dispel external pathogens; it is often used to treat respiratory diseases.

- Sit with your head slightly bowed, turn your neck from side to side. The highest bone that moves the most under your finger is the 7th cervical vertebra, and the acupuncture point is located directly below this bone.

ButUse your index finger to massage and press the Dazhui acupoint for 2 minutes until you feel a warming sensation in the area.

5. Massage the Lieque acupoint.

- This acupuncture point is commonly used in cases of respiratory tract inflammation such as sore throat, cough, chest pain, and allergic rhinitis. Stimulating the Lieque point helps reduce cough and headache.

ButThe acupoint is located on the inner side of the wrist, about 3 cm from the horizontal wrist crease.

- Use your thumb to press and massage the acupoint on the opposite hand, while the other four fingers wrap around the wrist. Perform this massage for about 2 minutes, then switch sides.

6. Massage the Fenglong acupoint.

-It is an acupuncture point commonly used to support the treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and sore throat...

-The acupoint is located 8 cun above the highest point of the outer ankle bone, in the groove between the common extensor muscles of the toes and the short peroneal muscle (flex the foot, rotate the foot outward to clearly see the muscle groove).

ButUse both thumbs to simultaneously massage and press the two Fenglong acupoints until you feel a sensation of tension or soreness.

7. Massage the Kunlun acupoint.

- It is an acupuncture point used to treat chronic pharyngitis.

- Locate the highest point of the outer ankle bone and the outer edge of the Achilles tendon; the acupuncture point is in the depression between these two locations.

- Use your thumb to massage the Kunlun acupoint for a minute until the area around the acupoint feels warm.

To achieve effective treatment for sore throat, it needs to be done daily and consistently for a certain period of time. Perform this twice a day, once in the morning after waking up and once before going to bed at night.

During practice, maintain a relaxed state of mind and focus your attention on the acupressure points. Identify the acupressure points and apply the correct pressure as described above.

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

- Pain in the front of the chest;

ButDifficulty breathing, having to exert effort to breathe, rest does not help;

ButHypothermia, excessive sweating, cold hands and feet…