The 3 points your acupuncturist uses the most
If I asked you to name the three spots you think are acupuncture’s Big 3, I bet you’d come up with a list pretty close to the one below. There are a few ways acupuncturists can define “Big 3”—the most powerful points, the ones that address the most underlying causes, even the ones that are most well-known among practitioners.
For me, the Big 3 are the points we use day in and day out because they fall into all of those categories, plus even more. They’re three powerful points that promote everything from relaxation to headache relief, fertility, pain relief … I’ll stop there, but the list goes on and on.
So let’s take a look at my Big 3: Baihui, Yintang and Hegu. And the next time you come in, you’ll have a better understanding of why we seem to always place a needle in that spot.
Baihui (Du 20)
Location: Top of the head
Baihui (translated literally as “the meeting place of the hundreds”) is where all of our body’s energies converge. It’s a powerhouse point that’s used for its calming properties, so if you’re experiencing stress, tension, anxiety, depression or insomnia, it’s very likely your acupuncture treatment will include Baihui.
It’s also the meeting point of all Yang energy in the body, which increases energy and mental focus, and it strengthens endocrine functions for things like low hormone levels and hypothyroidism.
Simply put, Baihui does a lot, both during and after your treatment. So if you find yourself feeling extra relaxed during your appointment or with a healthy burst of energy afterward, you can thank this little point at the top of your head.
Yintang
Location: Between your eyes/eyebrows
Also called Hall of Impression (and known commonly as the third eye), Yintang is one of the most frequently used and well-known points in acupuncture. It has a reputation for an almost immediate sense of calm and mental quiet, often within seconds of being placed.
Yintang is an “extra” point that sits outside the acupuncture system, but don’t let that fool you. It helps calm the nervous system, lower anxiety and ease mental tension. It’s a fantastic point for stress relief, sleep support and pain reduction, but it’s also useful for clearing the mind, relieving headaches and eye strain, and addressing fertility and sinus issues. That’s because Yintang calms the Shen, xxxx.
Hegu (LI 4)
Location: The web of your hand
I’ve seen Hegu referred to as the Swiss Army knife of acupuncture points: This tiny point on your hand is so effective that it’s often one of the first points used to treat a wide range of issues, including to relieve pain, reduce headaches, support immune health and calm stress.
But it gets even better. Toothache? Digestive discomfort? Congestion? Pain relief? Hegu is often one of the first points used for a wide range of issues because it brings your body back into balance. Also known as Joining Valley, Hegu is also a useful acupressure point for at-home relief between acupuncture appointments, because it helps move Qi in the body.
The next time you’re in for your acupuncture session, take a moment to pay attention to which points are being used. These three are just a few of my go-tos, and their benefits are fear-reaching. If one feels especially right during your treatment, let us know! Yintang, for example, often creates an immediate feeling of calm—and when we know your body responds that well to a point, we can incorporate it in future sessions, too.
In health and wellness,
Julie