Fingers
Holding fingers and the palm of the hand are the simplest and most discrete form of acupressure self-care. Simple though it may be, holding your fingers is said to have its potency by working through the Main Central Vertical channel that flows up the back, over the top of the head, and down the front.
Understandably, feeling subtle energy may be new to you at first. Until you actually do begin to feel the pulses come in and balance, you can feel the effect of holding the finger or palm of the hand by observing changes in your internal state such as changes in your breathing pattern or signs of relaxation in your body. Hold the finger, then either wait to feel the pulse balance under your finger or keep holding the finger or palm until you notice any change in your breathing or any other internal changes.
Before holding your finger, take a moment to tune into your how you’re breathing and how you feel internally. Make a note of this as your baseline. Hold your thumb with the opposite hand until you feel a pulse arising from it into your opposite hand.
Notice what you experienced.
Good for: Stomachache / digestion, worry / worried state of mind, mental obsession, or for increasing trust or centering
Before holding your finger, take a moment to tune into your how you’re breathing and how you feel internally. Make a note of this as your baseline. Hold your index finger with the opposite hand. Wait to feel the pulse arising from the held index finger into your opposite hand.
What did you experience?
Good for: Fear, apprehension, stress, achey joints, energy
Before holding your finger, take a moment to tune into your how you’re breathing and how you feel internally. Make a note of this as your baseline. Hold your middle finger with the opposite hand. Wait to feel the pulse arising from the middle finger into your opposite hand.
What did you experience?
Good for: Anger / angry state of mind, frustration, irritation, eye strain, goal-directedness
Associated Meridians: Gall Bladder / Liver
Before holding your finger, take a moment to tune into your how you’re breathing and how you feel internally. Make a note of this as your baseline. Hold your ring finger with the opposite hand. Wait to feel the pulse arising from the held ring finger into your opposite hand.
What did you experience?
Good for: Sadness, loneliness, breathing difficulty, bowel elimination, grieving state of mind
Associated Meridians: Large Intestine/ Lung
Before holding your finger, take a moment to tune into your how you’re breathing and how you feel internally. Make a note of this as your baseline. Hold your little finger with the opposite hand. Wait to feel the pulse arising from the little finger into your opposite hand.
What did you experience?
Good for: Anxiety / anxious state of mind, over-exertion, efforting, or the pretense of putting on a false front, nervous system, creativity
Associated Meridians: Small Intestine/ Heart
Palafox, C.A. and Hernández, T.D., (2012) Acupressure Self-Administration Proficiency Manual, University of Colorado, including adaptations from2-6.