How To: Relieve insomnia with acupressure

Learn how to relieve insomnia with acupressure. Get to sleep fast with a massage technique from the ancient Chinese healing art acupressure.

You Will Need

* Two Hands

WARNING: If you feel pain when using acupressure, stop immediately. Pregnant women should not use acupressure.

Step 1. Find the right spot

Locate the Spirit Gate acupressure point. It's on the inside of the wrist crease, just to the inside of the tendon on the pinky finger side.

Manipulating Spirit Gate is believed to increase production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps control sleep cycles.

Step 2. Massage it

Gently press and knead the point for one minute. Switch hands and repeat.

Step 3. Ease pain

To ease pain-induced insomnia, press your index fingers against the bottom of your skull, with your left finger about a half-inch to the left of your spine, and right finger a half-inch to the right of your spine. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute.

Step 4. Sleep soundly

Have sweet dreams!

FACT: Famous chronic insomnia sufferers include Napoleon, Franz Kafka, and Thomas Edison.