After a busy day at work, you take a relaxing bath and settle into bed. Just as you drift into sweet dreams, the sound of his snoring drifts over.You tell yourself to endure it, but ten minutes pass and the snoring persists. Chronic snoring is incredibly irritating. So what are the treatment options for snoring?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attributes snoring to stagnant lung qi and phlegm obstructing the airways. To stop snoring, one must focus on promoting lung qi circulation and eliminating phlegm.Daily massage of these four health-preserving acupoints—Zhongwan, Yinlingquan, Tianshu, and Fenglong—can effectively alleviate snoring symptoms.
Tianshu Acupoint
Located in the middle abdomen, 2 cun (approximately 4 cm) to the left or right of the center of the navel.To locate it, measure two finger-widths to the left or right from the center of the navel. As part of the Stomach Meridian and close to the stomach, Tianshu excels at regulating the digestive system and dispelling dampness. Since dampness generates phlegm, combining its stimulation with Zhongwan enhances the treatment efficacy for snoring.
TCM Note: "Cun" refers to the standard body cun measurement. Typically, one cun equals the width of the thumb joint. To measure three cun, place the four fingers (excluding the thumb) together and straighten them; the width at the level of the proximal phalanx crease of the middle finger equals three cun.
Fenglong Point
This health-preserving point is also a renowned acupoint for resolving phlegm and relieving cough. It is no exaggeration to call it the star among acupoints for these functions.Why? Fenglong belongs to the Stomach Meridian of the Foot-Yangming, serving as its collaterals point. It connects to the Stomach Meridian while also linking to the Spleen Meridian. The spleen governs transformation and transportation; when spleen qi is deficient, dampness accumulates and solidifies into phlegm. Fenglong regulates both the stomach and spleen, making it exceptionally effective at dispelling dampness and resolving phlegm.Traditional Chinese medicine frequently employs it to treat respiratory conditions like cough and asthma. Fenglong is easily located on the lateral aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus.
Zhongwan Point
This health-preserving point is the convergence point for the viscera. Any organ-related ailments stemming from spleen-stomach disharmony or impaired transformation can be addressed with Zhongwan.It demonstrates excellent efficacy for coughs and asthma stemming from lung disorders, as well as excessive phlegm caused by spleen deficiency. Zhongwan both promotes lung function and eliminates phlegm, making it an ideal point for treating snoring. Located on the upper abdomen, 4 cun above the navel.
Yinlingquan (SP9)
This health-preserving point is the Convergence point among the Five Transport Points of the Spleen Meridian, excelling at regulating spleen function. The spleen governs transformation and transportation, promotes fluid metabolism, and drains dampness. Since dampness generates phlegm, Yinlingquan also possesses potent health-strengthening and phlegm-resolving effects. Yinlingquan is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.