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Woman pressing He Gu LI4 in the hand webbing for haze-season headache self-care

Insights · Immunity

DIY Acupressure Massages to Beat the Haze

When haze irritates the head, eyes, nose, or throat, named self-press points can ease short-term discomfort between visits. Soft pressure, clean hands, and clear stop cues.

Points at a glance Book Appointment

By PULSE Clinical Content

Clinically reviewed Dr Sim Beng Joo TCMPB T1303003A

In brief

DIY acupressure for haze season targets four common irritations: headache with He Gu (LI4) for one to two minutes each side; eye discomfort with Cuan Zhu (BL2), Tai Yang (EX-HN5), and gentle orbital massage; runny nose with Ying Xiang (LI20) plus alar strokes, then warm ear lobes and a Qiaogong line toward the collarbone; and dry or itchy throat with Lie Que (LU7) and Lian Quan (CV23) for about thirty seconds each. Skip He Gu in pregnancy. Wash hands before face work. Soft pressure only on the front of the neck. Book when symptoms keep returning or breathing feels hard.

01 · Haze season

When haze irritates the head and airways

Poor air-quality days in Singapore often leave headache, irritable eyes, a runny nose, or a dry itchy throat. Soft self-press on named points can ease short-term discomfort while you reduce exposure and rest.

Eight haze-season presses at a glance
Symptom Points How long
HeadacheHe Gu (LI4) in the hand webbing. 合谷 · He Gu (LI4), both sides. 1–2 minutes each side.
Eye discomfortCuan Zhu, Tai Yang, orbital massage. 攒竹 · Cuan Zhu (BL2); 太阳 · Tai Yang (EX-HN5); orbits. About 6 circles each step.
Runny noseYing Xiang, then ear lobes and Qiaogong. 迎香 · Ying Xiang (LI20); ears; 桥弓 · Qiaogong. Repeat the set 2–3 times.
Dry or itchy throatLie Que and Lian Quan. 列缺 · Lie Que (LU7); 廉泉 · Lian Quan (CV23). About 30 seconds each.

02 · Singapore

Haze days, air-con, and when to book

Outdoor PSI spikes and long hours in cold office air-con both aggravate rhinitis and dry the eyes and throat. Masks and shorter outdoor time help; self-press is support between visits, not care for breathlessness or sudden vision change.

  • Limit outdoor time on high-PSI days when the eyes, nose, or throat already sting.
  • Cover the nose and neck in cold office air-con; haze days can aggravate rhinitis.
  • Book when symptoms keep returning across several haze spells, or seek urgent care for hard breathing, chest pain, high fever, or sudden vision change.

03 · Headache

Press He Gu when haze brings a headache

He Gu (合谷, LI4) sits in the fleshy bulge between the thumb and index finger. A firm press that feels sore and aching is the usual educational cue for frontal or irritation-linked headache.

Thumb pressing He Gu LI4 in the fleshy webbing between the thumb and index finger on the hand dorsum

Acupoint · LI4

He Gu (合谷)

Highest point of the muscle bulge when the thumb and index finger are brought together. Place the opposite thumb on that bulge, support with the index finger underneath, and press firmly for one to two minutes until a sore ache appears, then switch sides.

If there's any chance of pregnancy, don't use this. Skip He Gu in pregnancy.

Press He Gu

04 · Eyes

Ease haze eye discomfort around the orbit

Irritable, dry, or strained eyes in haze often sit with brow and temple tightness. Wash your hands before any face work. Soft circles only; never press into the eyeball.

Woman circling Cuan Zhu BL2 at the medial end of the eyebrow for haze eye discomfort

Acupoint · BL2

Cuan Zhu (攒竹)

In the hollow at the medial end of each eyebrow, near the bridge of the nose. Massage in a circular motion about six times when the brow and inner canthus feel tight.

Clean hands before face work. Soft pressure only.

Press Cuan Zhu
Index finger pointing to Tai Yang EX-HN5 at the temple

Acupoint · EX-HN5

Tai Yang (太阳)

In the tender temple depression about one inch behind the midpoint between the eyebrow end and the outer eye corner. Circle about six times when temple tightness sits with eye strain.

Stop if the press turns sharp or vision changes.

Press Tai Yang
Fingers massaging the eye socket rim with soft circular pressure

Routine · orbits

Upper and lower orbital massage

Close the eyes. With the thumb at the temple, use the pads of the index fingers to massage from the inner corner of each socket toward the outer edge of the upper lids, then along the lower lids, about six soft circular passes each.

Never press into the eyeball.

Press the orbits

05 · Nose

Open a runny nose when haze wakes the sinuses

When the nose runs or sinusitis feels active, local Ying Xiang work pairs with warming the ear lobes and a gentle Qiaogong stroke toward the collarbone. Repeat the pair two to three times.

Finger locating Ying Xiang LI20 beside the nostril in the nasolabial groove

Acupoint · LI20

Ying Xiang (迎香)

Beside each nose wing where it meets the nasolabial line. Press for about one minute, then stroke both sides of the nose wing up and down ten times.

Soft pressure on facial soft tissue only. Skip broken skin.

Press Ying Xiang
Woman pressing Ying Xiang LI20 beside both nostrils for a haze runny nose

Routine · ears & neck

Ear lobes and Qiaogong

Rub both ear lobes until warm (about thirty seconds). Then stroke from below the ear toward the collarbone along the Qiaogong line three times, one side at a time.

Massage one side of the neck line at a time.

Press ear lobes and Qiaogong

06 · Throat

Settle a dry or itchy throat with LU7 and CV23

A ticklish or dry throat in haze often sits with Lung descending and a local midline throat point. Keep pressure light on the front of the neck.

Line diagram locating Lie Que LU7 on the radial wrist with crossed hands

Acupoint · LU7

Lie Que (列缺)

Cross the webs of both hands so one index finger rests on the styloid process of the other wrist. Massage the tender spot on the radial forearm gently for about thirty seconds.

Soft pressure only. Stop if pain sharpens.

Press Lie Que
Line diagram locating Lian Quan CV23 above the hyoid bone

Acupoint · CV23

Lian Quan (廉泉)

On the midline of the neck, in the depression above the upper border of the hyoid bone. Massage gently for about thirty seconds.

Light pressure only on the front of the neck. Stop if swallowing feels wrong or breath feels short.

Press Lian Quan

Next step

When haze symptoms keep returning

If headache, eye irritation, runny nose, or throat discomfort keeps flaring on poor air-quality days, a physician can name the pattern and decide whether acupuncture, herbs, or Immunity & Vitality care belongs in your plan.

Book Appointment Immunity & Vitality programme
Dr Sim Beng Joo

Clinically reviewed

Reviewed by Sim Beng Joo

Advisor (Science & Strategy) / Consultant Physician · TCMPB T1303003A

MOH-licensed TCM physician and biomedical scientist, with clinical work in digestion, pain, sleep or fatigue, and constitution patterns that show as head, nose, or throat irritation in poor air-quality seasons.

View full profile

Educational information based on clinical experience and TCM principles. Not a substitute for personalised consultation, medical care, or urgent attention. Speak with your physician before starting new self-press in pregnancy or with a chronic condition. Seek urgent care for breathlessness, chest pain, high fever, sudden vision change, or severe facial swelling.

FAQs

Haze acupressure questions

Common questions on haze headache, eye discomfort, runny nose, dry throat presses, pregnancy stops, and when to book care.

Which acupressure points help haze headache?

He Gu (合谷, LI4) in the fleshy webbing between the thumb and index finger is the educational home press here. Press firmly for one to two minutes until a sore ache appears, then switch sides. Skip this point in pregnancy.

How do I ease haze eye discomfort with acupressure?

Wash your hands first. Circle Cuan Zhu (BL2) at the medial end of each eyebrow about six times, then Tai Yang (EX-HN5) at the temple hollow about six times. Close the eyes and finish with upper and lower orbital massage about six times each, moving from the inner corner outward. Soft pressure only; never press into the eyeball.

Which points help a runny nose in haze season?

Press Ying Xiang (LI20) beside each nostril for about one minute, then stroke both sides of the nose wing up and down ten times. Warm both ear lobes for about thirty seconds, then stroke the Qiaogong line from below the ear toward the collarbone three times, one side at a time. Repeat the pair two to three times when sinusitis feels active.

Can I press He Gu if I might be pregnant?

No. If there's any chance of pregnancy, don't use He Gu (LI4). Ask a physician about safer options for headache in pregnancy.

Should I wash my hands before face acupressure?

Yes. Before massaging anywhere on the face, ensure your hands are clean so you do not irritate the eyes, lids, or nasal skin further.

When is haze self-press not enough?

Book when headache, eye irritation, runny nose, or throat discomfort keeps returning, or if breathing feels hard, vision changes suddenly, fever climbs, or facial swelling spreads. Self-press is educational support between visits, not urgent care.

How do Lie Que and Lian Quan help a dry throat?

Lie Que (列缺, LU7) sits on the radial forearm above the wrist crease; massage gently for about thirty seconds. Lian Quan (廉泉, CV23) sits in the midline depression above the hyoid bone; massage gently for about thirty seconds with light pressure only on the front of the neck.

References

Selected sources

  1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Traditional Chinese medicine: What you need to know. 2019. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know/
  2. Ministry of Health Singapore. TCM practitioners (Healthcare Professional Portal). https://hpp.moh.gov.sg/tcm-practitioners/
  3. World Health Organization. Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine

Next step

Ready for a haze-season pattern read?

Bring which symptoms flare on poor air-quality days, how long they last, and any GP notes. We will name the pattern in plain language and decide what belongs in your plan.

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