Know These Key Acupoints to Rescue From Fainting, Heart Attack, and Stroke

What do you do in the event of a potentially life-threatening emergency such as fainting, heart attack, or stroke? Most people think of calling an ambulance for assistance. But in some emergencies, if the ambulance does not arrive in time, the victim is at risk of not being resuscitated.

According to the American Heart Association’s 2021-2022 annual report, cardiovascular disease kills 17 million people worldwide each year, and in the United States alone, the annual economic impact of heart disease and stroke is estimated to exceed $500 billion.

First aid in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is simple and effective. Mastering a few key acupoints and treating the victim quickly could be the difference between life and death. Yuen Oi-lin, a registered TCM practitioner in Hong Kong, spoke in an Epoch Times program called, “Hundred Diseases and Hundred Cures” about effective TCM first aid treatment in the case of emergencies such as heart disease or stroke.

TCM First Aid Is Simple yet Effective

Yuen said in the program that historically, TCM has always had its own first aid treatments, and that fewer people use them today—yet TCM first aid is simple and effective when administered immediately.

Yuen said that TCM acupoint first aid is effective because its easy to do and saves precious time—when employed immediately it can save a life.

In contrast, Western medical first aid often relies on the arrival of specially trained emergency personnel and specific equipment and though there may be emergency injections and procedures performed at the scene travel time to a hospital may delay further life-saving treatment.

Yuen suggested that ambulance personnel could benefit by learning a few TCM acupoint first aid techniques—offering additional means of treatment at the scene.

Acupoint First Aid for Fainting

Yuen recounted a case of first aid for fainting. The patient was in her fifties and came in for acupuncture treatment complaining of shoulder pain, but upon seeing the needles used for treatment she fainted from fear. Yuen immediately worked on a few key acupuncture points, and she revived about five minutes later. Yuen said that when faced with this kind of fainting, the first step is to lie the patient down flat, cover with a blanket to them keep warm and then massage the acupuncture points.

Chinese folklore usually recommends pressing the “Renzhong” in the treatment of syncope (fainting), which is located on the upper third of the midline of the nasolabial fold. Yuen said that pressing this acupoint hard with the fingernails can arouse a person from unconsciousness because Renzhong is located at the intersection of the Ren and Du meridians.

The Ren and Du meridians govern the twelve meridians of the human body. TCM has discovered that the human body has a “meridian” system, which is a channel for energy movement. The human body has twelve meridians, which are connected to twelve internal organs in the body. Some points on the meridians that have special functions are called acupoints. Stimulating the corresponding acupoints through acupuncture and/or massage can treat diseases of the corresponding viscera.

Yuen said that pressing the Renzhong acupoint can also be used to prevent dozing off, and helps people to wake up.

She also pointed out that pressing hard on the Hegu acupoint can provide first-aid functionality. Hegu is located between the first and second metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, approximately at the midpoint of the radial side of the second metacarpal bone.

2 Life-Saving Acupoints for Heart Attack

Yuen said that the Neiguan and Shaofu acupoints are the two key points for emergency treatment of heart attack.

The Neiguan is on the inner side of the wrist, three finger widths above the transverse wrist crease. Yuen said that human organs are connected to different meridians, and the Neiguan acupoint is on the “pericardium meridian.” Pressing this acupoint can send reflex to the heart and strengthen the latter, analogous to a cardiac stimulant.

Another key acupoint is the Shaofu, which is located between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, where the little fingertip points when holding a fist. The Shaofu lies on the “Heart Sutra,” pressing it hard can also send reflex to the heart.

Yuen once helped her father-in-law by performing TCM first aid. She said that the first time her in-law fell ill at home, he suddenly lost his heartbeat and his pulse, his face turned blue, lips turned pale, and he was unresponsive.

Yuen immediately pressed his Shaofu acupoint, and about five minutes later, he revived and returned to normal.

Acupuncture at a Key Acupoint Can Effectively Relieve Stroke Victims

Yuen said that there is one key acupoint called “Shixuan,” which is located on the edge of all ten fingertips. In some stroke cases, TCM practitioners may use bloodletting therapy to bring relief. This is done by pricking the ten fingertips with a needle and squeezing out a little blood from each one. In this way, bloodletting through the fingertips can prevent blood from being retained in the brain and thus relieve pressure on the brain.

Please note that “Acupuncture and bloodletting” are unique medical practices and can only be performed after diagnosis by a qualified TCM practitioner. In addition, patients with blood coagulation symptoms should not perform bloodletting to avoid unstopped blood flow. Diabetes patients should pay more attention to avoid wound infection.

In TCM theory, stroke can be divided into “closed syndrome” and “out syndrome.” If a patient has a stroke, the doctor first judges whether it is closed syndrome, which is characterized by the appearance of unconsciousness, red face, closed jaw, and clenched fists. In this case, bloodletting therapy could be applied. On the other hand, stroke patients with weak breathing, cold limbs due to sweating, and urine and fecal incontinence are not suitable for bloodletting therapy.

Note: Everyone’s medical situation is different, and the causes of stroke are also different. It is recommended that you consult a professional physician or TCM practitioner before performing the appropriate treatments.