Chest
Chest acupressure targets the breastbone and upper chest for respiratory comfort, emotional release, and calming restless breathing. This guide covers five key chest points and the safety rules that matter for at-home use.
Why Do Chest Acupressure Points Matter?
The chest carries the Conception Vessel points CV17 and CV22, together with the Lung points LU1 and LU2, making it a natural focus for breathing and emotional concerns. Shallow, tense breathing is common during stress and anxiety, which is why many people reach for chest acupressure as a complementary self-care practice alongside their usual care. Several points here also appear in our condition guides for coughs, asthma, and anxiety, so the locations you see in this region connect directly to the step-by-step guidance found across the site.
Traditionally, CV17 is described as the point where the chest qi gathers, and CV17, CV22, and the Lung points are used to support smooth breathing and emotional calm. On a physical level, slow pressure on the chest can relax the muscles between the ribs and the upper airway while encouraging slower, fuller breaths. Either way, approach the area carefully, keep pressure gentle, and let breathing stay natural throughout your session.
What Are the Key Points in This Region?
These five chest points span the midline and upper chest, covering breathing support, cough comfort, and tension release. Open each card for precise location and technique.
Points in this region
CV17 (Shanzhong) · Chest Center
Anxiety, breathing, emotional release
CV22 (Tiantu) · Celestial Chimney
Cough, sore throat, asthma
LU1 (Zhongfu) · Central Mansion
Cough, asthma, chest congestion
ST12 (Quepen) · Empty Basin
Cough, hiccups, chest pain
LU2 (Yunmen) · Cloud Gate
Cough, asthma, shoulder tension
How Do You Stimulate Chest Points?
Chest points sit close to the ribs and breastbone, so press with the flat of one or two fingertips rather than a hard knuckle, and keep the pressure gentle. Use 30 to 60 seconds per point for a quick session, or one to two minutes when you want a deeper feel, working both sides of the body. Keep pressure at roughly 90 degrees to the skin and work around breast tissue rather than directly over it. Seek medical attention if you ever feel chest pain or new shortness of breath instead of pressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pressing the chest help with anxiety?
Is chest acupressure safe for breathing problems?
How long should I press these points?
Acupressure has been evaluated in clinical trials for pain, nausea, anxiety, and sleep, with evidence described as promising but requiring further high-quality research.
— Lee EJ, Frazier SK. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2011;42(4):589-603. PMID 21531533.
Verifiable sources
- Lee EJ, Frazier SK. The efficacy of acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2011;42(4):589-603. PMID 21531533 · DOI
- Song HJ, Seo HJ, Lee H, Son H, Choi SM, Lee S. Effect of self-acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2015;23(1):68-78. PMID 25637155 · DOI
General evidence for acupressure from published systematic reviews. See condition-specific pages for targeted studies.