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Asthma affects approximately 8.5% of adult Canadians and nearly 13% of children, according to Public Health Agency of Canada data. While Canadian asthma management guidelines — set by the Canadian Thoracic Society — centre on controller medications (inhaled corticosteroids) and reliever bronchodilators, many Canadians with well-controlled asthma use complementary approaches to help manage day-to-day symptoms, reduce exercise-triggered tightness, and decrease stress-related flare-ups.
Acupressure for respiratory conditions sits in the middle tier of evidence — not as robustly studied as acupuncture for pain, but with a meaningful body of research. A 2017 systematic review in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that acupressure significantly improved lung function measures (FEV1) and reduced symptom scores in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma over 4–8 week treatment periods. The mechanism is thought to involve bronchial smooth muscle relaxation through the autonomic nervous system, and reduced airway inflammation via the HPA axis.
The points discussed here come from the Lung meridian (LU) and the Conception Vessel (CV) — the pathways TCM associates most directly with respiratory function. Practically speaking, these points correspond to nerve-dense areas that appear to influence airway tone and chest muscle tension when stimulated.
Understanding the Lung Meridian
In traditional Chinese medicine, the Lung meridian runs from the chest, down the inner arm, and ends at the thumbnail. It's one of the 12 primary meridians and is responsible for what TCM calls "descending and dispersing" — breathing in the broad functional sense. When Lung Qi is deficient or obstructed, the result is shortness of breath, wheezing, frequent respiratory infections, and a weak voice.
Practically: the Lung meridian points LU1, LU5, and LU7 are among the most commonly used points in acupuncture for respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, and post-viral breathing difficulties. Self-applied acupressure at these points is an accessible daily practice.
The Key Points for Breathing and Asthma
LU1 / Zhongfu — Central Treasury
Location: On the chest, in the hollow below the outer end of the collarbone (clavicle), approximately one finger-width below, and 6 finger-widths from the midline of the chest.
What it does: LU1 is the front-mu (alarm) point of the Lung — it's used to tonify Lung Qi directly and to clear excess in the chest. It's the most important local point for chest tightness, difficulty taking a full breath, and persistent cough associated with asthma. Apply gentle but firm pressure with one or two fingers; many people feel an immediate sense of chest opening with sustained pressure here. Hold for 60–90 seconds per side.
LU5 / Chize — Cubit Marsh
Location: On the inner elbow crease, on the thumb side of the large bicep tendon that runs down the centre of the crease.
What it does: LU5 is the water point of the Lung meridian and is used specifically for heat in the Lungs — wheezing, sticky phlegm, hot-sensation asthma, and respiratory infections. It's also used for acute attacks with phlegm obstruction. Firm pressure for 30–60 seconds per side. If you tend toward phlegm-heavy or allergy-triggered asthma, LU5 is particularly useful.
LU7 / Lieque — Broken Sequence
Location: On the inner wrist and lower forearm, approximately 1.5 cun (two finger-widths) above the wrist crease, in a small notch on the radial edge (thumb side) of the forearm.
What it does: LU7 is the luo-connecting point and one of the eight influential points — it's considered the "command point" of the Lung system. It's used for both chronic and acute respiratory complaints, headaches associated with respiratory illness, and the neck stiffness that often accompanies chest tightness. Moderate pressure for 60 seconds per side. LU7 is also particularly effective for the post-viral cough that lingers for weeks after a respiratory infection — a common complaint in Canada during flu season.
CV17 / Shanzhong — Chest Centre
Location: On the midline of the chest (sternum), at the level of the fourth intercostal space — roughly at nipple level, or at the midpoint between the base of the throat and the bottom of the sternum.
What it does: CV17 is the influential point for the "zong" (ancestral) Qi — the gathering place of chest energy. It's used universally for respiratory complaints: asthma, bronchitis, chest tightness, anxiety-related breathing difficulties, and palpitations. Gentle pressure here — the sternum is bony, so avoid digging hard. Light to moderate fingertip pressure for 60–90 seconds. Many people find this point immediately calming for both the chest and the nervous system.
BL13 / Feishu — Lung Back-Shu
Location: On the back, 1.5 cun (two finger-widths) to either side of the spine, at the level of the third thoracic vertebra (T3) — roughly between the shoulder blades, about level with the top of the scapula.
What it does: The back-shu point of the Lung is the direct energetic access point to the Lung organ on the back. It's harder to reach solo — use a tennis ball, acupressure ball, or ask a partner. Pressing into BL13 can release the deep back tension that accompanies chronic chest breathing patterns. Rolling slowly over this area on an acupressure mat is a valid option.
A Daily Breathing Protocol
Morning (before inhalers, if prescribed): 5 minutes. LU1 (90 seconds each side) → CV17 (60 seconds) → LU7 (60 seconds each side). This establishes baseline Lung Qi for the day and may reduce morning wheeze, which is typically worst in the 6–9 AM window for asthma patients.
Before exercise or outdoor activity: LU1 + LU5 + LU7, 30 seconds each side. If cold-air-triggered asthma is a concern (common in Canadian winters), this prep session combined with nasal breathing and appropriate warm-up reduces the cold-air bronchoconstriction risk. Always carry your reliever regardless.
During mild tightness (not an acute attack): CV17 first — gentle sustained pressure while taking slow, deep diaphragmatic breaths. Then LU1. This combination, with conscious slow breathing, can defuse mild stress-triggered bronchospasm. If tightness doesn't improve within 5 minutes, use your prescribed reliever.
What to Expect
Most people report a subjective sense of chest opening and easier breathing within 5–10 minutes of applying these points, particularly CV17 and LU1. Objective measures (peak flow) can improve modestly — the 2017 review mentioned above reported average FEV1 improvements of around 8–12% in study participants over 4–6 weeks of consistent practice.
Consistency matters more than intensity. Daily sessions of 10–15 minutes produce better outcomes than occasional long sessions. Think of it like stretching — it accumulates.
Seasonal allergies often trigger or worsen asthma. If allergies are part of your respiratory picture, see the seasonal allergies guide for additional points (LI20, LI4, ST36) that address the allergic component.
Canadian Respiratory Resources
- Asthma Canada: asthma.ca — provides asthma action plans, medication guides, and province-by-province resources
- Canadian Thoracic Society: cts-sct.ca — clinical guidelines and patient education materials
- Lung Health Foundation (Ontario): lunghealth.ca — support programs and asthma management education
- Healthlink BC (811): Available 24/7 for respiratory concerns — staffed by registered nurses
If you're seeing a TCM practitioner or registered acupuncturist for asthma support, ask about the specific points discussed here — a professional can provide deeper needling at BL13 and BL23, which is harder to achieve with self-applied acupressure, and can tailor the protocol to your TCM pattern (Lung Qi deficiency vs. Lung Yin deficiency vs. Phlegm-heat).
For related breathing and anxiety management, the anxiety guide covers the intersection between stress and breathing — particularly the PC6 point that addresses the chest constriction that often accompanies panic-related breathing changes. If you're also managing sinus congestion alongside asthma, see the sinus congestion guide.
Acupressure for asthma is a complementary technique to be used alongside — never instead of — prescribed medical treatment. Always have your reliever inhaler accessible. If you experience an acute asthma attack, use your prescribed medication and seek emergency care if there's no improvement.