Indigestion
Points traditionally pressed in East Asian medicine when the stomach feels full and heavy after eating include Zhongwan (CV12), Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6), Gongsun (SP4) and Weishu (BL21). This describes a tradition; there is some research on needle acupuncture, but whether pressing by hand helps is not known.
1Points traditionally pressed
1. Zhongwan CV12
Why this point? Classified as the Front-mu point of the Stomach and the influential point of the fu organs (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3; Nanjing ch. 45). It was one of the points in a needling trial on postprandial distress syndrome, a type of functional dyspepsia (Yang 2020, 278 people).
How to press Lie down with knees bent. With two or three fingertips together, press slowly and lightly as you breathe out, then release. Do not press if the belly is very painful or feels rigid. Do not press this point during pregnancy.
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2. Zusanli ST36
Why this point? The Ming-dynasty 'Song of the Four Command Points' (Zhenjiu Juying) assigns the abdomen to this point ('肚腹三里留'). It is classified as the He-sea point of the Stomach meridian and the lower He-sea point of the stomach (Lingshu) — historical classifications, not claims of effect. It was also used in the Yang 2020 trial.
How to press Sitting down, press with a thumb for 3–5 seconds and release, for 1–2 minutes, alternating legs. Skip it if the knee is swollen and warm.
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3. Neiguan PC6
Why this point? The Luo-connecting point of the Pericardium meridian, paired with Gongsun as one of the eight confluent points. A Ming-dynasty verse (Zhenjiu Juying) links Gongsun with the stomach, heart and chest, with Neiguan joining it. Wrist bands sold for nausea press this spot, and it was used in the Yang 2020 trial.
How to press Press with the other thumb for 3–5 seconds and release; repeat 5–10 times. Ease off if your fingers tingle.
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4. Gongsun SP4
Why this point? The Luo-connecting point linking the Spleen and Stomach channels (Lingshu, ch. 10), traditionally paired with Neiguan as one of the eight confluent points — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
How to press Sitting, rest one foot on the opposite knee and press with a thumb for 3–5 seconds; repeat 5–10 times.
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5. Weishu BL21
Why this point? Classified as the back-shu point of the Stomach (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing) — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
How to press It is on the back, so it is hard to reach alone. Someone else can press gently with a thumb for 3–5 seconds while you lie face down. Never press hard with an elbow or a tool.
Open point page →2Helpful habits
- Stop eating 3–4 hours before going to bed.
- Cut down on rich, spicy or fatty food, and on tea, coffee, cola and alcohol.
- Stop smoking and lose weight if you are overweight. Raising your head and shoulders in bed can stop stomach acid coming up at night.
- Ibuprofen and aspirin can make indigestion worse — if you take them, ask a pharmacist or doctor.
3See a doctor instead of pressing points
- Tight or crushing chest pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw — or 'indigestion' with breathlessness, sweating or a fast pulse (possible heart problem)
- Sudden, severe stomach pain
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds or is green
- Black, sticky poo, or a lot of bleeding from the bottom
- Difficulty breathing
- Losing a lot of weight without trying
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Repeated vomiting, or a feeling of a lump in your stomach
- Being told you have iron-deficiency anaemia, or blood in your poo
- Indigestion that comes on with exertion and eases with rest (possible angina)
- Stomach pain during pregnancy
- Severe pain, indigestion that keeps coming back, or symptoms that continue despite medicine
119 = do not press points; call emergency services now (119 in Korea, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US). soon = see a doctor first, as soon as you can (same day to within a week).
- Do not press Zhongwan (CV12) during pregnancy; the WHO acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided for needling and moxibustion in pregnancy.
- Do not press on the belly if it is very painful or rigid.
- At Neiguan the median nerve runs deep between two tendons — ease off if your fingers tingle.
- Do not press hard on the back with an elbow or a tool.
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
4What does the research say?
| What | Study | Result | Certainty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needle acupuncture — postprandial distress syndrome (functional dyspepsia) | Chinese multicentre randomised trial 2020 (278 people, vs sham needling) | Response at 4 weeks 83% vs 52%; acupuncturists were not blinded and dropout was high | single trial (limitations stated by the authors) |
| Needle acupuncture — functional dyspepsia | Cochrane review 2014 (7 trials, 542 people) | All evidence low or very low; no firm conclusion possible | low to very low |
| PC6 acupressure wrist band — children with dyspepsia | Swiss pilot randomised trial (33 children) | Symptom improvement 40% with the band vs 35% with a sham band — a small difference | very small pilot trial |
?FAQ
Does acupressure actually help indigestion?
In a trial of 278 people with postprandial distress syndrome (Yang 2020), more people reported improvement with real needling than with sham (83% vs 52%). But a Cochrane review (2014) rated the evidence too weak to draw conclusions, and both are about needles. In a pilot study of 33 children, a PC6 wrist band did little better than a sham band. Whether pressing by hand helps is not known.
My upper stomach hurts and I think food is stuck — can I press points?
Sudden severe pain there, or chest tightness with breathlessness and sweating, may be a heart problem rather than indigestion — a heart attack can sometimes feel only like indigestion. Do not press points; call emergency services straight away. Only press gently when it is mild fullness without any of these signs.
Can I do it while taking indigestion medicine?
Acupressure does not replace medicine. Choose medicines with a pharmacist or doctor, and see a doctor if indigestion keeps coming back or continues despite medicine.
Reference information on traditional use and research. If symptoms persist or are severe, see a doctor first.
Sources
- Classifications and traditional use: our own point cards (see each point page — Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, Lingshu, Nanjing, Yixue Rumen, AcuAtlas dataset CC BY 4.0)
- Zhenjiu Juying (1529), 'Song of the Four Command Points' — Wikisource https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/鍼灸聚英/四總穴歌 (checked 2026-11-07)
- Zhenjiu Juying, 'Song of the Eight Confluent Points' — Wikisource https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/鍼灸聚英/經脈交會八穴歌 (checked 2026-11-07)
- Yang JW et al. Effect of Acupuncture for Postprandial Distress Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Intern Med 2020;172(12):777-785 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32422066/ · points used: Wang Y et al., Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2021;41(6):583-7 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34085471/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- Lan L et al. Acupuncture for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane 2014;CD008487 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25306866/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- Légeret C et al. The effect of anti-nausea wristbands and STW-5 in children suffering from dyspepsia — pilot RCT. Klin Padiatr 2026;238(5):272-279 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40840497/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- NHS, Indigestion (reviewed 5 May 2023) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- NHS, Stomach ache (reviewed 20 Oct 2026) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ache/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- NHS, Heart attack (reviewed 31 Mar 2026) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/ (checked 2026-11-07)
- MSD Manual Consumer Version (Korean), 'Indigestion' (reviewed 9 Apr 2026) https://www.msdmanuals.com/ko/home/소화-장애/소화-장애-증상/소화불량 (checked 2026-11-07)
Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.