Acupressure Safety 101: What to Avoid and When to Be Cautious

The One Everyone Should Know: Pregnancy

Two common points contraindicated during pregnancy:

• LI4 (He Gu) — between the thumb and index finger - see a full, practitioner-level LI4 breakdown here

• SP6 (San Yin Jiao) — about 3 inches above the inner ankle - see a full, practitioner-level SP6 breakdown here

Both have a traditional downward, moving action that can stimulate uterine activity — which is exactly why they're sometimes used intentionally, under supervision, to help induce labor at full term. That same action is why they're avoided earlier in pregnancy.

If you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or unsure: skip these two points, and check with a practitioner before working anywhere on the lower abdomen or lower back.

FYI - there are more than just these two points contraindicated in pregnancy - these are just two of the more common acupressure points that you will see come up for common conditions.

Who Else Should Be Cautious

• Recent injuries, surgeries, or broken skin — don't press directly on it

• Varicose veins — work around them, not on them

• Blood clotting disorders or blood thinners — check with your doctor before making firm pressure a habit

• Cancer, active infections, or serious chronic illness — talk to your healthcare provider first

• Children — much lighter pressure than an adult, and skip pregnancy-contraindicated points if there's any chance a teen in your care could be pregnant

This is the same basic caution you'd apply to any hands-on bodywork — acupressure isn't special in needing it, just in how easy it is to forget.

Doing This on Someone Else

• Ask first, and keep checking in — "how does that feel?" is a fair question mid-treatment, not just at the start

• Their pressure tolerance isn't yours — let their feedback set the pressure, not your assumption

• You're responsible for knowing their contraindications — ask before you press, not after

• Communicate before sensitive areas — some effective points, like CV4 on the lower abdomen [LINK: covered here], need a clear heads-up first

How Much Pressure Is Actually Safe

• Firm, sustained pressure, held 20–30 seconds per press

• 3–5 reps per point, or rotate through a few points in a routine before circling back

• Target feeling: "achy but tolerable" — not sharp pain, not nothing at all

• If it's sharp: ease up, you're either pressing too hard or slightly off the point

Full technique breakdown here, if you want to go deeper.

When to Skip Acupressure and See a Doctor Instead

• Sudden, severe, or "worst headache of my life" pain

• Chest pain, difficulty breathing, or anything that feels like an emergency

• New, unexplained pain that hasn't been evaluated yet

Acupressure is a great tool for everyday aches and tension. It's not a substitute for medical evaluation when something feels seriously wrong.

The Two-Minute Recap

• Skip LI4 and SP6 during pregnancy

• Avoid injuries, broken skin, and varicose veins

• Ask first when working on someone else

• Firm pressure, 20–30 seconds, achy-not-sharp

• Something feels like an emergency? Skip this and get real medical help

Once you've got this down, you're ready for the fun part: the five points everyone should know, or grab a guide built around your specific problem — Headaches Guide or Digestive Issues Guide.