How To Use Acupressure For Ulnar Nerve Pain

Ulnar nerve pain can make life quite uncomfortable. If you feel tingling, numbness, or even burning in the forearm, this could be a sign of ulnar nerve damage. This article sheds light on acupressure for ulnar nerve pain and how you can better cope with the condition.

Can Acupuncture Help Ulnar Nerve Damage?

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While it’s always recommended to check in with your primary care physician for medical advice, these pressure points will help relieve pain and discomfort for the time being. So, how truly effective is acupuncture with ulnar nerve damage? 

Trials for patients suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated promising results. It was confirmed that the motor nerve function improved with acupuncture form of treatment. And it doesn’t end here.

I came across another fascinating study on the effects of acupuncture on patients suffering from ulnar nerve damage and carpal tunnel syndrome. The goal is to identify the connection between the median nerve and the ulnar nerve using acupuncture. 

Not to mention, cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition that can cause painful symptoms in your hand. This condition happens when the ulnar nerve undergoes intense pressure. With the help of traditional Chinese medicine, you could alleviate some of this pressure. 

For Ulnar Nerve Pain

Acupoint: HT-3 (Other Names: Heart-3/Shao Hai/Lesser Sea)

The first pressure point for ulnar nerve pain is the HT-3 acupoint. Not only is this robust pressure point great for ulnar nerve stimulation and acupressure for swollen hands, but it is also easy to find. To locate this pressure point, bend your arm at a 45-degree angle. 

The acupoint is located at the tip of the inner crease that forms when your arm is bent. For maximum stimulation, take a warm towel and apply it to your neck. This will help relax the ligaments and muscles, promoting blood flow through the arm.

If you’re feeling wrist pain, numbness, or spasms in your arm or hands, apply pressure to this acupoint for about 5 minutes. You might feel slight numbness or tingling, but this is normal. Feel free to perform this exercise at any point in the day. 

Acupoint: HT-7 (Other Names: Heart-7/Shen Men/Spirit Gate)

Also known as the Shen Men pressure point, the HT-7 acupoint can help with acupressure for ulnar nerve wrist pain. It is also one of the greatest acupressure points for trapezius pain and when your hand falls asleep. 

To locate this pressure point, turn your hand so that the palm is right-side up. The HT-7 pressure point sits just below the inner wrist crease on the side where your pinky finger is. It can help to wrap your wrist with a warm towel and massage the pressure point for a few minutes. While doing this, you can also ask someone to use a hairdryer to send warm air along the painful path, as this will alleviate the pain. 

This pressure point specializes in calming the mind and centering your emotions, making it perfect for those who battle anxiety and stress. Some additional benefits include motion sickness, tightness in the chest, and memory loss. 

Acupressure For Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Acupoint: SI-9 (Other Names: Small Intestine-9/Jian Zhen/True Shoulder)

One of the best pressure points for cubital tunnel syndrome is acupoint SI-9, also known as the True Shoulder point. In Oriental medicine, cubital tunnel syndrome is considered to be paralyzing. The paralysis happens due to your muscles thinning, causing the ulnar claw to deform.

SI-9 is also one of the best acupressure points for shoulder and arm pain, making it a well-rounded acupoint with multiple benefits. You can find this acupoint on the back of your shoulder, 1 cun above the tip of the armpit crease. 

Acupoint: HT-2 (Other Names: Heart-2/Qing Ling/Green Spirit)

Known as one of the acupressure points to reduce arm fat, acupoint HT-2 can also help with ulnar nerve acupressure. Applying firm pressure to this acupoint will help discharge any waste from the area, strengthening and toning your arms. 

As one of the acupressure points used to treat cubital tunnel syndrome, activating this acupoint early in the diagnosis will help prevent the condition from worsening. To find this pressure point, locate the inside crease formed at the elbow. It sits about two finger widths below the crease. For maximum stimulation, consider stimulating both pressure points on both arms simultaneously.

Acupoint: SI-6 (Other Names: Small Intestine-6/Yang Lao/Support the Aged)

Also known as Nourishing the Aged, the SI-6 pressure point is excellent for Ulnar nerve acupressure. You can find this acupoint on the dorsal ulnar part of the forearm. Using your free hand, find the bone that slightly protrudes from the top of your wrist, with your palm facing downwards. 

The pressure point SI-6 sits directly underneath the bone. Some additional key benefits of this pressure point include helping with blurry vision and shoulder, back, and arm pain. If you have a feeling of paralysis in the arm, try stimulating SI-6. It’s one of the best pressure points for cubital tunnel syndrome for a reason.

Author: P. Sze

P. Sze P. Sze is the founder of TCM Tips and Dragon Acupuncture®. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a first-class honor in Civil Engineering. S he also holds a master’s degree in Engineering and is the brain behind the innovative TCM products of Dragon Acupuncture®. She is the author of The Beginner's Guide to Auricular Therapy: Application of Ear Seeds (ISBN 978-1520451398) and Facial Gua Sha - Fight the Signs of Aging Naturally and Inexpensively (ISBN 978-1980678922). She has dedicated her life to ensuring that the complex theories behind oriental medicine and the seemingly dangerous techniques that involve needles and fire do not scare you from trying oriental medicine. This is why she writes endlessly about acupressure and its countless health and wellness benefits.

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