P. Sze 
The swelling in the eyes and eyelids that are caused by poor lymph flow and blood circulation can be treated using facial acupuncture for puffy eyes. According to Western medicine, the appearance of bags under the eyes can be caused by the fat that supports the eyes moving and also by fluid accumulation.
It is important to improve blood flow around the eyes in order to eliminate the swelling of the eyelids and face caused by “excessive water”.
In this article, I’ll show you some points of acupuncture for puffy eyes that you can use on your own.
Acupressure Points For Puffy Eyes
Since acupuncture points are connected to a channel, the stimulation of one acupoint affects many other functions in the body, not only the spot where it is located. Stimulating these acupressure points for puffy eyes will improve a lot of aspects of your health, and many of these are also acupressure points for cataract, used in glaucoma acupuncture, acupressure for better vision, acupuncture for eye bags, etc.
Before touching these acupressure points for puffy eyes, heat a wet towel in the microwave and turn it into a steamed towel to warm the entire face, and you will feel an enhanced effect. Edema is said to suggest a variety of illnesses. If you have any of the following anxiety symptoms, please consult a medical institution:
- systemic swelling
- too much swelling of lower limbs
- difficulty in urinating
- shortness of breath
- chest tightness when moving
- high blood pressure
Acupoint: Bl-1 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-1/Jing Ming/Bright Eyes)
Jingming, as this acupoint is also called, is located in the inner corner of both eyes. It’s a local acupoint that benefits the eyes, helps to reduce inflammation, and improves nerve function. Bl-1 works for all eye symptoms. It can be expected as a measure against tiredness, redness, swelling, pain, myopia, and poor eyesight. This is one of the used acupressure points for under eye inflammation.
Check out the other uses of this acupoint in our article about acupressure for autoimmune inflammation and acupressure points for dry eyes.
Acupoint: Bl-2 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-2/Zan Zhu/Gathered Bamboo)
Bl-2-It is said to be good for headaches, eyes (tiredness, redness, swelling, convulsions), dizziness, and poor eyesight. Zanzhu, as this point is also called, can be found right above and parallel to Jingming, in the middle of the inner corners of both eyebrows. The stimulation of this acupoint benefits the eyes as well as the head in general. It is connected to the divergent meridian of the Bladder channel, and the stimulation of this acupoint benefits the Kidneys and sexual organs as well. Bl-2 is one of the acupressure points for eye infection.
To stimulate Bl-1 and Bl-2, sit on a chair, put your elbows on the desk, and press the inner edges of both eyes and the inner edges of both eyebrows together with the belly of your thumb. Take about 5 seconds to slowly apply the weight of your head, and when pulling, take about 5 seconds to remove the weight. The trick is to push slowly instead of applying a strong force. The skin on the face is thin, so if the pressure is too strong, it may cause the skin to sag, or the effect may be diminished.
Bl-2 is also featured in our article about pressure points for migraine relief and acupressure points for eyes.
Acupoint: Ren-9 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-9/Shui Fen/Water Division)
Ren-9 is located at approximately 1,5cm above the navel. Shuifen, as this point is also called, can be translated as “water Separation”. As the name suggests, Ren-9 is related to water. Try this acupoint when you want to get rid of edema of the whole body, diarrhea / abdominal pain, swelling of the face, and pain. It also helps to recover the fluidity of the mind and limbs. It balances the endocrine and lymphatic systems.
To stimulate Ren-9, you can use the Tuina technic Yi Zhi Chan Fa. It consists in placing the belly of your thumb in the acupoint and applying a harmonious and uniform pendular movement, alternating the pressure between the tip and the belly of the thumb. The thumb naturally balances over the contact surface at a frequency of about 140 – 160 oscillations per minute. The thumb should not slide over the contact surface but should stick to the point of application. Apply the stimulation for at least three minutes and repeat two or three times.
Ren-9 is one of our selected points in acupressure for bloating.
Acupoint: EM-3 (Other Names: Yu Yao)
Yuyao can be found right in the middle of your eyebrows. To stimulate it, put your middle finger on the acupuncture point, attach your index finger and ring finger, and move the entire eyebrow with three fingers. It is effective not only for eyestrain but also for swelling and sagging eyelids.
Yuyao is included in our list of facial acupressure points for wrinkles.
Does Acupuncture Help Puffy Eyes?
According to a study carried out by scientists at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Gangdong, South Korea, facial cosmetic acupuncture was shown to improve the elasticity as well as the topography in the faces of the 28 women to whom it was done after a three-week treatment course. The acupoints used in facial acupuncture for puffy eyes help to stimulate blood circulation and reduce the accumulated lymph and general stagnation caused by the improper flow of Qi in the area.
If your face and your eyes are always swollen when you wake up in the morning, it is possible that you have poor blood circulation. Blood carries the oxygen and nutrients needed by cells, and it is responsible for collecting carbon dioxide and waste products that are no longer needed. Therefore, when blood flow is blocked, waste products are not removed and accumulate, which tends to cause swelling, including swelling around the eyes. Since the blood vessels around the eyes are thin, it is a place where swelling due to poor blood circulation is likely to occur. Acupuncture promotes blood circulation, and it helps the discharge of accumulated waste products.
How Do You Get Rid Of Puffy Eyes Naturally?
If you happen to notice bags under your eyes that you’d like to get rid of, have in mind that like all physical conditions, the swelling of the eyes, except in some cases of allergy and some other health conditions, can be avoided if your observe factors such as:
Sleeping Habits
Sleeping habits include the time you go to bed at night, the number of hours you sleep, the time you wake up in the morning, and the quality of your sleep.
If your sleep is insufficient, or if you have irregular sleeping hours, for example, your body will have more difficulty functioning in general due to a disturbance in the waking/sleeping circadian cycle that affects organic functions as a whole.
Diet
Diet is everything you ingest. If your body isn’t getting enough quality nutrients from the food you’re eating, your skin will look accordingly. A diet rich in fresh, high-quality nutrients is essential for a healthy body, inside and out.
Genetics
The appearance of traces like the tendency to get bags under the eyes is connected to genetic heritage. If people in your family have this trace, you’ll probably be inclined to develop it over the years as well.
However, the full treatment with acupressure for puffy eyes combined with the correction in your habits and lifestyle can significantly reduce the appearance of puffiness in the eyes naturally. You may also have a look at this article by DR. Shaun C. Desai at hopkinmedicine.org to get some DIY tips that you can combine with acupressure.
In case your puffy eyes have already developed to an advanced degree, you can still do this self-treatment with our acupressure points for puffy eyes combined with a clinical facial cosmetic acupuncture treatment. This way, you’ll have faster results. Besides, some people report having puffy eyes the day after acupuncture, and you can also use acupressure to reduce it if it happens to you.
