Hands & Feet: Simple Pathways to Wellness Through Essential Oils and Acupressure

Have you ever really considered all that your hands and feet do?

Our hands help us give to the world. Our feet carry us through life. Caring for them with mindful touch, breath, and essential oils can become a simple yet meaningful pathway toward greater wellness, balance, and a sense of peace.

Our hands and feet are extraordinary gateways to wellness. In many traditional healing systems, such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), reflexology, and acupressure, specific points on the hands and feet are believed to correspond to different organs, systems, and energetic pathways throughout the body. When paired with the aromatic and therapeutic properties of essential oils, these points can become powerful tools for supporting relaxation, circulation, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing.

As we move through life, our modern way of living places tremendous stress on our nervous systems. Between long hours standing, typing, driving, scrolling, and rushing from one responsibility to another, our hands and feet often become overworked and neglected. Yet these areas contain thousands of nerve endings and energetic points that can profoundly influence how we feel physically and emotionally.

Aside from specific points on the feet, oils absorb faster through the feet because the pores on the bottom of your feet are the largest on your body, allowing the essential oils to enter the bloodstream and affect the whole body quickly.

Though there are MANY points throughout the hands and feet, here are a few simple ones shared with me by an acupuncturist friend who incorporates essential oils into her practice. I am sharing 3 on the hands and 3 on the feet to get you started.

LI4 “The Union Valley”

Located between the thumb and index finger, is a great point to relieve tension, especially in the neck, shoulders, and head. Great oils for this spot might be lavender, frankincense, peppermint, or bergamot. This point is also used to help with digestive issues.

PC 8 “Place of Labor”

Located in the center of the palm. Rubbing this point promotes calm, decreases anxiety, and is said to be grounding. Suggested oils are ylang ylang, wild orange, and frankincense.

HT7 “Spirit Gate”

At the pinky side of the wrist crease (just opposite where you would check a pulse). This is a great spot for helping quiet a busy mind. Try rubbing calming oils like lavender or Roman chamomile on your skin before going to sleep.

LV3 “Great Rushing”

On the webbing between the big toe and the second toe. This is another great place for tension release and to clear stagnant energy. Clary sage, lavender, ylang ylang and balance blend are great oils for this spot.

K1 “Bubbling Spring”

Located in the center sole of the foot and the pituitary reflex point on the base of the big toe, are both great areas for sleep oils. I have routinely used cedarwood and vetiver on the areas at night with great success.

S6 “3 Yin Intersection”

Not exactly on the feet, but rather it is located on the inner aspect of the lower leg, about four finger-widths above the ankle bone, just behind the shin bone. This point is a great spot for digestion and hormone balance. Clary sage, lavender, and frankincense are great oils for this point.

There are acupuncture points throughout the body, and many more on the hands and feet. Our hands and feet are often neglected, and they are among my favorite places to use essential oils. The truth is, if you rub your oils into your hands and feet, you’re bound to hit a point that benefits your body.

Ready to Explore Essential Oils?

A few drops and a few mindful moments can go a long way. If you’d like to learn more about using essential oils safely and effectively—or take advantage of this month’s Frankincense and Rose Touch promotions—I’d love to help.

Reach out to learn more or get started today.