Press where it hurts.
I'm Jessica, a licensed acupuncturist. Each point on the chart opens the guide with the tool I send patients home with, what it will not do, and who should skip it.
Jessica Galaska, MSAc, Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), R.Ac. (MI). Board-certified, registered in Michigan, six years in practice. No sponsored posts; affiliate links, always disclosed.
Index of plates
Every guide on the site, by therapy. Each plate names the tool, what it is good for, and who should skip it.
| Plate | Therapy | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| I | AcupressureMats, tools and points you can use with your own two hands. | Massage balls and trigger point tools for the knots you cannot reachWhich massage ball or trigger point tool to buy for knots between the shoulder blades and in the hips, and how to use each one without overdoing it. |
| Acupressure wristbands for nausea, motion sickness and morning sicknessHow the PC6 wristband works, when it is worth wearing, how to find the point with your own thumb, and the one mistake that makes the bands feel useless. | ||
| Sore feet and plantar fasciitis: rollers, balls and the point on top of the footWhy the first steps in the morning hurt, what actually helps a sore arch and heel at home, the two tools worth owning, and the foot point I show every patient. | ||
| Acupressure mats: which one to buy, and how to actually use itA licensed acupuncturist on what an acupressure mat can and cannot do for a tight back, how to pick one, and the mistakes that make people give up after a week. | ||
| II | CuppingHome cupping sets, and what those marks actually mean. | Facial cupping: what the small cups do, and how to use them gentlyA licensed acupuncturist on facial cupping at home: which cups to buy, the gliding technique that keeps it safe, and what it can and cannot do for your face. |
| Home cupping sets: silicone vs. pump vs. glass, from someone who cups all dayWhich cupping set to buy for home use, the one type I tell beginners to avoid, and how to cup a tight back without leaving yourself covered in marks. | ||
| III | Gua ShaStones, technique and the difference between face and body work. | Tennis elbow, mouse arm and tight forearms: what helps between visitsWhy the outside of the elbow hurts when you grip, the forearm tools I actually recommend, the two points above and below the elbow, and when tingling means stop. |
| Gua sha tools: face vs. body, and why the stone matters less than the edgeThe difference between facial gua sha and the body work acupuncturists do, which tools are worth buying for each, and how to do it without hurting yourself. | ||
| IV | Heat & MoxaWarming therapies for cramps, stiff backs and cold hands. | Heating pads for a sore lower back: what actually mattersA licensed acupuncturist on choosing heat for a stiff lower back: electric pads, wraps and grain packs compared, the features that matter, and how to use them well. |
| Moxa at home: smokeless sticks, stick-on moxa and how to use them safelyA licensed acupuncturist on home moxibustion: which kind of moxa to buy, the points that suit home use, and the safety kit you need before you light anything. | ||
| Knee pain at home: heat, self-massage and the points around the kneecapWhat to do for an achy, stiff knee between appointments, which tools are worth buying, the points I show patients, and the knee symptoms that mean stop and see someone. | ||
| Heat therapy at home: what to buy for cramps, a stiff low back and cold handsAn acupuncturist's guide to heat packs, moxa and warming therapies, including when heat helps, when it makes things worse, and the few products worth owning. | ||
| V | Sleep & CalmWind-down routines and the few tools that help. | Eye masks for sleep: weighted, contoured or plainWhich sleep mask to choose if light wakes you or your mind will not switch off: weighted, contoured blackout or silk, and how to make any of them actually stay on. |
| A sleep wind-down kit that does not involve a supplementThe five inexpensive tools I actually suggest to patients who cannot switch off at night, and the twenty-minute routine that ties them together. |
Notes
All notes| Note | Therapy | What it explains |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acupressure | Acupressure points for period crampsFour acupressure points you can press yourself for period cramps, how long to hold them, why heat helps, and the red flags that mean you should see a provider. |
| 2 | Gua Sha | How to gua sha your own neck and shouldersStep-by-step body gua sha for a stiff neck and tight shoulders: where to scrape, which direction, how hard, what the redness means and how often to do it. |
| 3 | Acupressure | How to use ear seeds: placement, pressing and how long to leave themEar seeds explained by a licensed acupuncturist: what they are, where the common calming points are, how to press them, and how long to wear them safely. |
| 4 | Heat & Moxa | What is moxibustion, and what does it feel like?Moxibustion explained by a licensed acupuncturist: what mugwort is, the kinds of moxa used in clinic, what it feels like, and what the evidence does and does not say. |
| 5 | Acupressure | Three acupressure points for a tension headache, and how to press themThe points I teach patients for a tight, band-around-the-head headache, with plain instructions and the mistakes that make acupressure feel like it does nothing. |
| 6 | Sleep & Calm | Acupressure points for a racing mind at bedtimeFour calming points you can press in bed, taught the way I teach them to patients who lie awake thinking. |
| 7 | Cupping | Cupping marks explained: what the colors mean and what they don'tWhy cupping leaves circles, what darker and lighter marks tell a practitioner, how long they last, and why 'toxins' is the wrong word. |
| 8 | General | What actually happens at your first acupuncture appointmentA licensed acupuncturist walks through the intake, the needles, what it feels like, and what to do afterward, so the first visit is not a mystery. |
How a tool earns a place on this chart
I only recommend things I have used in clinic, used at home, or sent patients home with and heard back about. If a product has a cheaper version that works just as well, I say so. If I would not put it in a patient's hands, it is not here.