7 Acupoint Massage Techniques and Wellness Tips for Eye Health

Strengthen your eyes with targeted massage, movement, and diet rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.

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For healthy eyes, good blood circulation is essential. This relies on the well-being of the liver, kidneys, and heart—the body’s core powerhouses. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) promotes vision care through acupoint massage, complemented by a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Dr. Chiu-Hsia Cheng, director of Taiwan’s Yongchang Chinese Medicine Clinic, appeared on NTDTV’s “She Health” program to discuss how acupoint massage can protect eyesight, and how home exercises and diet can improve organ health and eye wellness.

The eyes are among the organs with the highest demand for blood. The retina and optic nerve require large amounts of oxygen and nutrients for metabolism and to transmit nerve signals to the brain, allowing us to see images.

Common vision disorders—such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and optic nerve atrophy—are all related to insufficient oxygen supply or nutrient deficiencies.

From a TCM perspective, Cheng notes that nourishing the liver supports venous circulation, nurturing the kidneys aids in water metabolism and cellular vitality, and strengthening the heart enhances the arterial system to improve blood flow. Robust circulation ensures a steady blood supply, nourishes the tissues around the eyes, maintains clear vision, and keeps the eyes bright and vibrant.

Eye-Protecting Acupoint Massage

Cheng recommends massaging seven acupoints around the eyes to promote blood circulation, particularly arterial flow, and support overall eye health:

• Jingming Acupoint: Located at the inner corner of the eye
•  Cuanzhu Acupoint: Located at the inner edge of the eyebrow
•  Yuyao Acupoint: Located at the midpoint of the eyebrow
•  Sizhukong Acupoint: Located in the hollow at the outer end of the eyebrow
• Taiyang Acupoint: Located in the depression between the outer corner of the eye and the lateral end of the eyebrow
•  Chengqi Acupoint: Located directly below the eye, in the center of the lower eyelid
•  Sibai Acupoint: Located in the depression below the eye socket, directly under the pupil

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TCM recognizes that meridians are the channels through which the body’s energy flows, responsible for transporting “qi” (vital energy) and blood—fundamental substances that form and sustain human life. The internal organs are connected to various body parts through meridians, and specific points along these meridians, known as acupoints, have unique functions.

Stimulating these acupoints through techniques such as acupuncture, heat therapy, or massage can help address conditions in corresponding areas of the body.

How to Perform the Eye Acupoint Massage

Start with this simple routine to stimulate circulation and support eye health.

Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly and rub them together for about 1 minute to warm them.

Step 2: Using your fingers, gently press each eye-area acupoint listed above, holding each point for about 5 seconds.

Step 3: Perform the massage for 10 minutes daily, either in one session or split across several.

2 At-Home Exercises to Boost Circulation

Regular exercise strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and enhances the supply of blood and nutrients to the eyes.

Cheng notes that while modern people understand the value of exercise, their intensity and duration often fall short. She encourages engaging in higher-intensity, endurance-based activities like swimming or fitness training.

For those preferring home workouts, she recommends the following two simple routines:

1. Knee-Hug Exercise

Step 1: Lie on your back with both legs bent, feet flat on the floor.

Step 2: Lift one leg and hold the thigh with both hands. Straighten and bend the lower leg repeatedly, 100 times. Switch legs and repeat.

This exercise can be done in one go or split throughout the day. Daily practice helps strengthen the heart and fortify the knees.

2. Leg-Raise Exercise

Step 1: Lie on your back. Bend one leg with the foot flat. Keep the other leg straight on the ground.

Step 2: Lift the straight leg as high as possible, lower it, and repeat 100 times. Switch legs and repeat.

Step 3: If you cannot raise your leg to 90 degrees, 45 degrees is also acceptable. Keep the knee straight, adjusting based on your flexibility.

Cheng emphasizes that perfection isn’t necessary—the key is consistency. Doing your best is enough.

The exercise can be done in one session or spread out during the day, and it helps promote circulation and strengthen the hip joints.

Cheng adds that regular physical activity and getting quality sleep benefit not only the heart but also the liver and kidneys—organs closely tied to eye health.

Eating for Better Blood Circulation and Eye Health

A balanced diet is also key to supporting blood flow. Cheng recommends eating iron-rich foods and avoiding diets high in oil, sugar, or salt, which can increase blood resistance and strain organs.

1. Consuming Blood-Nourishing Foods

Red meats, such as beef and pork, not only provide protein but are also excellent sources of iron, she says. Iron supports hemoglobin production, facilitating oxygen transport and promoting healthy circulation—including to the heart.

She notes that while white meat supplies protein, it contains less iron. When food intake is limited, red meat is a more efficient option for iron supplementation.

Some people worry that red meat may be unhealthy, but Cheng says this is a common misconception.

“Red meat is not harmful,” she said, adding, “You can eat white meat today and switch to red meat tomorrow to achieve nutritional balance, which is the best approach.”

Vegetables such as lotus root, burdock, red amaranth, and beetroot are also rich in iron and can help nourish the blood.

However, Cheng cautions that plant-based iron is less absorbable, and insufficient physical activity can further reduce the body’s ability to utilize iron. For vegetarians, she recommends increasing moderate exercise to enhance absorption.

Fruits like apples, grapes, and cherries—rich in vitamin C—can also help improve iron absorption.

2. Avoid a High-Fat, High-Sugar, and High-Salt Diet

Cheng notes that foods high in fat, sugar, and salt place a burden on the circulatory system and negatively affect eye health.

High sugar intake raises blood sugar and lipid levels, impairs blood flow, and increases the risk of stroke. Diabetes can also damage small blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery.

A high-fat diet contributes to atherosclerosis, which obstructs heart-driven blood flow and interferes with oxygen delivery.

Eating excess salt damages blood vessel elasticity, raises blood pressure, and strains the kidneys—further destabilizing circulation.

Therefore, Cheng recommends maintaining a light and balanced diet to promote healthy circulation and support internal organs and vision.

Caring for your eyes is a long-term commitment that begins with small, daily lifestyle changes. There’s no better time to start than today!