How to Get Rid of a Cold Fast With Chinese Reflexology: Part 4

It’s rather ironic that the day I finish writing this series of posts on how to get rid of a cold fast, the weather has gone from dreary, rainy and windy to brilliant sunshine and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  No worries though, it’s dropping 20 degrees again in two days, so I’m sure someone will come down with a cold.

Note: that was a joke.  I write as straight-faced as I deliver some of these lines in person. It’s gotten me into trouble before, but that’s a whole other story.

Chinese Reflexology Point #4: Throat
throat reflexology point, acupressure for sore throat, Chinese Reflexology throat point
I’d like to introduce you to another reflexology point for a sore throat. Similar to how you combine vitamins to strengthen their effectiveness, massaging the throat reflex point in addition to the tonsil/throat point really helps turbocharge the clearing of energy in the throat, neck, and cervical (fancy way to say “neck”) lymph nodes.  In other words, get rid of a sore throat faster.

The throat point is very easy to locate.  It’s right at the tip of the webbing between your big toe and the second toe.  Use the knuckle of your index finger to massage this point with a digging and twisting motion.  Remember the doorknob jiggling metaphor in Part 3 of this article?

To truly experience this point in its full glory, use your other hand to gently hold the two toes together while you rub this point.  Massage for about 20 seconds.

Chinese Reflexology Point #5: Lymph Drainage

Here’s the last reflexology point that can help you get rid of a cold faster.  It’s the lymph drainage point for your armpits.  When your pits are sweaty, your body is actually cleaning house.

The lymphatic system is the overlooked and underappreciated worker in your body.  While your heart and blood vessels are grabbing the limelight, the lymphatic system is diligently transporting white blood cells throughout your body and clearing out waste materials.


Your heart pumps the blood through your circulatory system, but the only way lymph fluid gets moved around is when YOU move around.  It’s no wonder that most people find this reflexology point is very painful with even the slightest pressure.

Case in point.  How long have you been sitting here in front of your computer without moving?  Massaging this point will give your lymphatic system a great energy boost and writhing in pain will also help move lymph fluid through your body.

This reflexology point is located in the webbing between the bones of your big toe and second toe.  To massage this point, use the knuckle of your index finger.  Press as hard as you can tolerate from the base of your toes towards the point of the V that’s formed where the bones meet.

Lift up your knuckle and place it back at the base of your toes and stroke downwards again.  Repeat for 30 strokes.

A Final Note

When you start feeling better, you’ll be tempted to quit since the massage is rather uncomfortable.  Also, you’ll feel so good, that you’ll stop babying yourself and want to jump right back into things at full force.  I mention this because I’ve been guilty of this myself.

Guess what happens when you slack off and push yourself?  Your cold comes back.  I felt awesome, then stopped reflexing, stayed up past midnight a few nights, ate takeout pizza for dinner and then started to feel sick again.  I immediately began rubbing my feet again and made sure to keep at it for a few days.  The cold was gone for good this time.

Everybody’s body is different so I can’t guarantee what results you’ll see.  I’d love to hear your comments and feedback.  And if you find this post has helped you get over a cold, please share it with a friend.  Thank you.

Chinese Reflexology Points to Get Rid of a Cold Fast – Go to page: 12 | 3 | 4


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20 thoughts on “How to Get Rid of a Cold Fast With Chinese Reflexology: Part 4”

  1. Hello!
    I’m a little baffled, if I’m doing something wrong with your reflexology instructions…let me explain. 🙂
    On Monday, around mid-way, I began to feel a tickle in my throat. I thought it would go away, but come Tuesday morning, it was still there. Over Tuesday, it progressed to a swollen-like painful ride-sided throat, particularly when I swallowed. All scratchy, itchy and argh.
    Tuesday night, I stumbled across your website. I did 2 rounds of your reflexology. Once on my feet, twice on my hands. Aside from the pained throat, my nose, head, ears, phlegmy-ness seemed to clear. I thought it was the start of a miracle.
    Wednesday – Sore throat continues, with burts of coughs, due to phlegm tickles. I did one foot reflexology round, and a total of 5 hands rounds.
    Thursday – Sore throat was gone. Tickles were occasional. Nose and head clear kind of. Thursday around 6pm in the evening though, phlegm tickles hit me, coughs increased because every tickle needed a cough. Did one foot round, 6 hand reflexology rounds. I use a pencil tip to massage the points, and my hands are beginning to feel sore now, ha.
    Did not sleep well at all. Phlegm seems no longer watery but gluey. And stuck.
    Friday…phlegm stuck in throat/or upper respiratory maybe. Tickle coughs galore. Nose occasionally beginning to drip. Have so far done one round of reflexology on hand.

    I don’t understand what’s happening.
    Whats the difference between a bacterial infection cold and a virus, and can reflexology help both?
    I’ve also been noticing, that every time I get a cold, my heart rate elevates to around 100 instead of its usual 70. Is this normal? Can reflexology bring it down?

    I’m taking zinc, ginger root pieces, cinnamon, will be looking fo thyme tea shortly. I don’t want the phlegm to go lower into my lungs, or keep me up all night.

    I look forward to your reply. Thanks,

    from a 31yr old Aussie believer in reflexology, 😀

    Alicja

  2. HI Alicja,

    I admire your dedication to following a reflexology routine for your cold.
    In Traditional Chinese Reflexology, the points on the feet are considered to be the “headquarters” for harmonizing energy in the body and therefore, the most powerful. I advise people to practice the foot routine 4 times a day until they start to feel better, and then keep doing it for at least 2 more days, before tapering off. In my experience, the cold comes back if you stop the routine too early.

    Also, I’ve found if you’re in full blown cold mode, you still have to suffer through it, but it does pass through much faster than usual. Sorry, no way around that. I wish there was!

    I’ve heard of hand reflexology, but don’t know too much about it. Sounds intriguing.

    Thank you for the question about bacteria vs. virus. You bring up a good point. A cold is caused by a virus, but your question did bring to mind an important point that one of my TCM professors taught me.

    Clear phlegm is indicative of superficial cold that hadn’t penetrated your interior defenses, whereas yellow phlegm would be a sign of a more serious infection in the lungs. I’ve seen my colds run the gamut from white to yellow, so I’d say keep an eye out and take extra precautions if your phlegm does turn yellow.

    The great thing about Chinese foot reflexology is that it balances the body’s energy to help your body heal itself, so it’s not necessary to diagnose in the traditional Western sense. Whatever your feet tell you, is where the energy imbalance is.

    I haven’t heard of people experiencing elevated heart rates with a cold. While holistic and alternative medicine are incredibly powerful, I’d recommend checking in about your heart rate with a regular doctor.

    I’ve been guilty of staunchly sticking to natural healing methods when sometimes the doctor really does know best :).

    I hope you’re feeling better soon. Take care of yourself as changing seasons are when our bodies need extra pampering to stay healthy.

    Cheers,
    Holly

  3. Thank you I had been annoyingly dealing with the runny nose for two days and needed a break I got one. It did not hurt though. I’ll tell you what did hurt though. OMG you are not kidding the the throat points were about killing me I dont think I could do it for 30 seconds and I tried. The good nes is my throat does not hurt anymore but the last three points are a doozy. I guess if the first two had hurt I would never have made it to the third. Thank you though. I am feeling better.

    1. lol! You’re very welcome! Yes, those points can hurt like heck, but they work :). Thanks for sharing and I wish you a speedy recovery and a very Happy New Year.

  4. I have arthritis in my legs and cannot reach my right foot. I can do my left foot. what can I do to get results with Chinese Reflexology? where can I find the points in my hands and other place on my body? I really need this info thanks.

  5. Hi there,
    Just wanted to say that I love your post about getting rid of a cold. I started the techniques last night, did a round this morning as I woke up to try to nip a cold that’s just starting. I feel energized even right after massaging the specific points on the feet. Your post is very clear and helpful to know the right technique. Love the door knob jiggle ! I will keep doing this 4x a day until all symptoms disappear. Thanks again!

    1. Yes, use light pressure for an infant (like sliding a dime across the table) and stronger pressure for preschoolers (like washing off marker from their hands).

  6. “Simply fill out the form below and you will also receive Chinese Reflexology foot charts, free mini lessons and my complimentary monthly newsletter. It’s a fun way to learn self-healing tips and techniques for the body, mind and spirit.”

    where is the form to fill out? (Is this the form?) I would like to receive this information!

    1. There’s a sign-up box under “Want a Quick Reference Cheat Sheet showing you how to locate and massage the Key Chinese Reflexology Points for a Cold?”. Yeah, it’s a bit hard to find with the comment box on the page too. Thanks for your question.

    2. Note: If your web browser is running ad-blocker software, then you won’t see the form. Tell the ad-blocker to trust this site in order to access the form.

  7. Very impressive. Usually I’m rather skeptical of holistic/Alt. Medicine but this actually works quite well!

  8. Hi Holly,
    I have a horrible head cold that, this being 2022, might potentially be covid, but I felt so grotty I tried your routine and wow did the top of my big toe hurt to match my blocked sinuses!
    The throat/tonsil points and lymph drainage hurt too, though not as much.
    Just finished and am now breathing properly for the first time in hours, and feeling much better, thank you!

    Thank you for posting this years ago (some comments are 10 years old!) and leaving it up for me to find now, so many years later, when I really needed it!
    Sniffly greetings from Paris, France
    Ana

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