If you’re giving oral sex to a partner with a penis, you probably are familiar with the dreaded gag reflex — and the terrible “oh God, am I about to puke in the most mortifying way possible?” intrusive thought that makes you lose your concentration and totally kills the mood at inopportune times.
But what if I told you there was an easy, free and low-risk way to potentially shut off that anxiety and let you get back to the “job”?
It’s not magic; it’s acupressure.
The Acupressure Points To Know For Your Sex Life
I first found out about this trick from a friend of a friend when we were all shooting the shit at a bar one night. This isn’t the most reliable way to get good advice about anything — but stick with me, there are experts who back this up.
After sharing a few awkward horror stories of hookups gone wrong, she assured us all that once you try this little move with your hands, it’ll be a total game changer for giving oral sex. It was as simple as applying pressure above the webbing of your fingers between your thumb and pointer finger.
Maz Roginski, who practices Chinese medicine and acupuncture, explains this pressure point, “the meatiest bit of webbing between the thumb and index finger,” is known as Large Intestine 4 (LI4), also called Hegu.
“The stomach meridian runs through the stomach organ and up the throat to the mouth, so balancing this meridian can calm a gag reflex,” Roginski said. “Both the pericardium and large intestine meridians share a special connection to the stomach, which is why these two points are particularly beneficial.”
But other points can also be an assist with the gag reflex. Both Roginski and Sophie Roos, licensed sexologist and relationship therapist at Passionerad, note that Pericardium 6 (P6 or the Neiugan point) and Conception Vessel 24 (also known as CV 24, Ren 24 or Chengjiang) can also relieve the dreaded gag reflex reaction.
Per Roos: “Stimulating these points can have a relaxing effect on the nervous system, but can also work as a diversion maneuver, which can make, for example, the gag reflex less sensitive, meaning that you won’t gag as easily when giving oral!”
“P6 is on the inside of the wrist, in the space between two tendons, three fingers down from the wrist crease,” Roginski added. “You can use a travel/morning sickness band to stimulate the point if you’d like to keep your hands free. CV24 is in the groove between the chin and lip — great to use if your hands are occupied up near your face anyway.”
There’s also research showing that the area in front of the ears “stimulated with circles and pressure can prevent you from gagging,” Roos said.
“If you want to get the best effect possible, you should stimulate the pressure point during the oral sex, but also for five minutes before the session,” Roos continued. “Also, what points work well for you are very individual, so test stimulating different ones with different pressure until you find what works best for you, and be prepared that none might have any effect at all!”
How This Actually Works
“Acupressure is like using a switch to turn off a light bulb. You don’t go directly to the light bulb and remove it from the fitting every time you want to switch it off — you simply find the switch that works,” Roginski said. “Acupressure is the same. Our whole body is connected via meridians, which are circuitry that connects all aspects of our being. We have 14 main meridians and some share especially close connections and have strong effects on the related organs.”
Now, of course, your mileage may vary depending on a few factors and your own unique body, but it’s pretty low risk to give it a try. Just check in with your doctor and be mindful if you’re pregnant.
“Most acupressure points are generally safe to use regularly — as they are restoring balance to your unique body,” Roginski added. “The exception can be points that are used to induce labor — and LI4 is one of these. For this reason, it is generally avoided in pregnancy. As always, because we are all unique, if you have any specific health concerns, it is best to check in with a practitioner of acupuncture.”
Some Other Sexy Pressure Points To Consider
Asked about the other helpful stimulation points that are slept on in the bedroom, our experts shouted out a few of their favorites: which include the inside of the legs and thighs, the midline of your torso (belly and chest), and the soles of the feet, along with more classic massage spots.
“You can press and massage your inner thigh to increase the blood flow to the genital area, as well as create a warming feeling,” Roos shared. “To massage the neck and the shoulders — pressing gently — is also a good trick to improve your sex life if you’re stressed and are having a hard time to relax and be in the moment.”
Kidney 1 (KD1) on the sole of the foot is also considered “a powerful point to charge up our sexual energy, as are any points on meridians that pass by the genital regions,” Roginski added, noting that “[the CV] meridian also deserves a mention — it governs receiving — so points on the midline of the belly and chest may spark some extra energy.”
“For some people, it works very well and they feel a big difference,” Roos said, “while others feel little or no change at all, so it’s not the solution for everyone.”
