When you’re having trouble falling asleep, you might wish you had an on/off switch for your body. One minute you’re awake — worrying, scrolling, tossing, turning — and the next you’re out like a light. Wouldn’t that be nice?
While it sounds too good to be true, there does exist a pressure point on your inner wrist that functions a lot like a magical sleep button. If you massage the area, you should start to feel drowsy, and many experts say it’’s like a first-class ticket to sleep town.
On TikTok, creator and doctor @thepsychdoctormd talked about this pressure point, noting that it has helped her feel sleepy. As she tried it on camera, her eyelids started to get heavy and you could see her body relax. In her comments, one person said, “I’ve tried it two nights in a row now. I feel asleep faster and stayed asleep longer.” Another wrote, “It’s 1:30am, thank you. Imma try.”
In another video, @ninaacupuncture said massaging this area quiets a busy brain. It’s something you can add to your bedtime routine or use when you’re mind is racing with thoughts of work, dating problems — and life in general. Here’s what to know about this pressure point, and how to use it.
The Sleep Pressure Point
According to Dr. Irina Logman, DACM, a doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, this sleep trick utilizes the powers of acupressure to set your body and mind at ease. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you have pressure point regions throughout your body that, when massaged, send a signal to the brain through the peripheral nervous system.
“When you press or stimulate one of these points, it triggers a biochemical reaction that releases specific neurotransmitters, helping shift the body’s state,” she tells Bustle. “That’s why working on one area can have an effect in a completely different area.” Rubbing a pressure point near your thumb, for example, can relieve a headache.
The wrist pressure point mentioned on TikTok, called the called the Heart 7 (HT7), is connected to the heart and lung channels in your body, which are often associated with anxiety. Think racing heart, shortness of breath, etc. When you rub your wrist in just the right way, it can help calm your nervous system, soothe your mind — and help you fall asleep.
“When you stimulate this point, it sends a signal through the nervous system to the brain, helping shift the body out of stress mode and into a more relaxed, parasympathetic state that’s needed for sleep,” Logman says. “It can also trigger the release of neurotransmitters that help calm the body. By creating enough sensation at that point, you’re helping the system slow down.”
This pressure point is science-backed, too. It’s been used in TCM for centuries and has also been shown in studies, like a 2025 peer-reviewed meta-analysis, to be an effective, non-invasive way to improve sleep. “Overall, this is a low-risk practice that can be safely incorporated into a nightly routine for most people,” she says.
How To Find The Spot
To find the HT7 pressure point on your wrist, turn your hand so the palm is facing you and locate your wrist crease. It’ll look like a little valley or soft spot between your tendons about an inch down from your wrist joint.
“From there, move to the pinky-finger side of the wrist and feel for a small hollow at the end of the crease,” Logman says. “The spot just beneath the pinky side of the inner wrist is Heart 7.”
Apply steady, firm pressure to the area or massage in little circles. Keep going for a few minutes until the area feels slightly tender, which is a sign that it’s working. Hopefully your eyelids will get heavy.
When To Try It
You can massage the HT7 pressure point before bed, whenever you’re struggling to sleep, and/or if you wake up in the middle of the night. Instead of panicking that it’s almost morning, take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and rub your wrist.
Logman recommends doing this massage every night. “It’s not meant to be a one-time fix,” she says. “It works best when used consistently, allowing the body to gradually shift into a more balanced, regulated state. Think of it as something that becomes more effective with regular practice.”
You can also add in other acupressure points, like the “Yin Tang” spot between your eyebrows and the Anmian spot just behind your ears. “Ideally, using multiple points together creates a more comprehensive effect, helping to regulate the nervous system and support deeper, more sustained sleep,” she says.
To really set the scene, get comfy in bed, make sure your room is cool and dark, and spritz some lavender spray. You’ll be out like a light.
Studies referenced:
Ling, W. (2025.) Effectiveness of Acupressure on Sleep Quality Among Inpatients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nurs Health Sci. doi: 10.1111/nhs.70075.
Source:
Dr. Irina Logman, DACM, doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, founder of Advanced Holistic Center
