Therapeutic techniques include methods such as tuina (推拿), massage (按摩), and acupressure (点穴). The so-called techniques of pushing (推筋), grabbing (拿肉), pressing (按骨), and rubbing (摩皮) are commonly referred to together as tuina and massage, while acupressure stands as a unique practice. This article provides a detailed introduction to various tuina and acupressure techniques; understanding this content will make acupuncture and herbal medicine merely supplementary.
1. General Tuina
(1) Tuina Principles
Touch, support, lift, connect, and push; tuina and massage harmonize qi and blood.
The eight fundamental techniques have been passed down through the ages, with numerous variations in the two main techniques.
Rubbing, pinching, twisting, and kneading can relieve pain; pressing, tapping, and shaking can invigorate the spirit.
To tonify deficiency and drain excess, one must remember the principles; internal injuries and external pathogens can also be treated.
Techniques should be adapted to the individual, with gentle force, precise movements, and a focus on key areas, treating both near and far, from light to heavy, and from superficial to deep. The key lies in the combination of light and heavy (i.e., tonification and draining), balancing hardness and softness, avoiding superficiality without depth, and ensuring that the technique is applied externally while the force is directed internally, with quick application and retraction of force. When applying heavy techniques, one must be unexpected and precise.
These include eight fundamental techniques: touch, support, lift, push, grab, press, rub, and massage, along with fourteen subsidiary techniques: rubbing, pinching, twisting, kneading, pressing, pinching, pounding, tapping, shaking, rotating, and pulling.
(2) Basic Skill Practice Principles:
Tuina practice should be done at dawn and dusk, with careful attention to grabbing, twisting, and supporting.
Grabbing and pinching are similar techniques; supporting resembles pressing, and the methods for pushing limbs differ from general pushing.
Rubbing should be divided into three steps; the technique of pushing should be practiced with the palm, while pounding can be practiced on the knee.
Key practices include touching, grabbing, supporting, and rubbing. Touching should be practiced in the morning and evening, grabbing and pinching are similar, supporting and pressing are similar, and the methods for pushing limbs differ from general pushing. Rubbing should be practiced in three steps: single finger, multiple fingers, and palm root. Pushing and shaking should be practiced with the palm, while pounding and slapping can be practiced on the knee.
Tuina treatment must be tailored to the individual and the condition, requiring gentle techniques, abundant internal strength, accurate movements, and a focus on key areas, treating both near and far, from light to heavy, and from superficial to deep. The essence lies in the combination of light and heavy (i.e., tonification and draining), balancing hardness and softness, avoiding superficiality without depth, and ensuring that the technique is applied externally while the force is directed internally, with quick application and retraction of force. When applying heavy techniques, one must be unexpected and precise.
2. Injury Tuina
As the ancient saying goes: “Injuries, injuries, rely heavily on tuina.” In the past, practitioners of injury medicine were called injury doctors, highlighting the importance of therapeutic techniques in injury treatment. Injury tuina includes the eight methods of bone setting, the eight methods of joint reduction, and the eight methods of muscle adjustment.
(1) Eight Methods of Bone Setting
Bone setting refers to the reduction of visibly displaced fractures. The techniques should be stable, precise, and appropriate, requiring a focused mind and a forceful grip. The techniques include:
1. Support Method (把托法): This is a preparatory technique for reducing fractures, commonly used for limb fractures. The specific operation involves an assistant supporting the proximal end of the fracture, generally with the left hand under the injured limb and the right hand above it, both hands working together to stabilize the proximal end of the injured limb.
2. Grabbing and Pinching Method (拿掐法): This is the fundamental technique for reducing fractures. The force point of the grabbing method is in the fingers, often used for robust bones such as the femur and humerus. The force point of the pinching method is also in the fingers, commonly used for small superficial bones, such as the metacarpals and phalanges.
3. Pushing and Pressing Method (推按法): Used for repairing after fracture reduction. It further corrects any remaining angular deformities or displacements to ensure proper alignment. The pushing method involves lateral and anterior-posterior force, while the pressing method involves downward force. When using this technique, one must support the opposite side of the injured limb with the hand to avoid excessive repositioning that could cause new fractures.
4. Continuation Method (续接法): This includes many small actions, such as pulling, grabbing, pressing, and squeezing. The goal is to connect the fracture ends from various positions, allowing the broken to reconnect and the shattered to be restored.
(2) Eight Methods of Joint Reduction
Joint reduction, also known as repositioning, refers to the techniques used to treat dislocated joints. Joint reduction often involves treating the muscles, as the saying goes, “When bones are misaligned, the muscles are displaced.” Particularly in cases of chronic joint dislocation, one must first overcome the resistance caused by muscle contraction to successfully apply the eight methods of joint reduction, allowing the dislocated joint to be properly repositioned. The techniques include:
1. End and Lift Method (端提法): When reducing a dislocated joint, the end and lift methods are often used simultaneously, with a certain continuity. Generally speaking, after a joint dislocation, the joint head is often fixed in an abnormal position by the muscles and cannot be directly pushed into the joint capsule. During reduction, one must first pull in the direction of the deformity to overcome the surrounding tissue’s contraction force, allowing the joint head to be released, making repositioning possible. This method of releasing the joint head from the deformed position is called the end and lift method.
2. Pressing Method (捺正法): When a joint is dislocated, the joint head can displace to any abnormal position. Some repositioning methods primarily rely on the pressing method. For example, the posterior dislocation of the third lumbar vertebra can be repositioned using the pulling and stretching technique, relying on the pressing method.
3. Flexing and Extending Method (屈挺法): This method is often used for incomplete dislocations or as part of the reduction process for dislocated joints. The operation involves the practitioner performing passive flexion and extension movements of the joint, allowing the joint head to gradually enter the joint cavity. For example, after an elbow dislocation, one can perform pulling and stretching, then flex the elbow joint, and finally extend it, allowing the ulnar head to gradually enter the joint cavity, thus achieving correct reduction of the elbow dislocation.
4. Hooking and Pinching Method (扣捏法): The hooking method can be performed with one hand (single hook) or two hands (double hook). The former is completed with one hand, while the latter is completed with both hands. For example, when reducing a subluxation of the radial head, the practitioner hooks the back side of the elbow joint with one hand, placing the thumb on the radial head, while the other hand holds the distal end of the forearm, flexing and extending the elbow joint to reduce the subluxation of the radial head, which is the single hook method. The pinching method is often used for slight misalignments of bones remaining after joint reduction (also known as bone misalignment). After joint reduction, there is often residual bone misalignment; the practitioner then uses the pinching method to ensure that the joint head and the inner and outer sides of the joint cavity are completely realigned, allowing for full restoration of joint function. For example, after wrist joint reduction, if function is not fully restored, it is often due to residual misalignment, and the practitioner uses the pinching method to realign the residual misalignment of the dislocated joint, thus allowing for complete restoration of function.
(3) Eight Methods of Muscle Adjustment
Muscle adjustment is used for conditions such as strong muscles, crooked muscles, flipped muscles, muscle spasms, and muscle dislocation. It can promote circulation, harmonize qi and blood, and open the meridians. The techniques include:
1. Pulling and Pressing Method (拔戳法): The pulling method involves performing relative traction on the injured limb. For example, after a knee joint injury, the joint cavity narrows; the assistant stabilizes the lower segment of the femur, while the practitioner uses both hands to grip the distal end of the calf to perform pulling and stretching, restoring the normal joint cavity space. The pressing method, in contrast, involves applying pressure. For example, after a lumbar vertebra compression injury, the intervertebral space narrows; the practitioner stacks both palms and presses on the injured lumbar vertebra to restore the intervertebral space.
2. Twisting and Dispelling Method (捻散法): The twisting method involves using fingers or palms to perform even, gentle movements at the treatment site. If the rubbing method is from a small area to a larger area, it is also called the dispersing method.
3. Smoothing Method (捋顺法): The term “smoothing” itself means to follow the direction. This technique is often used for limbs, moving from the proximal end of the injured limb to the distal end, following the meridian direction, with the practitioner’s palm closely adhering to the skin of the injured limb, using the palm to perform the operation.
4. Returning Method (归合法): The returning method involves the practitioner’s palms being closely pressed against the injured limb, with palms facing each other, applying force while slightly lifting, and sliding the palms along the skin of the injured limb, creating a motion of the palms coming together. For example, for a crush fracture of a limb, the returning method is particularly effective for reduction.
3. River Route Tuina
River route tuina is an effective set of full-body massage techniques for treating meridian blockages. It can be applied not only to injury-related diseases but also to conditions such as heat stroke, collapse, and even severe shock, showing significant efficacy. The principles are as follows:
River route tuina principles:
One push at the heavenly court to observe the floating clouds,
Two pushes at the sun to lift the ear muscles.
Three pushes at the back of the brain to drop the phoenix slope,
Four pushes at the mountain root to enter the pearl corner.
(The river route starts at the Yintang point, moving upwards and backwards to the occiput; laterally through the eyebrows to the Taiyang and Taiyin points, along the back of the ear to the earlobe, then down to the bridge of the nose, and laterally through the lower eye socket to the outer canthus.)
One grab at the dragon’s throat and jaw muscles,
Two grabs at the throat edge and neck muscles.
Three grabs at the back of the neck’s total muscle,
Four grabs at the mouth’s fish muscle.
(The jaw muscle is located above the angle of the jaw. The throat edge muscle is located below the angle of the jaw. The total neck muscle is located below the two Fengchi points.)
One push at both shoulders to connect the muscles,
Upper mother and lower public hand to hook the muscles.
Three pushes at both shoulders to align the shoulder muscles,
Four pushes at the platform to connect the smoke and fire.
(The connecting muscle is located at the base of the neck, the hand hook muscle is at the shoulder base, and the shoulder muscle is on the outer side of the shoulder, while the platform is located at the chest.)
One grab at the chest’s back muscle,
Two grabs at both arms to protect the chest muscle.
Three grabs at the hanging arm to open the qi gate,
Four grabs at the back of the phoenix wing muscle.
(The back muscle is on the outer side of the breast, the protective chest muscle is in front of the armpit, the hanging arm muscle is inside the armpit, and the phoenix wing muscle is on the scapula.)
One push at the arrow goose to connect the qi,
Two pushes at the hanging arm to open the qi gate.
Three pushes at the phoenix tail to connect the lower qi,
Four pushes at the waist to smooth the qi.
(The practitioner uses the thenar technique from the throat down to the xiphoid process, then splits into two routes to the rib diaphragm angle; another route goes from the armpit down to the rib diaphragm angle; the third route goes from the back of the neck straight down to the tailbone; the rib diaphragm angle is smoothed towards the knee joint.)
One grab at both elbows to bend the bow muscle,
Two grabs at the swallow qi to connect the three muscles.
Three grabs at the tiger’s mouth and dragon’s claw muscle,
Four grabs at the ten fingers to connect the liver meridian.
(The bending bow muscle is at the elbow, the swallow qi point is at the armpit, and the dragon’s claw muscle is at the hand.)
One push at the hanging hip to connect the gallbladder palace,
Two pushes at the chest to open the stomach qi gate.
Three pushes at the gallbladder palace to connect the four routes,
Four pushes at the thigh to connect the beam muscle.
One grab at the belly corner to connect the kidney muscle,
Two grabs at the total muscle to open the qi sea.
Three grabs at the leg side to connect the pipa muscle,
Four grabs at the sitting horse muscle.
4. Twenty-Four Qi Tuina
The twenty-four qi tuina, also known as the twenty-four methods of returning yang, is commonly used in folk martial medicine. The so-called twenty-four qi refers to the twenty-four parts of the human body, which serve as switches for communicating qi and blood, thus referred to as the twenty-four qi. It can be used for the treatment of both new and old injuries, particularly widely applied in injury-related diseases, and can also be used for reviving yang and rescuing the reverse, showing significant effects in conditions such as closed syndrome, heat syndrome, pain syndrome, and even severe shock, thus also known as the twenty-four methods of returning yang.
The distribution of the twenty-four qi is as follows:
1. Heavenly Gate: Located between the two eyebrows on the forehead (Yintang point), during tuina, men push left and women push right towards the Taiyin and Taiyang points.
2. Muscle Lock: Located on both sides of the neck, the front muscle lock is at the midpoint between the clavicle and neck, while the back muscle lock is one inch below the mastoid process towards the neck.
3. Heart Muscle: Located below the earlobe at the midpoint of the neck.
4. Well Fence: Located at the shoulder well points on both sides and their adjacent areas, three pushes.
5. Great Achievement: Located on both sides of the chest, from the front armpit to the side of the breast, four finger widths.
6. Back Achievement: Located on both sides of the back line to the outer edge of the scapula, four finger widths.
7. Platform: Located between the clavicle and above the two mammary glands.
8. Returning Soul: Located parallel to the heart at the back of the arm, four finger widths.
9. Elbow Joint: Located at the lower end of the elbow joint, near the forearm.
10. Pulse Muscle: Located at the wrist joint, at the three adjacent points of the inch, guan, and chi.
11. Three Gates Tiger Mouth: The shoulder, elbow, and wrist are the three gates, and the He Gu point is the tiger mouth.
12. Sunlight: Located at the upper arm of both hands.
13. Five Fu (left five fu, right five fu, duan five fu, sitting five fu, you five fu): Located at the abdominal Shen Que point and its upper, lower, left, and right four inches.
14. Back (Heart) Muscle: Located between the two sides of the back, between the Da Zhu point and the Ge Shu point.
15. Belly Corner: The two thumbs are parallel from the Shen Que point to the belly corner, pushing the eight layers of muscles on both sides, divided into upper and lower, called the “eight layers of belly corner.”
16. Upper Horse: Located at the outer side of the groin, four finger widths.
17. Lower Horse: Located at the inner side of the groin, four finger widths.
18. Leg Peak: Located at the front side of the thigh, four finger widths.
19. Liao Zhan: Located at the back side of the thigh, four finger widths from the knee upwards.
20. Bend (divided into inner bend and outer bend): At a 90-degree angle of the knee joint, located at the sides of the thigh, four finger widths, one on each side.
21. Bend Bend: At a 90-degree angle of the knee joint, located at the sides of the lower limbs, four finger widths, one on each side.
22. Lower Liao Zhan: Located at the inner and outer sides of the calf.
23. Shoelace: Located at the ankle joint (where the shoelace is tied), at the line of the skin.
24. Golden Hook: Located at the heel tendon, with the foot flat and straight during tuina.
The principles of the twenty-four qi tuina are as follows:
One push at the heavenly gate to stabilize the heart, allowing the five fu and six organs to communicate;
Two pushes at the muscle lock to differentiate yin and yang, with urgent pushing for emergency health;
Three pushes at the heart muscle to open the gate, allowing the golden autumn to fall into the well;
Four pushes at the well fence to master the technique, with left blood and right qi being crucial;
Five pushes at the great achievement and qi gate, with the back tight and the great achievement being divine;
Six pushes at the back achievement to tighten the heart, with the eight trigrams needing clarity;
Seven pushes at the platform to ensure qi does not stop, with caution against cough and labor injuries;
Eight pushes at the returning soul on both sides, allowing for immediate recovery from blood loss;
Nine pushes at the elbow joint to connect the qi, with the middle finger being the arrow for effective use;
Ten pushes at the pulse muscle to connect the inch and chi, with both hands injured and turning to push the plate;
Eleven pushes at the three gates tiger mouth to open, with the middle finger being the arrow for effective use;
Twelve pushes at the commanding good recovery, with the collection returning to full standing;
Thirteen pushes at the five fu to restore, with the closed gate opening for emergency recovery;
Fourteen pushes at the back heart to open the invitation, with the turning of the sun and the needle for labor;
Fifteen pushes at the belly corner with eight layers, for abdominal pain, vomiting, and restoring the five fu;
Sixteen pushes at the upper horse to reach the pelvic string, with the belly corner and dantian returning to life;
Seventeen pushes at the lower horse for diarrhea and urinary symptoms, with blood in the urine for emergency recovery;
Eighteen pushes at the leg peak to connect the kidney, with the bladder sitting horse determining the universe;
Nineteen pushes at the liao zhan for many hands, with old injuries and urgent pain self-soothing;
Twenty pushes at the bend for reverse hexagrams, with the pushing method being a miraculous skill;
Twenty-one pushes at the bend bend, with the organs activating blood at this point;
Twenty-two pushes at the lower liao zhan, with the outer three miles determining the end;
Twenty-three pushes at the shoelace point, with the old dragon releasing the needle for urgent recovery;
Twenty-four pushes at the hook to clear, with the whole body pushing and moving to restore life.
5. Flicking and Grabbing
Flicking and grabbing, also known as unlocking or pulling tendons, involves the practitioner using the thumb and index and middle fingers to grasp certain tendons of the patient, lifting them, and then suddenly releasing the fingers, allowing the tendons to return to their original position. This is a strong stimulation emergency technique, commonly used in clinical practice for treating sudden fainting due to injuries, such as loss of consciousness, clenched hands, and tight jaws, as well as for certain syndromes (such as heat stroke, fainting, etc.) and asphyxia (hanging) treatment, with miraculous effects. In folk medicine, the neck tendons, armpit tendons, waist tendons, and groin tendons are referred to as the eight locks, hence the term unlocking. The master said: “Flicking and grabbing, as well as the twenty-four methods of returning yang, are repeatedly used and verified, truly the essence of techniques!”
The specific operations are as follows:
1. Neck Tendon, also known as the Green Dragon Lock, is located at the junction of the neck and shoulder, with one on each side. It is also referred to as the “well lock” or shoulder tendon. The unlocking method: the patient can sit or lie down, and the practitioner stands facing the patient or stands behind. The operation uses the butterfly technique, with four fingers slightly bent and brought together, opposing the thumb, using the outer edge of the first and second phalanges of the index finger against the outer edge of the thumb to pinch the trapezius muscle of the shoulder tendon, twisting according to the patient’s tolerance.
2. Armpit Tendon, also known as the Returning Soul Lock, has one on each side. It is located in the armpit, with front, middle, and back gates. The front is the anterior wall muscle of the armpit, the middle is where the armpit meets the arm, and the back is the posterior wall muscle of the armpit. The front is the total tendon, the middle is the numb tendon (grabbing this tendon causes numbness in the arm), and the back is the back tendon. When unlocking the returning soul lock, the practitioner stands sideways to the patient, holding the patient’s forearm to position the arm in an abducted posture, while the other hand uses the butterfly technique to unlock the front, back, and middle of the armpit, first grabbing the total tendon, then the back tendon, and finally the numb tendon. The saying goes: “The returning soul lock has locks within locks; unlocking one lock alone is ineffective,” meaning that all three gates of the returning soul lock must be opened in sequence for it to be effective; opening just one gate will not work. Particularly, the middle lock (the numb tendon) must be accurately opened, and it must cause the patient to feel numbness in the arm for it to be effective; otherwise, this lock remains closed.
3. Waist (Abdominal) Tendon, also known as the Purple Gold Lock, has one on each side. It is located below the navel, in the lower segment of the rectus abdominis, between the outer ridge of the stomach meridian and the Daju point. In folk medicine, this lock is referred to as the hanging tendon. Unlocking the purple gold lock requires someone to assist the patient in relaxing the abdominal muscles. The practitioner faces the patient, with one hand supporting the patient’s lower back, while the other hand brings the four fingers together and slightly bent, using the side of the index finger to lift upwards, while the thumb and index fingers (the thumb’s textured surface and the side of the index finger) simultaneously grasp the hanging tendon, twisting and opening it according to the qi flow.
4. Groin (Leg) Tendon, also known as the White Tiger Lock, has one on each side. It is located at the root of the thigh, three inches below the inner side of the groin, divided into front, middle, and back gates. The middle tendon is the main lock, the front lock is one inch in front of the middle lock, and the back lock is one inch behind the middle lock. When unlocking the white tiger lock, the patient can sit or lie down. The practitioner faces the patient, holding the patient’s lower leg or the popliteal fossa, positioning the thigh in an abducted posture, while the other hand uses the butterfly technique to successively grasp the muscle tissue belonging to the three gates, applying the technique accordingly. The white tiger lock, like the returning soul lock, has locks within locks, and there are front, middle, and back gates that must be opened in sequence, starting with the middle lock (the main tendon), followed by the front and back locks.
When unlocking the eight locks, the force should be applied gradually, starting from light to heavy, without sudden force, and the movements should be gentle. As long as there is sufficient finger strength, the appropriate force can achieve the therapeutic goal through momentary pressure.
In addition to the above nine locks, there are other areas that can be flicked and grabbed, such as the back of the neck and the heel area.
6. Acupressure
The acupressure referred to here is the acupressure performed by medical practitioners, not the acupressure used by martial artists. Medical acupressure uses fingers instead of needles, applied to specific areas of the patient to produce a certain therapeutic effect, and is a form of finger acupuncture. Its principles are similar to acupuncture, with selected acupoints including body acupoints (i.e., the fourteen meridian points), hand points, foot points, ear points, Dong’s special points, and pediatric tuina points, among others.
Eight Methods of Acupressure:
1. Point: To point and point again is called pointing, like a sparrow pecking.
2. Press: To point without moving is called pressing, with force penetrating the acupoint.
3. Rub: To point and rotate is called rubbing, applying tonification and draining.
4. Pinch: To cut with the claw is called pinching, for emergency treatment.
5. Push: To follow the meridian is called pushing, for the purpose of unblocking.
6. Flick: To point and flick is called flicking, used on the muscles.
7. Pinch: To lift the skin is called pinching, used on the spine.
8. Rubbing: To rub the skin with fingers is called rubbing, commonly used for children.
Acupressure emphasizes the technique; if the technique is exquisite, the effect will be good. The saying goes, “Acupressure is not difficult in selecting acupoints, but difficult in technique,” which conveys this meaning. Regarding the way of acupressure, I personally believe that Mr. Wang Yaru’s book “Acupressure on the Viscera” is the most detailed, and everyone can refer to it.
Appendix: Overview of Martial Arts Acupressure
The acupressure in martial arts differs from that in medical practice, primarily focusing on its injurious effects, emphasizing timing and precision in striking acupoints to achieve lethal effects. The acupoints referred to are also different from traditional meridian points, being specific important areas of the human body. The practice of acupressure has historically been a secret passed down through various schools, taught orally and transcribed. The distribution of acupoints, timing, and flow varies among different schools, making it difficult to trace back to Wudang or Shaolin. (For detailed understanding, please refer to previous articles from this public account.) In summary, the human body has thirty-six major acupoints, distributed as follows:
1. Tian Ding Point
Location: Center of the top of the head.
Meridian: Governing Vessel, also associated with the Bladder and Liver meridians.
Effect: Causes dizziness, loss of consciousness.
2. Tai Yang Point
Location: Between the brow and the outer corner of the eye, about one inch back.
Meridian: Special point.
Effect: Mild effects include dizziness, blackouts, and tinnitus; severe effects can lead to bleeding from the eyes and loss of consciousness.
3. Hornet Ear Point
Location: At the ear gate.
Meridian: Sanjiao Meridian, also associated with the Gallbladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes tinnitus and dizziness, leading to loss of consciousness.
4. Frame Beam Point
Location: At the center of the nasal bridge, between the brow and the tip of the nose.
Meridian: Governing Vessel.
Effect: Causes qi to reverse, blood to surge, leading to severe bleeding.
5. Opposite Mouth Point
Location: In the depression at the back of the neck, five fen into the hairline.
Meridian: Governing Vessel.
Effect: Impacts the medulla oblongata, causing loss of speech, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
6. Wind Pool Point
Location: In the depression just below the occipital bone, between the mastoid process and the trapezius muscle.
Meridian: Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the medulla oblongata, causing dizziness and loss of consciousness.
7. Divine Court Point
Location: At the front of the head, five fen into the hairline.
Meridian: Governing Vessel, meeting point of the Governing Vessel and Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes dizziness and brain swelling.
8. Eye Bright Point
Location: At the inner canthus of the eye.
Meridian: Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes tearing, dizziness, and fainting.
9. Two Immortals Passing Point (Breast Root)
Location: One inch and six fen below the breast.
Meridian: Stomach Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the heart, leading to shock and potential death.
10. Platform Point
Location: Three ribs above the breast.
Meridian: Stomach Meridian, also meeting with the Spleen Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the intercostal nerves and chest nerves, causing cardiac arrest and shock.
11. Throat Point
Location: At the throat pit.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes qi stagnation and blood stasis, leading to dizziness.
12. Central Canal Point
Location: At the center of the chest, four inches above the navel.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes inability to eat, inability to lift the head, weakness in the limbs, and loss of consciousness.
13. Shoulder Well Point
Location: At the center of the shoulder.
Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes pain and weakness throughout the body.
14. Quiet Bottle Point
Location: Between the two ribs below the breast.
Meridian: Liver Meridian.
Effect: Causes chills and fever, cough, and severe vomiting.
15. Qi Gate Point
Location: At the junction of the second rib on the chest midline.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes chest tightness, qi stagnation, and blood stasis, leading to loss of consciousness.
16. Breast Point
Location: At the center of the nipple.
Meridian: Stomach Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the intercostal nerves and arteries, causing severe bleeding and loss of consciousness.
17. Central Point
Location: At the center of the chest, four inches above the navel.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes internal qi dispersion, anxiety, and confusion.
18. Flat Needle Point
Location: One inch and five fen below the center of the chest, between the two breasts.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes vomiting blood, severe chest pain, and inability to eat or drink.
19. Bladder Point
Location: Four inches below the navel, on the midline.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes severe urinary retention and urgency.
20. Blood Flat Point
Location: One inch and three fen below the navel, four inches to the side.
Meridian: Spleen Meridian.
Effect: Causes mild injuries with qi stagnation and blood stasis, leading to severe pain; severe injuries can lead to bleeding and death.
21. Life Palace Point
Location: Between the tips of the fifth and sixth ribs.
Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes respiratory pain, coughing with blood, and potential tuberculosis.
22. Belly Button Point
Location: At the center of the navel.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the intercostal nerves, causing abdominal pain and swelling.
23. Double Swallow Entering Cave Point (Tian Chi Point)
Location: One inch outside the nipple.
Meridian: Pericardium Meridian.
Effect: Causes severe chest pain, weakness in the limbs, and potential bleeding.
24. Dantian Point
Location: One inch and five fen below the navel.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes qi to rise, leading to weakness and pallor.
25. Belly Corner Point
Location: Four inches and three fen below the navel, four inches to the side.
Meridian: Spleen Meridian.
Effect: Impacts the six fu, commonly seen with qi reversal and persistent vomiting.
26. Hanging Tendon Point
Location: Two inches above the navel, half an inch to the side.
Meridian: Kidney Meridian.
Effect: Causes severe injuries, often leading to hiccups, vomiting, and strabismus, with potential loss of consciousness.
27. Springing Point
Location: At the center of the foot, one-third of the way up.
Meridian: Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
Effect: Causes damage to the dantian qi, preventing qi from rising.
28. Great Abyss Point
Location: At the radial side of the wrist crease.
Meridian: Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.
Effect: Blocks the hundred vessels, causing internal qi injury.
29. Immortal Peach Point
Location: At the testicle area.
Meridian: Part of the Liver Meridian.
Effect: Causes the testicles to retract into the abdomen, leading to loss of consciousness, and severe injuries can be fatal.
30. Copper Pot Drip Point
Location: Five fen below the tailbone.
Meridian: Governing Vessel.
Effect: Commonly seen with severe abdominal pain and incontinence.
31. Phoenix Tail Point
Location: One and a half inches on either side of the eleventh and twelfth vertebrae, at the locations of the Spleen and Stomach points.
Meridian: Bladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes blood and qi stagnation, leading to lower back pain and swelling.
32. Waist Eye Point
Location: In the slight depressions on either side of the waist.
Meridian: Extraordinary points.
Effect: Causes immediate fainting, loss of color, and even laughter.
33. Immortal’s Support Point (Zhe Tendon)
Location: Three inches below the armpit, one inch forward, at the rib area.
Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes blood and qi to surge, leading to confusion and fixed gaze.
34. Pelvic String Point
Location: At the tip of the eleventh rib.
Meridian: Liver Meridian.
Effect: Causes qi to surge upwards, leading to poor appetite and severe abdominal pain.
35. Phoenix Wing Point
Location: Three inches beside the fifth thoracic vertebra.
Meridian: Bladder Meridian.
Effect: Causes widespread pain and weakness, leading to fatigue.
36. Sea Bottom Point
Location: Between the two yin areas.
Meridian: Ren Meridian.
Effect: Causes severe constipation, abdominal distension, and pale complexion.
7. Abdominal Tuina
The abdomen is where the pre-natal and post-natal energies converge, housing the five organs and six bowels, and is the origin of the Ren, Du, and Dai meridians. The liver, spleen, stomach, gallbladder, large intestine, small intestine, kidney, and bladder are all distributed here, with the Ren, Dai, Kidney, Stomach, Spleen, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians converging. Important acupoints such as Zhongwan, Shenque, Guanyuan, Zhongji, and Tianshu are scattered throughout, highlighting its significance. Common abdominal massage techniques include:
1. Dividing Push: Both palms apply force, pushing down the midline of the abdomen from the lower edge of the xiphoid process to below the navel to descend the stomach’s turbidity, or pushing along the left and right rib arches to the lower edges of the rib arches to soothe liver qi. This method can be used for nausea, chest tightness, indigestion, and food stagnation.
2. Circular Rubbing: One hand covers the navel, while the other hand overlaps it, starting from the qi sea point, two horizontal finger widths below the navel, with the palms tightly pressed against the abdominal wall, performing clockwise circular motions centered around the navel, following the directions of the ascending, transverse, and descending colons, rotating from right to left. The diameter gradually increases, presenting a spiral rubbing motion that expands to the entire abdomen. This should be repeated several times. This method can be used for gastrointestinal diseases, abdominal distension, constipation, frequent urination, menstrual irregularities, and insomnia.
3. Pinching and Grabbing: The left hand pinches the area above the navel, while the right hand grabs the area below the navel, both hands applying upward force simultaneously, then gently releasing. This method can help clear qi upwards and descend turbid qi, guiding the original qi to the dantian.
4. Palm Vibration: The palm is placed flat on the abdomen, vibrating up and down with the breath, stimulating the abdomen with fine, high-frequency vibrations, focusing on the treatment area above and below the navel or at the Guanyuan point. This method can warm the kidney meridian, replenish original qi, and prevent and treat dysmenorrhea, menstrual irregularities, nocturnal emissions, and impotence.