The truly effective massage techniques are those that integrate the strengths of various schools. Only then can they treat diseases effectively! There are five therapeutic techniques in massage, which leads us to the “Falling Organs” method! Nip Skin Technique: primarily treats the lungs; any disease related to the lungs can be treated this way! The Nip Skin Technique is further divided into three types:
Nip Skin Technique involves pinching the skin, which can be quite painful, as the lungs are connected to all the meridians! The main technique is to pinch the back, which is well-known, so we won’t elaborate further. Therefore, any issues arising from the lungs should be treated through the skin, as the lungs govern the skin and hair! Wipe Skin Technique: a very simple and gentle technique that can be used for pediatric tui na. The Wipe Skin Technique can resolve liver ascites within a week! (The Wipe Skin Technique treats the lungs; the liver and large intestine are interconnected, and treating the lungs also treats the large intestine.) Patting Technique: uses a softer wooden paddle. This can refer to the Ge’s Nip Muscle Patting Technique! Meat Technique: focuses on the spleen, which governs the muscles, making it the best treatment for diabetes. Simply knead the flesh, focusing on areas with more flesh. Song Wenxi uses a technique called overlapping palms to knead, starting with the neck and then the back. There was an elderly official with heart and lung disease who had been bedridden in a major hospital for six months. Later, Song Wenxi massaged him, and after a week, the old leader was able to get out of bed. After two weeks, he felt much better… Later, I wanted to visit Master Song but couldn’t find him; I guess the old man took him to the television station! Kneading flesh has shown good results in treating dementia and blood sugar issues. Bone Technique: focuses on the kidneys, which govern the bones. Spinal adjustment techniques can be further refined; the true bone technique is the Separation of Tendons and Bones Technique, which treats the connections between bones and the adhesions that can occur. When kidney function is poor, the lubricant between bones can become problematic, leading to adhesions and pain. A clear example is shoulder periarthritis, which is related to kidney issues. The kidneys govern the bones, and when the fluid between bones becomes adhesive, it leads to pain. The most obvious example is the so-called fifty shoulder. What is a fifty shoulder? It occurs when a person reaches fifty years of age, and their qi and blood begin to decline, leading to insufficient kidney water, which affects the movement between bones… Therefore, when you address bone issues, you are also addressing kidney issues! One of my senior brothers practices the Separation of Tendons and Bones Technique. I refer to this as bone therapy. I treated a patient with wrist pain; tendons are one issue, and bones are another. After five treatments, the effect was still not satisfactory, as the patient still experienced pain at a specific point. The wrist consists of eight bones, and there was an adhesion in one of the joints. I was focusing on the tendons, not considering the bones. That day, my senior brother happened to visit and asked the patient to place their hand on the table. With one technique applied for two seconds, the patient was no longer in pain. My senior brother had torn apart the adhesion. There are eight techniques for the eight bones, which is called “Eight Winds”. Pulse Technique: focuses on the heart, which governs the blood vessels. Many areas are rarely massaged. My massage method involves the edges and grooves, as these are places where wind and impurities are stored! I focus on these areas. My teacher believes that massaging the neck is crucial for cardiovascular diseases, as the heart and brain are connected through the neck. The “Neck Engineering” involves massaging the neck, which is particularly effective for cardiovascular diseases. Massaging the neck does not only involve the back; the atlantoaxial joint may need to be adjusted, but the muscles must first be relaxed. Eighty percent of patients can have their cervical spine adjusted without needing to manipulate the neck. The front of the neck is called the Direct Line Falling Organs Technique; the right side corresponds to the liver, treating liver issues! The left side corresponds to the heart, treating heart issues! The heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys can all be treated through the neck! The treatment scope is very broad! Massaging the neck can treat: 1. Knee pain (due to heart issues causing knee pain). All pain symptoms originate from the heart, so massaging the neck treats pain! The head is the convergence of all yang, so it must be addressed first before addressing other areas, hence the term “Neck Engineering”! 2. The right side corresponds to the liver, which is particularly important for women, so massaging the neck can help regulate gynecological issues! 3. Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts respond well to neck massage. 4. Massaging the neck can regulate the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys (all yang converge here, and hard nodules can be felt, causing pain). 5. Arm pain and digestive blockages can also benefit from neck massage! 6. Eye watering can be alleviated by massaging the neck! A case: An elderly lady came to my teacher for treatment. She did not believe that massage could heal. She had blurred vision and lumbar spondylolisthesis. After a few minutes of massaging the right side of her neck, her vision cleared! This was due to massaging the liver’s direct line falling organs technique, which is divided into three segments, each different. Each segment corresponds to the meridians, and massaging the neck is very important; not massaging other areas can still treat many diseases. The elderly lady’s back pain improved after ten minutes of neck massage combined with other techniques! This demonstrates the importance of the neck, but care must be taken when massaging it. First, be gentle, especially if the patient is in pain; the hands must be lighter. Sometimes it can be very painful, and if it is too painful, one must be gentle and take breaks. Moreover, massage one side at a time, not both sides simultaneously, as this affects blood supply to the brain! Therefore, the more painful the area, the more dangerous it is; as long as the right pressure is applied, the disease can be cured. Tendon Technique: focuses on the liver, primarily treating various diseases caused by liver issues. Techniques such as Huang Jingwei’s meridian tendon therapy, tendon manipulation, and tendon therapy are very effective for localized pain. There are three types of tendons: heavenly tendons, human tendons, and earthly tendons. The heavenly tendons are located just behind the eyeball. Heat Application Technique: use a warm towel, but not too hot. For steaming, for example, place some vinegar in a hot water cup and put the eyes over the cup (sour enters the liver, which governs the tendons). Tea can also be used (tea is good for the eyes, especially green tea). Regularly treating the eyes can prevent cataracts and other eye diseases. Additionally, massaging around the eye socket, especially the Cheng Qi (承泣) point, is very important for treating heavenly tendons. A case: An elderly man with cataracts was treated at Anzhen Hospital. A doctor from the TCM department taught him to massage, focusing on the Yintang point and the governing vessel. Both sides correspond to the bladder meridian, and after applying pressure, he massaged the eye socket. Seven months later, the cataracts disappeared. This technique can also treat asthma; walking ten thousand steps daily and patting any accessible area, such as the shoulders, back, arms, and chest, can be beneficial. A classmate’s grandfather used to wheeze every autumn, but since he started patting, he no longer wheezes in autumn. It’s a miracle! Therefore, the hands-on approach is indeed effective. The earthly tendons are located on the feet, from the Yong Quan (涌泉) point to the inner side of the heel. You can feel that the earthly tendons are very hard; manipulating them can be painful, and pressing on them can be very painful. Some people have very hard earthly tendons, while others have lumps or nodules, which can be very painful when touched. One person had severe pain in the earthly tendons, and I advised him to massage them at home. After a week, his frequent urination was cured. The earthly tendons can be treated holistically; the Yong Quan point is the head, the middle is the abdomen, and the earthly tendons can effectively treat leg and back pain. The Huang Di Nei Jing (黄帝内经) states: the liver governs the tendons, the kidneys govern the bones, the spleen governs the muscles, the heart governs the blood vessels, and the lungs govern the skin and hair. As long as there are tendon issues, treating the liver is correct. As long as there are bone issues, treating the kidneys is correct. As long as there are muscle issues, treating the spleen and stomach is correct. As long as there are blood vessel issues, treating the heart is correct. As long as there are skin and hair issues, treating the lungs is correct. The five organs: 1. Heart: the heart is the residence of the spirit, the master of blood, and the source of the pulse. It belongs to the fire element; physiological functions include: ① governing blood vessels; ② governing consciousness; the heart opens to the tongue, connects to the pulse, manifests on the face, corresponds to joy, and is associated with sweat. The heart and small intestine are interrelated. 2. Lungs: the lungs are the place of the po (魄), the master of qi, belonging to the metal element; physiological functions include: ① governing qi and controlling respiration; ② governing the dispersal and descending of qi; ③ regulating the water pathways; ④ governing the hundred vessels; assisting the heart in regulating qi and blood circulation; the lungs connect to the throat, correspond to the skin, manifest on the hair, open to the nose, correspond to worry, and are associated with mucus; the lungs and large intestine are interrelated. 3. Spleen: the spleen is the source of qi and blood transformation, the foundation of postnatal life, and stores intention, belonging to the earth element. Physiological functions include: ① governing transportation and transformation; ② governing the elevation of clear qi; ③ governing blood containment; opening to the mouth, connecting to the flesh, governing the limbs, manifesting on the lips, corresponding to thought, and associated with saliva; the spleen and stomach are interrelated. 4. Liver: the liver is the place of the hun (魂), the storehouse of blood, and the master of tendons, belonging to the wood element, governing upward movement. Physiological functions include: ① governing the smooth flow of qi; ② storing blood; opening to the eyes, connecting to the tendons, manifesting on the nails, corresponding to anger, and associated with tears; the liver and gallbladder are interrelated. 5. Kidneys: the kidneys are the foundation of pre-natal life, storing will, and the waist is the organ of the kidneys, belonging to the water element; physiological functions include: ① storing essence, governing growth, development, and reproduction; ② governing water; ③ governing the reception of qi; in the body, they correspond to the bones, govern the production of marrow, manifest on the hair, open to the ears and the two yin, correspond to fear, and are associated with saliva; the kidneys and bladder are interrelated. The six fu organs: 1. Gallbladder: physiological functions include: storing and excreting bile, and the gallbladder governs decision-making. 2. Stomach: physiological functions include: receiving and digesting food and drink, and the stomach governs descent and harmony. 3. Small intestine: physiological functions include: receiving, storing, and transforming substances, separating the clear from the turbid, and the small intestine governs fluids. 4. Large intestine: physiological functions include: transforming waste, and the large intestine governs fluids. 5. Bladder: physiological functions include: storing and excreting urine, relying on the kidney’s qi transformation. 6. San Jiao: physiological functions include: facilitating the flow of original qi, overseeing the qi mechanism and transformation, and serving as the pathway for water and fluid movement. Previously, we discussed the Nip Skin Technique, Meat Technique, Bone Technique, Pulse Technique, and Tendon Technique! Now we will begin discussing the “Falling Organs” technique, which is quite important. If you haven’t carefully read this section, then congratulations, you may not need to read further! Haha, back to the main topic. The “Falling Organs” technique is based on the understanding that all diseases originate from the five organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys), so by identifying the root of the disease, we can find the treatment method. Therefore, you must first learn to diagnose. For example, in treating knee pain, which is often due to knee joint pain, there are points like the Jia Xi (膝眼) and Shen Men (肩中) points, and on the back, there is the Bei Wu Jin (背五金) point. All five organs can cause knee pain, so by needling these three points, we address three categories. The Jia Xi point: treating knee pain caused by lung issues is effective! Nowadays, most diagnoses have errors, leading to misdiagnosis. If the origin of a disease is unknown, you won’t know how to treat it. Therefore, when we discuss falling organs, you must first understand how the disease occurred and why it occurred to determine how to treat it. In fact, the Nei Jing explains this clearly; it discusses the mechanisms of disease in the first section, emphasizing the importance of understanding the mechanisms of disease. It tells you to observe the disease and identify the organ responsible for it. If there is a problem, seek treatment; if not, seek treatment elsewhere. If it is deficient, then tonify it; if it is excessive, then reduce it. This is your responsibility, not the responsibility of the lower organs. First, address the five organs (the five organs), then smooth the qi and blood to restore balance. Smoothing the qi and blood (the key is qi and blood; when qi flows, blood flows; when qi stagnates, blood clots) is the primary task of traditional Chinese medicine! Western medicine focuses on antagonistic treatment, suppression, replacement, or removal. Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on smoothing the qi and blood, whether through gua sha, cupping, bloodletting, or herbal prescriptions, all aim to smooth the qi and blood! What is qi? What is blood? The human body is a microcosm of nature; it requires circulation. When qi flows, blood flows. You must know which organ governs qi; the kidneys govern qi, while the heart governs blood! The kidneys act as the pump for qi, but as mentioned earlier, qi is also governed by the lungs, which control the body’s qi. However, blood circulation relies on the kidneys, which govern the reception of qi, particularly the qi from the lungs. The kidneys act like a pump, receiving and compressing qi, allowing it to be expelled, which is the function of the pump. The pump generates pressure, and this pressure is produced by the kidneys, which govern qi. A case: This year, a 28-year-old girl initially had difficulty moving her lower limbs and felt very uncomfortable. She also experienced stomach discomfort. A doctor named Zhou Shuangyi diagnosed her with a misalignment of a thoracic vertebra due to a fall at age 14. After correcting the vertebra, her stomach qi improved, and she could walk again within two seconds! When lower limb issues arise, you must consider these factors. A case: A patient presented with facial swelling, which was related to the spleen. It’s quite simple; others treated her for swelling and dampness, but she needed to receive qi from the lungs to promote blood circulation. Therefore, you must understand that qi is the most important element in traditional Chinese medicine (as stated in the Si Sheng Xin Yuan (四圣心源)), which clearly explains that qi, between yin and yang, is viewed as the central qi. The central qi is the stomach qi (the spleen qi rises, and the stomach qi descends), which is a crucial concept! If the clear yang does not rise and the turbid yin does not descend, problems will arise. The clear yang is governed by the spleen, while the turbid yin is governed by the stomach. This is a very important concept! When we discuss falling organs, it becomes clear: one governs qi, and the other governs blood. The kidneys govern qi, and the heart governs blood. Now you understand how hypertension occurs! Remember, the spleen qi rises, and the stomach qi descends; the entire circulation of qi and blood is governed by the kidneys and heart, which are two crucial points! Falling organs: 1. From the perspective of organ function. 2. From the perspective of meridians. 3. From the perspective of disease mechanisms (there are nineteen mechanisms; I will use five to analyze from the five organs). 4. Eight deficiencies. 5. Time (the meridians flow differently at each hour). 6. Large intestine – lungs. The lungs govern the skin and hair, and the lungs and large intestine are interconnected. Everyone knows that the lungs govern the skin, but when skin diseases arise, some doctors forget that the lungs govern the skin. After developing dermatitis, Ling Yang Qing Fei (羚羊清肺) is also effective! Who is responsible for dry skin? It is also a lung issue! The human body breathes through the skin 70% of the time; the skin is involved in respiration. If the skin is blocked, what will happen? It will suffocate the person! Therefore, many overlook the skin’s role in respiration! Simply put, why do people catch colds? It is because the skin has been exposed to cold, leading to respiratory issues. After catching a cold, if sweating cannot occur, how can the skin breathe? Treat the skin! Therefore, treating the skin is treating the lungs: ① Nip Skin Technique. ② Wipe Skin Technique. ③ Pat Skin Technique. In winter, internal heat cannot escape, leading to spring epidemics! This is the heat accumulated during winter, as the yang energy contracts to resist the cold. Therefore, the body accumulates a lot of heat, which should be cleared before spring. In Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦), it is said that drinking Tusu wine on New Year’s Eve, which consists of twelve herbs soaked in yellow wine, helps eliminate internal heat. The Spring Festival marks the beginning of spring, and after that, one will not catch a cold! If someone contracts an epidemic, they should strip off their clothes and be beaten with a board. The purpose of this is to open the skin’s pores to allow for breathing. If the skin cannot breathe normally, the burden on the lungs increases, whether from cold or heat. By beating the skin, the internal heat can be expelled. This may sound ridiculous, but it is very practical; it involves beating, especially on the back, arms, and legs, and one must be fully unclothed. Gua sha can also be used; any skin issue is a lung issue! A case: A patient from Qingdao had dry skin, resembling fish scales. The treatment focused on the lungs, expelling the cold from the lungs, and after two sessions, the skin became smooth. However, you must determine whether it is lung heat or cold! Dry skin and fish-scale skin indicate lung cold; if the skin is red and has eruptions, it indicates lung heat. Eczema is a lung issue, and urticaria is also a lung issue; any skin problem is a lung issue. The lungs govern the skin and hair. I used to overlook the hair; if someone experiences excessive hair growth, it is due to lung issues. The lungs govern the defensive qi, which protects against external wind, cold, heat, and humidity. When this defensive qi is weak, the body has a self-defense mechanism, leading to hair growth. If you want to reduce excessive hair growth, moxibustion on the Yang Chi (阳池) and Zhong Wan (中脘) points for a period can help raise the body’s defensive qi, naturally leading to hair loss. The lungs: Falling organs ① Any skin issue is a lung issue; regardless of where on the body the skin problem arises, it is a lung issue. ② Treating the skin means treating the lungs. ③ If there is an evil in the heart and lungs, it can be felt in both elbows, which are key areas for patting. ④ The lungs govern the seasonal changes; the seasons change every fifteen days, and the temperature and atmospheric conditions change. When the spring equinox arrives, the earth’s energy rises, and the temperature changes before and after the day before and after the autumn equinox. The body must adapt to these changes, which are governed by the lungs. Suppurative tonsillitis (should be treated above, as this is within the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine) occurs because the lung function is too weak. We should not treat the lungs directly but rather the kidneys. Why? Because if it is deficient, we must tonify its source; do you understand? ⑤ The joints are governed by the lungs; when cold drinks harm the lungs, joint issues arise, which are governed by the lungs! Joint pain is related to lung issues! ⑥ The lungs open to the nose; whether it is rhinitis, nasal polyps, or sinusitis, it is not a problem with the nose itself; it manifests in the nose, but in reality, it is a lung issue. Therefore, treating the nose will never resolve the problem; in fact, rhinitis can be treated very effectively in ten minutes with acupuncture at two points: ① Xia Guan (下关) ② He Gu (合谷) (stomach meridian). Why treat the stomach? (Qi accumulates in the stomach to facilitate the flow of nutrients and defenses). There is also a technique for treating rhinitis that is even better, but I won’t elaborate, as it may be difficult for you to apply clinically (manipulating the anus to treat rhinitis is remarkably effective). Lung heat and lung cold can be identified from nasal discharge! Lung heat produces yellow, thick mucus, while lung cold produces clear, thin mucus. For lung heat, take Ling Yang Qing Fei San (羚羊清肺散). For lung cold, take Yang Yin Qing Fei San (养阴清肺散) or Tong Xuan Li Fei (通宣理肺). Treating the nose involves treating the lungs and stomach; if there is cold in the stomach, it can also affect the nose, as this is under the lung’s jurisdiction. The lungs regulate the water pathways; if there is urinary retention, everyone thinks to treat the kidneys, as the kidneys govern the two yin. However, few consider that the lungs can also regulate the water pathways. The lungs govern the dispersal and descending of qi; if water cannot descend, it is like a teapot with a sealed lid. Everyone knows that teapots have a hole in the lid; when pouring water, air pressure must be present. If there is no pressure, water cannot flow out. This is the reason for urinary retention; the problem lies with the lungs. Once the lid is opened, the water can flow out. This is called the “Teapot Lid Opening Method”. A case: Dr. Tian from Xi’an called my teacher one day about a patient who could not urinate. He had needled the kidney meridian, which helped a little, but it was still ineffective. The patient’s abdomen felt like it was full. My teacher said to treat the lungs! The lungs regulate the water pathways. When examining the lung meridian, he found a hard knot at the Zhong Fu (中府) and Yun Men (云门) points. After massaging the knot, within half an hour, the patient was able to urinate and felt immediate relief. This is the effectiveness of hands-on treatment! From the perspective of the lung meridian, a common condition is tennis elbow. The outer side corresponds to the large intestine meridian, while the inner side corresponds to the lung meridian, indicating a lung issue. If cold causes the problem, can we treat the arm? To treat tennis elbow, we need to use the Zhong Wan, Tian Shu (天枢), and Guan Yuan (关元) points. A case: Hand joint pain is caused by exposure to cold; massaging the large intestine meridian can be very painful (the principle is that this side follows the large intestine meridian). Therefore, we use the large intestine meridian to treat it. The large intestine meridian is on the bladder meridian, which regulates yang. Finger pain is caused by cold exposure; we treat cold with yang. The back has the large intestine and small intestine meridians, and the arms have the large intestine and small intestine meridians, which can be used to treat joint pain. When pain is localized, we must identify where the pain is located. If the pain is on a meridian, which meridian does it follow? This will guide us in treatment! Golf elbow and arm pain are related to heart issues. Earlier, someone mentioned finger numbness; numbness in the little finger indicates heart issues, while numbness in the thumb indicates lung issues. Golf elbow is caused by heart qi stagnation; taking five rapid-acting heart rescue pills can be effective, or patting the elbow can help. After patting, the heart will improve, and the arm pain will also resolve. When there are heart issues, be cautious when massaging the neck; apply gentle pressure. When massaging the Tan Zhong (檀中) point (which corresponds to the heart), if the pressure is too strong, the patient may feel faint. Once the massage is completed, especially when putting on clothes, the waist may feel looser, as if three inches have been lost in waist circumference, all due to the qi being released. After a month of treatment, a 53-year-old woman who had not menstruated for three years began menstruating again after eight months. After three months of treatment, her knee no longer required surgery and was completely healed. What is lung deficiency? What is excess? The Ling Shu (灵枢) states that the lungs store qi, and qi is the residence of the po (魄). If lung qi is deficient, nasal congestion will occur (if the nose is blocked, it is definitely due to lung qi deficiency).