As the pace of life accelerates, people's diet becomes irregular, and there are more and more people with poor stomachs. Traditional Chinese scraping therapy has certain effectiveness in regulating the stomach and intestines. So where should we scrape for people with poor stomachs?
Where to scrape for people with poor stomachs
1. Scraping areas
1. Select the Zusanli acupoint of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. Zusanli is the meeting point of the Stomach Meridian and can regulate the spleen and stomach, expel evil and support righteousness.
2. Select the Zhongwan and Xiawan acupoints of the Ren Meridian. Zhongwan is the meeting point of the Stomach Meridian and can treat various digestive system diseases.
3. Select the Piyu, Weiyu, and Neiguan acupoints to nourish the spleen and invigorate the stomach.
2. Scraping methods
1. Scrape the back
Scrape both sides of the spine from top to bottom along the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang, focusing on the Piyu and Weiyu acupoints.
2. Scrape the front outside of the lower limbs
Scrape along the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, focusing on the Zusanli acupoint.
3. Scrape the abdomen
Scrape from top to bottom along the middle line of the abdomen, focusing on the Zhongwan and Xiawan acupoints.
4. Scrape the inner side of the forearm
Massage or scrape the Neiguan acupoint.
3. Indications
Suitable for those who have stomach discomfort and pain caused by emotional changes (such as excessive mental tension), irregular diet, immediate exercise after a full meal, excessive consumption of spicy food, excessive alcohol consumption, and difficulty digesting food.
Where to scrape for stomach bloating
Method 1 for scraping stomach bloating
Acupoints:
Tianshu, Zusanli, and Shangjuxu (all bilaterally).
Treatment:
Use the tonifying method in scraping therapy. First scrape Tianshu, then scrape Zusanli and Shangjuxu until the skin becomes slightly red and congested. Once a day, the symptoms will subside.
Main effects:
Postoperative abdominal distension. This method is effective. When applying the therapy to the Tianshu acupoint, avoid the surgical incision and move it 0.5 inch to the left or right.
Method 2 for scraping stomach bloating
Acupoints:
On both sides of the spine, from thoracic vertebra 8 to sacral vertebra and their sides, the area beside the navel, lower abdomen, and below the patella.
Treatment:
Use scraping therapy. First, lightly scrape three lines on both sides of the spine (from Dazhui to sacral vertebra 4) until there is slight redness. Then focus on scraping the thoracic vertebra 8 to 12 and sacral vertebra and their sides. Use the horizontal purging method and scrape a total of 5 lines until there are marks (sha). Then scrape the area beside the navel, lower abdomen, and below the patella. Once a day.
Main effects:
Abdominal distension accompanied by abdominal pain. This method has been widely used and achieved good results. If combined with abdominal application, the effect will be even better. For detailed herbal formulas, refer to "The Nasal Navel Therapy with Chinese Herbs".
Method 3 for scraping stomach bloating
Acupoints:
Divided into 2 groups: one group includes Zusanli and Liangqiu; the other group includes Shangjuxu and Sanyinjiao.
Treatment:
Use scraping therapy. Choose one group alternately. Scrape until there are marks (sha). Once a day.
Main effects:
Abdominal distension. This method is effective.
What happens if scraping is done improperly
1. People with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction, and generalized edema should not undergo scraping therapy. Otherwise, the accelerated blood circulation may worsen the condition.
2. Pregnant women, especially those with severe symptoms, should avoid scraping therapy, especially in the waist and abdomen area, as it may cause miscarriage.
3. People with ulcers, rashes, or unknown lumps or abscesses on the skin should not undergo scraping therapy, as it may cause wound infection.
4. People with contagious skin diseases should avoid scraping therapy, as it may cause infection.
5. People who are full, tired, or intoxicated should not undergo scraping therapy, as it may lead to collapse and other symptoms.
6. Scraping therapy should not be performed on the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and other parts, as it may cause congestion of the mucous membranes.
7. People with mental illnesses should avoid scraping therapy, as it may worsen the condition.
Precautions for scraping therapy
Precautions before scraping therapy
1. Scraping therapy requires exposed skin, and the skin pores open during scraping. If exposed to cold wind, the evil qi can directly enter through the open pores, affecting the effectiveness of scraping therapy and possibly causing new diseases. Therefore, a good treatment place with fresh and ventilated air should be chosen before scraping therapy, and attention should be paid to keeping warm and avoiding drafts. Skin exposure should be minimized.
2. Choose a comfortable posture for scraping therapy to facilitate scraping and prevent dizziness from scraping.
3. The scraping tools should be strictly disinfected to prevent cross-infection. Before scraping, carefully check the scraping tools to avoid scraping the skin.
4. The hands of the therapist should also be disinfected.
5. Before scraping, explain the general knowledge of scraping therapy to the patient to eliminate their fear and gain their cooperation, so as to avoid dizziness from scraping.
6. Do not perform scraping therapy on patients who are excessively hungry, full, or under excessive stress.
Precautions during scraping therapy
1. The scraping technique should be applied with even force, within the patient's tolerance, until marks (sha) appear.
2. Infants, children, and the elderly should be scraped with a lighter technique.
3. Do not blindly pursue marks (sha) and use excessive force or prolong the scraping time. The appearance of marks (sha) is influenced by various factors. Generally, blood stasis tends to produce more marks (sha); excess syndrome and heat syndrome tend to produce more marks (sha); deficiency syndrome and cold syndrome tend to produce fewer marks (sha); excessive medication, especially the use of steroid drugs, may not produce marks (sha); obesity and muscular individuals may not produce marks (sha); yin meridians tend to produce fewer marks (sha) than yang meridians; marks (sha) are not easily produced in low room temperature.
4. During the scraping process, frequently inquire about the patient's feelings. In the case of dizziness from scraping, such as fatigue, dizziness, pale complexion, nausea, cold sweat, palpitations, cold limbs, or decreased blood pressure and loss of consciousness, immediately stop scraping therapy. Comfort the patient and avoid anxiety, help them lie down, keep them warm, and provide warm water or sugar water. If the symptoms do not alleviate, lightly press the Shuigou acupoint on the corner of the scraping tool, with gentle force to avoid swelling after pressing. Apply the horizontal purging method to Baihui and Yongquan acupoints. After the patient's condition improves, continue scraping the Neiguan and Zusanli acupoints.
Precautions after scraping therapy
1. Scraping therapy promotes sweat gland excretion and the expulsion of evil qi. It also consumes part of the body's fluid. Therefore, after scraping therapy, drink a cup of warm water and rest for a while.
2. After scraping therapy, to prevent the invasion of wind and cold evil, wait for the skin pores to close and return to their original state before bathing, generally about 3 hours.
3. For patients with complex and critical conditions, scraping therapy should be combined with other treatments, such as medication, to avoid delaying the condition.
Daily care for people with poor stomachs
1. Correct bad eating habits
Eat light and less fatty, sugary, and spicy foods, such as foods containing alcohol and spices. Avoid over-acidic, over-sweet, over-salty, over-bitter, and over-spicy foods, and do not develop a preference for any one taste. Patients who have a smoking habit should quit smoking.
2. Pay attention to nutritional balance
The usual diet should provide foods rich in vitamins, pay attention to nutritional balance to protect the gastric mucosa, improve its defense ability, and promote the repair of local lesions.
3. Eat soft, warm, and lukewarm foods
Cook with steaming, boiling, stewing, and braising methods, and eat less hard and rough foods. When eating, do not rush and chew food thoroughly in the oral cavity, mix it with saliva before swallowing slowly. This is beneficial for digestion and post-disease recovery. Pay attention to adjusting the temperature of food according to the seasons, especially for those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold. It is important to avoid raw and cold foods. Those with liver depression and qi stagnation should avoid immediate eating after being angry.
4. Eat on a regular schedule and in moderate amounts
Patients with chronic stomach pain should have regular meals or additional meals, with reasonable intervals between meals. Patients with acute stomach pain should eat smaller meals more frequently, and should generally eat fewer or no snacks to reduce the burden on the stomach.
