Back and leg pain is a common problem for middle-aged and elderly people. Chinese herbal medicine, Dao Sheng Gen Jiu, can be used to treat back and leg pain. Dao Sheng Gen, also known as Da Wu Pao Gen, can be used to make wine or decoction. It has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness. Let's learn about Dao Sheng Gen and its massage methods for back and leg pain together!
Understanding Dao Sheng Gen
Dao Sheng Gen is a perennial shrub that grows 1-3 meters tall. The stem is erect or curved, reddish-brown in color, and has hooked flattened thorns. The leaves are odd-pinnate compound, with a leaf stalk and leaf axis covered in small thorns. The leaflets are 5-7, with the terminal leaflet having a stalk of 1-2 cm and the lateral leaflets being nearly stalkless. The leaf blade is ovate, elliptic, or rhomboid-ovate, measuring 3-6 cm in length and 1.5-4 cm in width. The apex is acute, the base is broadly wedge-shaped or nearly circular, and the margin has irregular conical serrations or coarse dentate serrations. The lower surface is gray-green, with soft or hairy pubescence along the leaf veins.
The inflorescence is umbellate and terminal or axillary. The peduncles and pedicels are softly hairy. The flowers are pink, with a diameter of 8-10 mm. The sepals are lanceolate and ovate, with hairs on the outside. The aggregate fruit is ovoid, with a diameter of 5 mm and red in color. It flowers from April to June and bears fruit from June to August.
Habitat Distribution
Dao Sheng Gen grows in mountainous slopes, valleys, riversides, and roadsides at altitudes of 100-1700 meters. It is distributed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Xinjiang, and other regions.
Harvest and Storage
Dao Sheng Gen is harvested in September and October. The roots are washed, sliced, and dried.
Treating Back and Leg Pain with Dao Sheng Gen Wine
Ingredients: 30g Dao Sheng Gen, 500g rice wine
Instructions: Wash and chop the Dao Sheng Gen roots, place them in a container, add the rice wine, seal it, and let it soak for 10 days. Remove the residue after 10 days.
Usage: Internal use: Decoction, 6-15g; or soak in wine.
Precautions: "Chongqing Herbal Medicine": "Be cautious in using it for those who are weak and have no stagnant blood."
Massage Methods for Back and Leg Pain
Massage at the Ming Men acupoint: Stand or sit. Use one or two thumbs to press the Ming Men acupoint. The acupoint is located at the depression below the second lumbar spinous process. Press the acupoint firmly until it feels slightly sore, then rub it for dozens of times.
Massage the Shenshu acupoint: Same position as above. Use the thumb of one hand to press the Shenshu acupoint. The acupoint is located below the second lumbar spinous process, about two finger widths to the outside of the Ming Men acupoint. Press the acupoint firmly until it feels sore, then rub it for dozens of times. Then use the other hand to press and rub the other side of the Shenshu acupoint.
Rub the lower back: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Make fists with both hands and rub the sides of the waist up and down. Start rubbing from the sacrum and move upwards as high as possible. Rub quickly for dozens of times until the skin feels warm.
Massage the buttocks: Same position as above. Use the palm of one hand to rub the buttock on the same side in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction for dozens of times, then rub the other side with the other hand. Massage the side with pain more.
Massage the lower back, buttocks, and legs: Stand in a left lunge position with hands on hips. Use the right palm with the thumb separated from the other fingers to push down on the same side of the waist, then push downwards until the thigh and calf. The body should bend to the right. Then stand in a right lunge position and use the left hand to push the left side of the waist, buttocks, and legs. Alternate pushing 4-10 times.
Massage the lower back: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Place hands on the sides of the waist, with thumbs in front. Start pushing from the right waist, forward and left; then push from the left waist, backward and right. Push dozens of times, or push in the opposite direction.
Bend forward and pinch the legs: Stand or sit on the bed. Extend the legs and slowly bend forward. At the same time, use both hands to pinch the muscles on the front of the thighs and calves, pinching as low as possible, preferably to the dorsum of the foot. Repeat 5-10 times. When bending forward, keep the head raised.
Pound the waist: Same position as above. Make hollow fists and gently pound the sides of the waist from top to bottom, then from bottom to top, a total of 20-30 times.
