When a certain part of the body is uncomfortable, hitting or massaging that area can sometimes relieve the pain or even make it disappear. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, this is called "pain is due to blockage, and blockage causes pain". Traditional Chinese medicine divides the human body into 12 meridians, and if a meridian is blocked, it can lead to illness or pain. However, as long as the meridian is "unblocked", the pain and disease will disappear. Therefore, self-massage can treat various aches and pains. Here are a few methods:
Treating back pain: Back pain is a common and frequently occurring condition, especially among middle-aged and elderly people. It can be caused by sprains, poor blood circulation, or invasion by certain diseases. Regardless of the cause, massage can be effective. The method is to sit down first, rub your hands together to warm them up, and then place them on both sides of the lower back. Alternately rub up and down a hundred times, once in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Start with light pressure and gradually increase the intensity, then decrease the pressure again. If the lower back feels sore and warm, the effect will be even better.
Treating stomach pain: Stomach pain can be divided into two types: caused by overeating and caused by cold. Massage on the abdomen can be effective for both types. For stomach pain caused by overeating, focus on massaging the area around the navel. Start from the center of the navel and massage in all four directions. The massage should be gentle and slow, about 200 times, which can aid digestion. If the stomach pain is caused by exposure to cold, "hot hand massage" is more effective. Rub your hands together to warm them up, place the warm palms on the abdomen, and then use a circular motion to massage the surrounding area. The goal is to transfer the warmth from the palms to the abdomen and dispel the cold in the stomach. Massage is a fast and effective way to treat stomach pain.
Treating headaches: Massage is immediately effective for treating headaches. The main areas to massage are the temples (on both sides of the outer corner of the eye), the brow ridge (between the eyebrows), the silk bamboo hollow (0.5 inches below the outer corner of the eye), the bamboo grain (0.5 inches above the outer corner of the eyebrow), as well as the yintang point (between the eyebrows) and the baihui point (in the center of the top of the head). Lie flat and use your index finger to press and massage these acupoints in a clockwise direction for 20-30 times. As long as the acupoints are accurately selected and the massage is done properly, the effect will be seen. Significant results can usually be achieved within two days.
Treating diarrhea: Before treatment, empty the bowels first, then lie on the bed, loosen the waistband, expose the navel, relax the whole body, and locate the tianshu acupoint. This acupoint is located on both sides of the navel, about 6 centimeters away. Use both thumbs to press on the acupoints, gradually increasing the pressure from light to heavy, and hold it for about 5 minutes. After that, slowly lift the thumbs, but do not leave the skin, and massage in the same spot for a moment. After the massage, the abdomen will feel comfortable, and the abdominal pain and diarrhea will stop. Most patients can be cured in one treatment.
