The Power of Self-Massage: Natural Remedies for Pain Relief

When a certain part of the body is uncomfortable, pounding or massaging that area can sometimes relieve or even eliminate the pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this is called "pain indicates blockage, blockage causes pain." 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 "cleared", the pain and disease will disappear. Therefore, self-massage can treat various types of pain. Here are a few examples: Treating Headaches Massaging the head can have an immediate effect on headaches. The main areas to massage are the temples (on both sides of the outer corner of the eye), the brow ridge (in the middle of the eyebrows), the silk bamboo space (0.5 inch below the outer corner of the eye), the bamboo joint (0.5 inch above the outer corner of the eyebrow), as well as the Yintang point (in the middle of the eyebrows) and the Baihui point (in the center of the top of the head). Lie flat on your back and use your index finger to press and massage these points in a clockwise direction for 20-30 times. As long as the points are accurately selected and the massage is done properly, the effect can be seen. Generally, significant improvement can be observed within two days. Treating Abdominal Pain Abdominal pain can be divided into two types: caused by overeating and caused by cold. Massaging the abdomen can be effective for both types. For abdominal pain caused by cold, using "hot hand massage" can be more effective. Rub your hands together to warm them up, then use your warm palms to press against the abdomen and massage in a circular motion, aiming to transfer the warmth of the palms to the abdomen and drive away the cold. Massage can quickly alleviate abdominal pain. For abdominal pain caused by overeating, focus on massaging the area around the navel. Start from the center of the navel and massage in a circular motion towards the four directions. The hand movements should be gentle and slow, massaging about 200 times, which can help with digestion. Treating Lower Back Pain Lower 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 of certain diseases. Regardless of the cause, proper massage can be effective. Start with a seated position, rub your hands together to warm them up, and then place them on both sides of the lower back. Alternate rubbing up and down for a hundred times, once in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Gradually increase the pressure from light to heavy, and then from heavy to light. If the lower back feels sore and warm, the effect will be even better. Treating Diarrhea Before treatment, have a bowel movement, then lie down on the bed with your waistband loosened and your navel exposed. Relax your whole body and find the Tian Shu point, which is located on both sides of the navel, about 6 centimeters away. Use your thumbs to press and apply pressure to these points, gradually increasing the force from light to heavy, and hold the pressure for about 5 minutes. After that, slowly lift your thumbs without removing them from the skin, and massage the area for a moment. After the massage, you will feel comfortable in the abdomen, and the abdominal pain and diarrhea will stop. Most patients can be cured in one treatment.