In winter, the human body undergoes changes due to factors such as weather and environment, resulting in varying degrees of energy expenditure. This is why we may experience cold hands and feet and overall body weakness. Traditional Chinese massage can help us improve our body's resistance and keep warm in the cold.
1. Qihai Acupoint
Location: The Qihai acupoint is located in the lower abdomen, one and a half inches below the line connecting the navel to the top of the pubic bone.
Effect: Massage or acupuncture can nourish the yuan qi, strengthen the kidneys and preserve essence, tonify the yang energy, and promote longevity. Common moxibustion methods include warming moxibustion, ginger-separated moxibustion, and aconite moxibustion at the Qihai acupoint.
2. Dazhui Acupoint
Location: On the midline of the back, in the depression below the seventh cervical vertebrae's spinous process. When you lower your head, feel for the highest bone protrusion at the back of your neck. The Dazhui acupoint is located below this protrusion.
Effect: According to Chinese medicine, the Dazhui acupoint is the intersection point of the Governing Vessel and six yang meridians. It is an important acupoint for regulating the body's sensitivity to cold. Massaging or moxibusting the Dazhui acupoint can invigorate the meridians and dispel cold, making it an important method for relieving overall body chilliness. Those who are skilled in fire therapy can use flame palm or fire point technique on the Dazhui acupoint for better results.
3. Guanyuan Acupoint
Location: The Guanyuan acupoint is located three inches below the navel, on the midline of the abdomen.
Effect: Chinese medicine believes that the Guanyuan acupoint can nourish the yuan qi and strengthen the lower burner. It can tonify the yang energy and be effective for conditions such as neurasthenia, insomnia, and cold hands and feet. It can be stimulated using rubbing or vibrating techniques. Vibrating technique involves placing the crossed hands on the Guanyuan acupoint, applying slight pressure, and then rapidly and slightly moving the crossed hands up and down. This technique can be done anytime, anywhere.
4. Shenque Acupoint
Location: In the center of the navel.
Effect: Warming the Shenque acupoint can invigorate the spleen and stomach yang energy. Especially for those who have a tendency to feel cold in the stomach and experience frequent diarrhea, it is important to keep this area warm. Regularly applying heat to the navel can promote fullness of vital energy, mental clarity, physical strength, strong lower back muscles, rosy complexion, sharp hearing and vision, and overall vitality. It also has unique therapeutic effects on abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, stroke sequelae, and other conditions.
5. Zusanli Acupoint
Location: The Zusanli acupoint is located three inches below the outer knee eye, one horizontal finger-width outside the shin bone.
Effect: When sitting upright, the Zusanli acupoint is located three inches below the outer knee eye and one horizontal finger-width outside the shin bone. Rubbing the acupoint should produce a sense of soreness and fullness. Afterwards, use both palms to repeatedly rub the lower legs from bottom to top and top to bottom to generate heat. This can dilate the capillaries in the fingers and toes, improve blood circulation, and warm up the limbs. It can also enhance the body's immune function, increase resistance to diseases, and help prevent and treat stomach conditions, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hypertension, anemia, lower limb paralysis, and arthritis.
