Rubbing
Use your fingertips or the palm of your hand to adhere to the acupoints, and gently rotate and rub.
Rubbing can be divided into finger rubbing, fish border rubbing, and palm rubbing, etc.
① Finger rubbing. Use your thumb, middle finger, index finger, or the surface or tip of your thumb, middle finger, and ring finger to lightly press on a specific acupoint or area, and gently rotate and rub.
② Fish border rubbing. Use the palm to adhere to a certain area or acupoint, and gently rotate and rub.
③ Palm rubbing. Apply force with the base of the palm, relax the wrist, and rotate and rub with the wrist joint and forearm. Rubbing is one of the commonly used techniques in health massage. It has the functions of broadening the chest, regulating qi, promoting digestion, activating blood circulation, dissolving stasis, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is suitable for various parts of the body. For example, rubbing the Zhongwan acupoint and abdomen in conjunction with other techniques has a good effect on gastrointestinal health.
Rubbing
Use the base of the palm, the palm root, or the edge of the palm to adhere to a certain area and perform direct back and forth friction, generating heat. This technique can invigorate qi and nourish blood, promote blood circulation, dispel wind and dampness, warm the channels, and disperse cold. It has a good effect on health maintenance.
Pressing
Use the tip of the thumb, or the middle joint of the middle finger, index finger, and thumb to press a certain area or acupoint. It has the functions of unblocking blockages, promoting blood circulation, and adjusting organ functions. It is often used to treat symptoms such as spasms and pain in the abdomen and waist and leg pain.
Striking
Use the back of the fist, the base of the palm, the edge of the palm, the fingertips, or a mulberry branch to tap the surface of the body. It can be divided into boxing technique, edge striking technique, fingertip striking technique, and stick striking technique. Striking can relax tendons, regulate qi and blood, and should be quick and short-lasting. The tapping should be vertical without dragging, with a uniform and rhythmic speed. Boxing technique is often used for the waist and back; palm striking is often used for the top of the head, waist, hips, and limbs; side striking is often used for the waist, back, and limbs; fingertip striking is often used for the head, face, chest, and abdomen; stick striking is often used for the top of the head, waist, back, and limbs.
Rubbing
Use the palms or sides of both hands to hold a certain area, and exert force to quickly rub back and forth, while moving up and down. This technique has the functions of regulating qi and blood, promoting meridian circulation, and relaxing muscles. It is suitable for the limbs and rib areas. When using this technique, both hands should exert symmetrical force, and the rubbing should be fast while the movement should be slow.
Pinching
Use the thumbnail of the thumb or the index finger to repeatedly pinch and press on a certain acupoint. It is often used in conjunction with rubbing techniques. For example, when pinching and rubbing the Renzhong acupoint, pinching should be done before rubbing. This technique has the functions of opening blockages, soothing nerves, calming the mind, and clearing the senses.
Shaking
Refers to using both hands to hold the upper or lower end of the patient's limbs and gently shake them up and down with a slight force, making the joints feel loose. It can be divided into upper limb shaking and lower limb shaking. This technique can relax the meridians and lubricate the joints. It is often used in combination with rubbing techniques as a finishing technique to give the patient a relaxed feeling. When practicing and mastering the above techniques, it is also important to understand the main content of self-massage and health maintenance. It is usually divided into the following actions, which are best performed in sequence.
