Precautions for Patting
(1) Patting should be done in the order of top to bottom, left to right, and from outside to inside. Each pat should follow the previous one without omission. If there is any omission, do not go back and pat the missed area.
(2) Generally, solid palms or empty fists are used for patting. Prepare the wrists before patting, such as shaking, rotating, and gripping the empty fist.
(3) Patting the inner side of the upper limbs should be done from top to bottom, while patting the outer side of the upper limbs should be done from bottom to top. Patting the outer side of the lower limbs should be done from top to bottom, while patting the inner side of the lower limbs should be done from bottom to top, which is opposite to the order of the upper limbs.
(4) When patting the shoulders and back, use the waist as the axis to rotate the waist and swing the arms to the left, bending the right arm and patting the left shoulder and back with the palm. Bend the left arm and pat the back from the spleen shu, kidney shu, stomach shu, ming men, and large intestine shu to the sacrum. Then rotate the waist and swing the arms to the right, following the same method. Finally, pat the Du meridian with the back of the palm.
(5) After patting, for those with severe stagnation, hot compress or rubbing with medicated wine can be used, but cold water should not be used.
(6) If the sha (red marks) on the same area has not disappeared, do not pat that area until the stasis disappears.
(7) Avoid wind during patting and do not use electric fans or air conditioning to blow directly, so as not to let the cold evil enter the body through the open sweat pores and cause new diseases.
(8) When experiencing palpitations, rapid heartbeat, fever, inflammation, bleeding, ulcers, etc., patting should be temporarily stopped.
(9) If feeling restless, pale complexion, cold sweat, or rapid pulse during patting, immediately stop patting, lie down, and drink some warm sugar water or salt water.
(10) Drink warm water before and after patting to replenish fluids, prevent dizziness and fatigue, promote metabolism, and accelerate the elimination of metabolites.
(11) Bathing should be done with hot water 3 hours after patting, and cold water should not be used.
Taboos for Patting
(1) People who are allergic to pain should not pat.
(2) Patting is not suitable for those who are unconscious, have acute trauma, or have severe infections.
(3) Women during menstruation or pregnancy should not pat.
(4) People with bleeding disorders such as decreased platelets, leukemia, and allergic purpura are strictly prohibited from patting.
(5) Patients with malignant tumors, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, as well as those with unknown causes of nipple, navel, and lump are strictly prohibited from patting.
(6) Pregnant women and women during menstruation.
(7) People with local skin suppuration or infection, obvious inflammation, redness, swelling, exudation, or ulceration on the skin.
(8) People with severe damage to important organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, as well as those with severe diabetes.
(9) People who are excessively hungry, full, or intoxicated.
