Hyperlipidemia is a systemic disease that can cause dizziness, headaches, chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, fatigue, and numbness in the limbs when the blood lipid levels are high. Massage therapy mainly uses the principles of traditional Chinese medicine meridians to treat diseases. So, where should you massage to lower blood lipids?
Principles of massage for lowering blood lipids
By massaging specific acupoints on the head, ears, hands, and feet, the person being massaged can adjust the yin and yang, support the body's balance, promote blood circulation, regulate the flow of qi, harmonize the nutrient and protective qi, promote overall circulation of qi and blood, accelerate metabolism, reduce the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, promote fat metabolism and absorption, decrease blood viscosity, and reduce the levels of lipids in the blood. Ultimately, this helps to lower blood lipids, alleviate or eliminate symptoms caused by high blood lipids.
Massage acupoints on the head to lower blood lipids
Taiyang: Located on the temples, about 1 horizontal finger width behind the outer corner of the eye. Place the fingers of both hands, except for the thumbs, on both sides of the head. Use the thumbs to massage the Taiyang acupoints on both sides for 1-2 minutes.
Baihui: Located on the top of the head, 7 inches directly above the midpoint between the tips of the ears. Place the fingers of both hands, except for the thumbs, on both sides of the head. Use the thumbs to press and massage the Baihui acupoint for 1-2 minutes.
Fengchi: Located on the back of the neck, below the occipital bone, between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper end of the trapezius muscle. Place the fingers of both hands, except for the thumbs, on both sides of the ears. Use the thumbs to press and massage the Fengchi acupoints on both sides for 2-3 minutes.
Jiaosun: Located on the head, fold the ear forward, and at the hairline. Place the fingers of both hands, except for the thumbs, on both sides of the forehead. Use the thumbs to massage the Jiaosun acupoints on both sides for 1-4 minutes.
Yintang: Located on the forehead, at the intersection of the line connecting the eyebrows and the midline of the forehead. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should stand behind them. Place one hand on their shoulder and the other hand, with fingers except for the thumb together, on one side of the Taiyang acupoint. Use the thumb to massage the Yintang acupoint for 2-3 minutes.
Shenting: Located on the head, 0.5 inches directly above the midpoint of the line connecting the eyebrows. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should place one hand on their shoulder and the other hand, with fingers except for the thumb together, on their head. Use the thumb to massage the Shenting acupoint for 2-3 minutes.
Zanzhu: Located on the face, in the depression between the eyebrows, at the upper edge of the orbital ridge. The person being massaged should lie on their back, and the massager should stand at their head. Place the fingers of both hands, except for the thumbs, on both sides of their head. Use the thumbs to press and push Zanzhu from the forehead to the corners of the eyes for 1-2 minutes.
Massage acupoints on the ears to lower blood lipids
Nei Fen: Located in the inner part of the earlobe, in the front lower part of the auricular cavity. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should place the thumbs on both sides of their head. Use the index fingers to press and massage the Nei Fen acupoints in both ears for 2-3 minutes.
Shen Xue: Located in the upper back part of the earlobe, behind the foot of the helix. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the index fingers to press and massage the Shen Xue acupoints in both ears for 2-3 minutes.
Wei Xue: Located at the point where the earlobe disappears. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should place the thumbs on both sides of their head. Use the index fingers to knead the Wei Xue acupoints in both ears for 1-2 minutes.
Pi Zi Xia: Located on the inner side of the earlobe. The person being massaged should lie on their back, and the massager should place the thumbs on both sides of their head. Use the index fingers to knead the Pi Zi Xia acupoints in both ears for 1-2 minutes.
Shen Shang Xue: Located at the tip of the protrusion below the free edge of the helix. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the index fingers to press and massage the Shen Shang Xue acupoints in both ears for 1-2 minutes.
Er Jian: Located at the top of the helix, opposite the posterior margin of the helix at the upper corner of the helix. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should pinch the Er Jian acupoints with the index fingers for 1-2 minutes.
Massage acupoints on the hands to lower blood lipids
Hegu: Located on the back of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint on the radial side of the second metacarpal bone. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to knead the Hegu acupoint for 2-3 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Laogong: Located on the center of the palm, between the second and third metacarpal bones, slightly on the radial side of the third metacarpal bone, at the tip of the bent finger. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should place the index finger against the thumb, using the fingertips to pinch and knead the Laogong acupoint for 2 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Neiguan: Located on the palm side of the forearm, on the line connecting the Quze acupoint and the Daling acupoint, 2 inches above the wrist crease, between the tendons of the flexor carpi radialis and the flexor carpi ulnaris. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to knead the Neiguan acupoint for 3 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Shaoshang: Located on the radial side of the distal phalanx of the thumb, 0.1 inch from the corner of the nail. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to knead the Shaoshang acupoint for 2-3 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Yujie: Located at the back of the thumb joint (first metacarpophalangeal joint), at the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone on the radial side, at the junction of the red and white skin. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to knead the Yujie acupoint for 1-2 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Taiyuan: Located on the palmar side of the wrist, on the radial side, where the radial artery pulsates. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to knead the Taiyuan acupoint for 2-3 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Yangchi: Located on the dorsal side of the wrist, at the midpoint of the transverse crease, on the ulnar side of the extensor digitorum tendon. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to press and knead the Yangchi acupoint for 2-3 minutes, focusing on obtaining qi.
Massage acupoints on the feet to lower blood lipids
Xuehai: Located on the inner side of the thigh, 2 inches above the inner tip of the patella, at the prominence of the inner head of the quadriceps femoris. The person being massaged should sit, and the massager should use the thumb to press and knead the Xuehai acupoint for 2-3 minutes.
Zusanli: Located on the front outer side of the lower leg, 3 inches below the Dubi acupoint, 1 horizontal finger width (middle finger) from the anterior edge of the tibia. The person being massaged should lie supine with their knees bent. The massager should use the thumb to press and knead the Zusanli acupoint for 2-3 minutes, until a warm sensation is felt.
Yongquan: Located at the bottom of the foot, in the depression when the foot is curled, at the intersection of the front 1/3 and back 2/3 of the line connecting the head of the first and second toe fissures with the heel. The person being massaged should lie supine. The massager should hold their feet with both hands and use the thumbs to press and knead the Yongquan acupoint for 2-3 minutes, until a local warm sensation is felt.
Sanyinjiao: Located on the inner side of the lower leg, 3 inches above the inner ankle bone, behind the medial edge of the tibia. The person being massaged should lie supine with their knees bent. The massager should use the thumb to press and knead the Sanyinjiao acupoint for 2-3 minutes, until a warm sensation is felt.
