Four horizontal lines are commonly used acupoints in pediatric tuina. When treating diseases, they are often manipulated through pushing. So where is the accurate location of the four horizontal lines? What is the function of the four horizontal lines?
Accurate Location Diagram of Four Horizontal Lines
Four horizontal lines are located at the transverse lines of the first joints of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of both hands. The point is also known as the Four Horizontal Lines.
Methods of Manipulating the Four Horizontal Lines
Methods such as pinching and kneading can be used. The practitioner can pinch and knead the four horizontal lines with the thumbnail of the thumb using a method called "pinch one and knead five". The practitioner can also use the spiral surface of the thumbnail to push from the transverse line of the index finger to the transverse line of the little finger, known as pushing the four horizontal lines. When manipulating, pressure should be applied at the transverse lines. The manipulation can be repeated 100-300 times, with each finger's transverse lines being pinched and kneaded five times and the four horizontal lines being pushed 100-300 times.
Functions of the Four Horizontal Lines
Pinching the four horizontal lines can reduce fever, relieve restlessness, and disperse stasis. Pushing the four horizontal lines can regulate the middle burner, promote Qi circulation, harmonize Qi and blood, and reduce bloating and fullness. In clinical practice, it is often used for infantile malnutrition, abdominal distension, disharmony of Qi and blood, and indigestion. It is commonly used in combination with tonifying the spleen meridian and kneading the Zhongwan point.
Clinical Applications of the Four Horizontal Lines
1. The four horizontal lines are key acupoints for resolving food stagnation. Pinching and kneading this acupoint can reduce fever, relieve restlessness, and promote stomach health and digestion by pushing directly.
2. If abdominal distension starts in the afternoon and gradually subsides until the next morning, it is due to spleen deficiency. Pushing the tonifying the spleen meridian for 5 minutes can help alleviate the symptoms.
3. In folk medicine, this acupoint is often used to treat malnutrition.
Special Tuina Technique for the Four Horizontal Lines
Hold the child's four fingers tightly together and use the thumb's fingertip to push from the transverse line of the index finger to the transverse line of the little finger. Repeat this pushing technique 100-300 times every day. Persisting with this tuina technique can relieve pediatric indigestion, abdominal distension, and malnutrition.
