Colds are common upper respiratory viral infections, which are more common in winter and spring when the climate changes abruptly and the body's resistance is weakened. According to the symptoms, colds can be divided into wind-cold and wind-heat types. By massaging specific acupoints, the meridians can be unblocked and the body's immune system can be enhanced, achieving a certain therapeutic effect. So how can we self-massage for a cold?
Causes and Pathogenesis of Colds
The cause of a cold is the invasion of wind evil. However, wind evils are often mixed with cold, heat, summer heat, and dampness. In autumn and winter, wind-cold is more common, while wind-heat is more common in spring and summer, and summer heat is often mixed with dampness. The lungs govern respiration and are externally related to the skin and hair. They open up in the nose. When the wind evil of a cold enters through the mouth and nose, a series of symptoms related to the lung defense system appear.
Basic Self-Massage Techniques for Colds
1. Place both hands on the sides of the head, and use the thumbs to alternately push up from the center of the eyebrows along the midline of the forehead to the hairline. Repeat this 20 times.
2. Fix the thumbs of both hands on the temples on the same side, and use the index and middle fingertips of both hands to press against the Yintang acupoint on the forehead. Push from the inside to the outside along the eyebrow arch, gradually moving upward until reaching the hairline. Repeat this 5-10 times.
3. Use the thumb pads of both hands to press and rub the temples in a clockwise direction until the local area feels sore and swollen, and sweat comes out.
4. Press and hold the Fengchi, Fengfu, Yingxiang, Feishu, and Fengmen acupoints, for 30 seconds each.
Self-Massage Techniques for Different Cold Symptoms
1. Wind-cold cold: Emphasize the Jianjing acupoint, 10 times on each side, with slight sweating throughout the body being ideal.
2. Wind-heat cold: Add Quchi and Hegu acupoints, and rub the Dazhui acupoint.
3. If there is accompanying sore throat, add rubbing the Yujie acupoint 50 times; if there is cough with excessive phlegm, add rubbing the Fenglong and Tanzhong acupoints.
Common Massage Techniques for Colds
Treatment principle: Expel pathogenic factors and relieve surface symptoms.
Acupoints used: Zhongfu, Fengmen, Feishu, Fengchi, Hegu, Taiyang, Yintang, eyebrow arch, Yingxiang, Jianjing.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient sits upright, and the massager uses a one-finger Zen technique to push from Yintang to the hairline, repeating this motion 3-5 times.
2. Use the thumb to press and rub the Taiyang and Yingxiang acupoints, and push the forehead for about 2 minutes.
3. Use the one-finger Zen technique on both sides of the back along the bladder meridian, focusing on Fengchi, Jianjing, and Feishu, for about 5 minutes.
4. Press and hold Zhongfu, Yunmen, and Hegu acupoints for about 2 minutes.
Daily Care Tips for Colds
1. Patients should pay attention to keeping warm, drink plenty of boiled water, and avoid overexertion or exposure to cold.
2. Regularly exercise and perform head and face exercises and health techniques to enhance physical fitness.
3. For patients with influenza complicated by pneumonia, high fever that does not subside, dyspnea, cyanosis, hemoptysis, and other symptoms, massage therapy should not be used alone, and active cooperation with Chinese and Western medication treatment is necessary.
