The common cold is a common external disease caused by exposure to cold wind. Clinical manifestations include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, headache, chills, fever, and general discomfort. Most cases are caused by exposure to seasonal changes in weather and are generally referred to as wind-cold or wind-heat colds. Massage therapy has certain effects in treating colds. Let's take a look at the adult cold massage techniques below.
Cold Massage Techniques for the Head
1. The patient lies supine, and the masseur sits in front of the patient's head. Using the thumb pads, apply a wiping motion from the temples to the temples, from the midline of the forehead to the temples, and from the top of the head to the temples. Repeat each line 3-5 times. Before wiping, apply a small amount of ginger and onion juice to the local area to avoid breaking the skin.
2. The patient lies supine, and the masseur supports the patient's pillow with one hand, while using the one-finger Zen massage technique or kneading technique along a line from the temples, the midline of the forehead, the top of the head, and the temples. Repeat 3-5 times at each acupoint, and stay at the acupoints for a slightly longer period of time.
Cold Massage Techniques for the Shoulders and Neck
1. The patient sits, and the masseur stands on the patient's outer side. Use a five-finger grasping technique combined with point kneading technique to repeatedly operate from the top of the head to the wind palace acupoint. Apply slightly more pressure during point pressing, based on the patient's tolerance for soreness and swelling.
2. The patient sits, and the masseur stands on the patient's outer side. Slowly and forcefully grasp the wind pool, the posterior large tendon of the neck, and the shoulder well acupoints along the bladder meridian, and press and knead the bilateral wind pool, wind gate, shoulder well, and lung shu acupoints for about 1 minute each.
Cold Massage Techniques for the Back
1. For those who feel cold, use rubbing techniques on both sides of the bladder meridian on the back to increase heat penetration. Combine with grasping and kneading the Hegu acupoint to induce sweating. Repeat several times using grasping techniques along the hand Taiyin meridian and the foot Yangming meridian.
2. For those who feel feverish, add kneading the Dazhui acupoint for 3-5 minutes, and combine with grasping and kneading the Hegu acupoint for 1 minute. Use tapping techniques along the bladder meridian from top to bottom in the lumbar sacral region for several times.
Massage Techniques for Easy Cold Susceptibility
For those who are susceptible to colds due to physical weakness, add kneading the Renzhong, Zhongwan, Zusanli, and Fenglong acupoints for 1 minute each. Tap the bladder meridian from top to bottom for several times, and knead the Pishu, Weishu, Qihai, and Guanyuan acupoints for 1 minute each. Rub the lumbar sacral region until feverish, and gently knead the Pishu, Weishu, and Gaohuangyu acupoints. For those with nasal congestion, add kneading the Yingxiang acupoint one hundred times. For those with sore throat, add pushing and kneading the bilateral Renying acupoints one hundred times.
Self-Massage Techniques for Colds
1. Sit upright, bend the tip joint of the thumb, and use the joint protrusion or the thumb and index finger fingertips to knead the acupoints on the forehead, Jingming, Yangbai, Taiyang, Yingxiang, etc., for dozens of times.
2. Sit upright, use the back of the thumb to rub the eyebrows, the sides of the nose bone (from the Jingming and Chengqi acupoints to the Yingxiang and Dicang acupoints), for dozens of times.
3. Sit upright, spread the ten fingers of both hands, place them on both sides of the head, and comb from the front hairline to the top and back of the head, repeatedly doing this hundreds of times.
4. Sit upright, alternate tapping the opposite shoulder well acupoints dozens of times, and knead the opposite Chize, Hegu, and Lieque acupoints dozens of times. Use the palm to push along the lung meridian route from top to bottom for dozens of times.
5. Sit, clench the fists, lightly tap the bladder meridian on both sides of the lumbar sacral region over a hundred times with the knuckles, then tap the Zusanli acupoint on the opposite side for about 1 minute, and use the palm to press the opposite foot's sole for dozens of times.
Precautions for Cold Massage
1. The prognosis of this disease is good. Mild cases generally recover after 2-4 sessions of massage therapy. Massage therapy has an immediate effect on accompanying symptoms such as stiff neck and nasal congestion.
2. For severe symptoms caused by exposure to seasonal changes or influenza, or even complications such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia, if there is high fever, uncontrollable coughing, etc., massage therapy alone is not sufficient, and active combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatments is necessary to prevent disease progression.
3. Recurrent colds are often caused by weak constitution. Regular exercise should be strengthened, and active self-care should be combined with maintaining warmth and avoiding exposure to cold air. Spicy and greasy foods should be avoided, and more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C should be consumed.
