Huantiao is a very important acupoint on the human body. It belongs to the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. This acupoint has abundant yang energy and plays a key role in dredging the Gallbladder and Bladder meridians in the lower limbs. Let's take a look at the simplified method for locating Huantiao.
Simplified Method for Locating Huantiao
When lying down with the thigh bent, the deepest point is located at the intersection of the outer 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the line connecting the most prominent point of the greater trochanter of the femur and the sacral hiatus. Stand up straight and tighten your buttocks. The deepest point in the center is the Huantiao acupoint.
Origin of the name: When a person is preparing to jump, the first movement is to bend over and bend the knees. At this time, on the outer side of the thigh, at the intersection of the outer 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the line connecting the most prominent point of the greater trochanter of the femur and the sacral hiatus, a semi-circular depression is formed, hence the name.
Functions of Huantiao Acupoint
Huantiao acupoint is the meeting point of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Massaging this acupoint can promote the circulation of meridians, activate blood flow, relieve pain, invigorate the spleen, and nourish qi. It is mainly used to treat sciatica, lower limb paralysis, sequelae of cerebrovascular disease, lower back and leg pain, hip joint and surrounding soft tissue diseases, foot qi, colds, neurasthenia, eczema, and more.
Benefits of Massage on Huantiao
The location of Huantiao includes the gluteus maximus muscle, sciatic nerve, and quadratus femoris muscle. It is the hub from the waist to the legs and plays a connecting role. Therefore, this acupoint can not only treat back pain but also alleviate leg pain. Massaging Huantiao can increase blood circulation in the surrounding area, enhance metabolism, nourish tissues, and provide nutrients to muscles, thereby protecting bones and joints. It effectively relieves muscle tension, relaxes muscle spasms, and can also be used to treat sacroiliac pain and the resulting leg pain, numbness, and movement disorders.
Massage Techniques for Huantiao
Fist pounding method: Clench both hands into fists with the palms facing inward. Pound each side of Huantiao 50 times. Then hug both knees and extend them straight. Repeat this motion for a total of 50 times.
Pressing method: Keep the joints of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists as relaxed as possible. Then use the thumbs of both hands to continuously press Huantiao acupoint for 3 minutes. You can also combine it with the One-Finger Zen pushing technique (apply pressure to a specific position or acupoint on the meridian with the tip of the thumb, keeping the shoulders relaxed, using the swinging motion of the wrist to flex and extend the thumb joint, so as to exert alternating and continuous force on the meridian acupoint).
Kneading method: Place the thumbs of both hands on the left and right sides of Huantiao, and press and knead with force for 3 minutes.
Precautions for Massaging Huantiao
Due to the thickness of the thigh muscles and fat, the strength of massaging Huantiao should not be too light. It should be sustained, powerful, and gently penetrate. Press for about 30 seconds, then pause briefly and continue massaging. Repeat for about 3 minutes.
