Many people who work or study for long periods of time, as well as those who drive frequently, often experience neck and shoulder pain and stiffness. This is commonly referred to as cervical shoulder syndrome. When the symptoms are mild, they can be relieved by getting up and moving around. However, if the symptoms worsen and back pain, limited neck movement, and numbness in the hands occur, daily massage of the houxi acupoint is necessary. Let's learn about the location and therapeutic effects of houxi.
Location of Houxi
Houxi is located at the intersection of the transverse crease on the palm, where the tip of the little finger points when the fist is clenched.
Origin of the name: "Hou" means "behind" and refers to the part of the human body where the qi and blood flow in the meridians, which is the posterior part of the governor vessel. "Xi" does not refer to a stream, but to the pathway where the qi and blood flow in the meridians. Therefore, houxi is the pathway where the qi and blood flow in the governor vessel.
Effects of Houxi Massage
Houxi is a meeting point of the eight meridians and corresponds to the governor vessel spine in our back. The governor vessel is the sea of yang meridians, and when the yang qi is strong, it is like having excessive internal heat and requires the nourishment of water. Houxi is the specific location that provides water source for the governor vessel. Any diseases related to the spine can be treated by stimulating the houxi acupoint. Massaging this acupoint can promote the flow of the governor vessel, relieve heart fire, strengthen yang qi, adjust the cervical vertebrae, and correct the spine.
Main Diseases Treated by Houxi
Since the small intestine meridian is connected to the region on the outer side of the neck to the back of the head, stimulating the houxi acupoint can relieve tension in the neck muscles and alleviate symptoms such as headaches and dizziness caused by high blood pressure. In addition, houxi also has analgesic effects and is commonly used to treat acute lumbar sprains, stiff neck, hearing loss, schizophrenia, epilepsy, keratitis, and other conditions.
Direction of Houxi Massage
1. Use the tip of the thumb or index finger to press down vertically on houxi for 1-3 minutes.
2. Place both hands with the houxi acupoints against the edge of a table and roll or knead them back and forth for 3-5 minutes. Repeat this stimulation every 1-2 hours.
3. With the back of the hand facing upwards, use the thumb of the other hand to press hegu and the middle finger to press houxi. This way, both acupoints are stimulated together, not only hegu and houxi, but also the surrounding areas.
Precautions for Houxi Massage
The intensity of houxi massage should be determined based on a slight sense of pain that still feels comfortable. Massage each hand for 4-5 minutes alternately. If only one hand is massaged, it will feel very fatigued, so alternating massage is necessary.
