Chinese medicine self-care culture is an important part of the excellent traditional Chinese culture. Chinese medicine self-care refers to a medical activity that enhances physical fitness, prevents diseases, and achieves longevity through various methods. The purpose is to prevent diseases and treat potential diseases.
Chinese medicine self-care can be achieved through methods such as food nourishment, medicine nourishment, and skill nourishment.
Food nourishment refers to the use of food (grains, meat, fruits and vegetables) with biased characteristics in terms of taste and flavor, which can be targeted for the treatment or auxiliary treatment of some diseases, adjust yin and yang, and make them balanced, which is conducive to the treatment of diseases and the recovery of body and mind.
Medicine nourishment refers to the use of medicine or mainly medicine, and appropriately matching with other foods, in a self-care way. Skill nourishment includes Chinese medicine appropriate technology self-care (moxibustion, massage, fire cupping, scraping, Chinese medicine foot bath, aromatherapy SPA, etc.).
Here are some simple and feasible home Chinese medicine “treasure boxes” for everyone. You can choose the self-care methods that suit you according to your own situation, such as self-care massage methods.
Massage, anciently called pressing, is a valuable treasure of traditional Chinese medicine. In terms of nature, it is a physical external treatment method, widely used in self-care and disease prevention.
Rub the Shenshu acupoint:
The Shenshu Acupoint is located on each side of the spine, parallel to the lower edge of the second lumbar vertebra.
This is one of the key acupoints for self-care. The Shenshu acupoint has the effects of replenishing kidney qi, strengthening the waist and knees, strengthening the brain and ears, and strengthening the body. Massage or acupuncture have good effects, and are often used for kidney deficiency such as enuresis, nocturnal emission, impotence, irregular menstruation, tinnitus, deafness, soreness of waist and knees, etc. You can sit on the edge of the bed before going to bed every day, undress and hang your feet, rub the two Shenshu acupoints back and forth with both hands for 1-2 minutes, until they are hot, and persist every day, which can warm the meridians and relieve pain, warm and replenish kidney yang, prevent nocturnal diarrhea, deafness and dizziness, asthma and shortness of breath and other symptoms of old age weakness.
Rub the abdomen:
Rubbing the abdomen is one of the ancient massage techniques, which is easy to operate and has a wide audience. You can lie flat on the bed, breathe naturally, take the navel as the center, apply force with your palm, stick to the abdominal surface, gradually increase the range of massage, and move clockwise and counterclockwise, each for 36 times, until it is hot. The abdomen is the place where qi and blood are generated. Rubbing the abdomen can not only digest and eliminate stagnation, regulate gastrointestinal discomfort, prevent and treat spleen and stomach diseases, but also increase vitality, make the qi and blood generation function vigorous, and play a role in preventing and treating diseases.
Knead the Zusanli acupoint:
Zusanli acupoint is located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, about three finger-widths below the knee.
This acupoint is a key acupoint for strengthening and self-care. When self-care massage, lean forward, use the index and middle fingers to make a circular press and knead, which can be clockwise or counterclockwise. Press and knead 30 times on each side. It can play a role in nourishing the spleen and stomach and regulating qi and blood. After the end of the press and knead, you can also use both hands to make fists and tap. At the same time, the Zusanli acupoint also has the effect of replenishing the middle and nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, so it is a key acupoint for adjusting the deficiency and exhaustion.
Rub the Yongquan acupoint:
The Yongquan Acupoint, also known as the Kidney 1 (KI-1) point, is located on the sole of the foot at the depression just in front of the ball of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones. This acupoint is considered significant in traditional Chinese medicine and is often used for various therapeutic purposes.
The Yongquan acupoint is the starting point of the foot Shaoyin kidney meridian. Rubbing the Yongquan acupoint can play a role in refreshing the brain and opening the orifices, replenishing the kidney and hearing. Place the left (right) lower limb flat on the opposite knee, use the right (left) palm to stick to the Yongquan acupoint, and rub it back and forth 30-50 times, until it is hot, and alternate the feet. Rubbing the Yongquan acupoint can not only relieve physical fatigue and make our body full of vitality, but also strengthen the body, strengthen the waist and knees, and have the effects of longevity, beauty and face.
Scraping can relieve neck, shoulder and eye discomfort
For the neck, shoulder, waist and eye discomfort caused by frequent and long-term use of electronic products, you can use the scraping method to relieve it.
When scraping, scrape from the head to the back from top to bottom, scrape the Du meridian and bladder meridian, until the skin is red, and the sha is the degree. You can massage the temples, Sibai acupoints, Zanzhu acupoints, etc. to relieve eye discomfort.
Acupuncture and cupping can remove “dampness and cold”
In clinical practice, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is widely used to remove “dampness and cold”. For example, moxibustion and cupping are often used to dispel cold and dampness, and they have high clinical frequency and good effects. Chinese medicine acupuncture and moxibustion has been passed down and applied to this day because of its good efficacy, no side effects, and a wide range of indications. Acupuncture and moxibustion is a world intangible cultural heritage and a representative of green therapy.
In clinical cupping methods, the retention cupping method generally lasts for 10-15 minutes; but pay attention to adjust according to the patient’s tolerance, negative pressure in the cup and other factors, to avoid the effect of too short retention time; or too long retention time, resulting in skin blisters.
How often to cup depends mainly on the condition, and appropriate adjustments are made for different diseases. Cupping can generally take a bath after 3-5 hours, but pay attention to the water temperature, avoid cold and cold, etc. If methods such as bloodletting cupping are used, be sure to follow the doctor’s advice and avoid local skin infections.
The bottom line
In summary, there are many Chinese medicine self-care methods that are suitable for home use. Through food nourishment, medicine nourishment, and skill nourishment, you can enhance your physical fitness, prevent diseases, and achieve longevity. Among them, massage, scraping, acupuncture, cupping, etc. are simple and effective Chinese medicine appropriate technology self-care, which can relieve neck, shoulder, waist and eye discomfort, remove dampness and cold, regulate qi and blood, replenish the kidney and brain. I hope you can choose the appropriate Chinese medicine self-care method according to your own situation and maintain your physical and mental health.
