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Whole Meridian Massage Therapy

by Zhu Gang(more info)

listed in massage, originally published in issue 119 - January 2006

Introduction

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that there is a channel system in the human body which makes it into an organic entirety by joining the tissues, viscera and organs together. Meridians are the route of viscera and body surface. They can promote circulation of blood and energy, connect the viscera and extremities and communicate with the interior, exterior, upper and lower areas.

Under the theory of TCM, whole Meridian Massage Therapy acts in accord with the meridians and the circulation route of the channels and the direction of Qi and blood. The therapy can adjust the organs, eliminate disease and enhance the physique by using all kinds of massage manipulations to stimulate the corresponding channels, points and reflex points directly. It can also balance Yin and Yang by stimulating the transformation of contradiction of the internal organs through the conduction of channels.

Following several years of clinical practice, I found that TCM Whole Meridian Massage Therapy a simple and effective method with no-side effects for curing a sub-healthy state, is easily accepted by the people in a sub-healthy state.

Feature

During treatment, I found Whole Meridian Massage Therapy to have the following two characteristics in curing sub-health:

1. Regulates the body as a whole: the manipulations can stimulate the channel system, strengthen internal energy, regulate the function of viscera, refresh and maintain the human body for normal activities, harmonize the function of viscera tissues and organs and enhance the immunity, thus rectifying the sub-healthy state.
2. Easily accepted by people: during the process of applying Whole Meridian Massage Therapy I adopt many gentle manipulations in order to make clients feel relaxed and comfortable. Clients then feel delighted and easily fall asleep when treated with Whole Meridian Massage Therapy.

Manipulation

Manipulations of Whole Meridian Massage Therapy are as follows:

The Head

The recipient is in the supine position.

1. Pushing and wiping Tian Men: Push and wipe head with thumbs alternatively from Yin Tang to Shen Ting ten times.
2. Wiping Shuang Liu: Push towards two sides with your thumb pads from Yin Tang to Tai Yang ten times.
3. Kneading and pressing the five channels: Knead and press the five channels gently with both hands for ten times. (One channel is in the middle of Du Channel on the top of the head, two channels are the Urinary Bladder Channels of the foot Tai Yang on either side of the body, two channels are the Gall Bladder Channels of the foot Shao Yang on either side of body.)

The Neck and Shoulder

The recipient is in the prone position.

1. Grasping Jian Jing: open the two palms, then place the thumb pads on Jian Jing and the four fingers on the back of the shoulders, lift up the muscles for two or three minutes.
2. Digital-hitting and pressing Feng Chi and Feng Fu: Press Feng Chi and Feng Fu with each thumb pad for one minute.
3. Twisting and rubbing scapula area: Twist and rub with base of palms from Jian Jing, the eighth vertebra thoracalis, the back of scapula, Jian Zhen, armpit, arm, repeat two or three times.

The Lower Lumbus

The recipient is in the prone position.

1. Plucking and kneading the Bladder Channel: Pluck and knead the Bladder Channel with thumbs or base of palms along both sides of the vertebrae, up and down three or five times.
2. Kneading and grasping the muscles of the lower lumbus: Knead and grasp the muscles of the lower lumbus with fingers of one hand or both hands. Repeat five times.
3. Rubbing the lumbosacral area, Ming Men and Ba Liao: Rub the lumbosacral area, Ming Men and Ba Liao with the palms for two to three minutes until it is hot.

The Upper Limbs

The recipient is in the supine position.

Knead and grasp the muscles of the upper limbs, from up and down, inside to outside, with both hands side by side, repeat five times.

The Lower Limbs

The recipient is in the prone position.

1. Digital-hitting and pressing Zu San Li: Digital-hit and press Zu San Li with two overlaid thumbs for one minute.
2. Twisting and kneading the core of the foot: Rub and knead the Yong Quan with both thumb pads ten times.

The Abdomen

The recipient is in supine position.

Overlay your palms, then knead and rub the stomach with the Shen Que as the centre.

Case Study

Mr Zhao, 30 years-old. He has been a scientific researcher since graduating. His work environment and complex interpersonal relations, caused him to lose interest in his work. He became distracted, depressed and weak, and could not sleep well. These symptoms continued even after taking some medication for three months. Later he received Whole Meridian Massage Therapy. After two months the symptoms disappeared and he started working with more energy and became ardent as before.

Ms Gao, an advanced engineer, 56 years-old. On retiring, she could not adapt to her new environment, and was not happy. Moreover, she experienced the following symptoms: insomnia, unstable emotions, abnormal sweating due to debility, etc. She took several kinds of medicine. However, the results were not satisfying. On the recommendation of a friend, she received our Whole Meridian Massage Therapy. Three months later, she became more high-spirited and started sleeping well.

Location of the Points and Channels

Tianmen (is not an acupuncture point)
Location: The straight line from the midpoint of two brows to hair

Yintang (EX-HN3 )
Location: At the midpoint of the line between the medical ends of the two eyebrows.

Shenting (DU24)
Location: 0.5 cm directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline
Shuangliu means brows, is not an acupuncture point.

Taiyang (EX-HN5)
Location: In the depression about 1 cm posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus.

Du Channel
1. The Course of Du Channel arises from the lower abdomen and emerges from the perineum.
2. Then it runs posteriorly along the interior of the spinal column.
3. to Fengfu (DU16) at the nape, where it enters the brain
4. It further ascends to the vertex
5. and winds along the forehead to the nasal column.

The Bladder Channel of Foot-Taiyang
1. The Bladder Channel of Foot-Taiyang starts from the inner canthus
2. Ascending to the forehead
3. it meets the Du Channel at the vertex.
4. The branch arising at the vertex runs to the temple.
5. The straight portion of the channel enters and communicates with the brain from the vertex
6. It then emerges and bifurcates to descend along the posterior aspect of the neck.
7. Running downward along the medial aspect of the scapula region and paralled to the vertebral column
8. it reaches the lumbar region
9. where it enters the body cavity via the paravertebral muscle
10. to connect with the kidney
11. and join its pertaining organ, the urinary bladder
12. The branch of the lumbar region descends through the gluteal region
13. and ends in the popliteal fossa.
14. The branch from the posterior aspect of the neck runs straight downward along the medial border of the scapula
15. Passing through the gluteal region and going downward
16. along the lateral aspect of the thigh

17. it meets the preceding branch descending from the lumbar region in the popliteal fossa
18. From there, it descends through the gastrocnemius muscle
19. to the posterior aspect of the external malleous
20. Then, running along the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal bone
21. it reaches the lateral side of the tip of the little toe where it links with the Kidney Channel of Foot-Shaoyin.

Gall Bladder Channel of Foot-Shaoyang
1. The Gallbladder Channel of Foot-Shaoyang starts from the outer canthus (Tongziliao,GB1)
2. goes up to the corner of the forehead (Hanyan, GB4)
3. then curves downward to the retroauricular region (Fengchi GB20)
4. and runs along the side of the neck in front of the Sanjiao Channel of Hand-Shaoyang to the shoulder. Turning back, it traverses and passes behind the Sanjiao Channel of Hand-Shaoyang
5. Down to the supraclavicular fossa
6. The branch arising at the auricle runs from the retroauricular region to enter the ear
7. It then emerges and passes the preauricular region
8. to the posterior aspect of the outer canthus
10. runs downwards to Daying (ST5) and
11. meets the Sanjiao Channel of Hand-Shaoyang in the infraorbital region
12. Passing through Jiache (ST6)
13. it descends to the neck and enters the supraclavicular fossa where it meets the branch which has already reached the place previously
14. From there, it further descends into the chest, passes through the diaphram
15. to connect with the liver and
16. enters its pertaining organ, the gallbladder
17. Then it runs inside the hypochondriac region,
18. comes out from the lateral side of the lower abdomen near the femoral artery at the inguinal region
19. From there it runs superficially along the margin of the pubic hair
20. and goes transversely into the hip region (Huantiao,GB30)
21. The straight portion of the channel runs downward from the supraclavicular fossa
22. passes in front of the axilla
23. along the lateral aspect of the chest
24. and through the floating ribs
25. to the hip region where it meets the previous channel

26. Then it descends along the lateral aspect of the thigh
27. to the lateral side of the knee
28. further downward along the anterior aspect of the fibula
29. all the way to its lower end
30. it reaches the anterior aspect of the external malleolus. It then follows the dorsum of the foot
31. to the lateral side of the tip of the fourth toe.
32. The branch of the dorsum of the foot springs from Zulinqi (GB4), runs between the first and second metatarsal bones to the distal portion of the great toe, passes through the nail, and terminates at its hairy region, where it links with the Liver Channel of Foot-Jueyin.

Jianjin (GB21)
Location: At the midpoint of the line joining Dazhui and the acromion.

Fengchi (GB20)
Location: In the depression between m. sterno-cleidomastoideus and m. trapezius, level with Fengfu.

Fengfu (DU16)
Location: 1 cm directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline.

Jianzhen (S19)
Location: 1 cm above the posterior axillary fold.

Mingmen (DU4)
Location: Below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra.

Baoliao (including Shangliao(BL31), Ciliao(BL32), Zhongliao(BL33) and Xialiao(BL34))
Location: Baliao includes to Shangliao, Ciliao, Zhongliao, Xialiao which locate respectively in the first, second, third and fourth posterior sacral foramen and which are approximately at the midpoint on the line linking the lower border of the posterior superior iliac spine and the Du Channel.

Zusanli (ST36)
Location: 3 cm below Dubi (ST35), one finger-breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia.

Yongquan (KI1)
Location: At the junction between the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the sole (the length of the toe is not included ) in the depression when the foot is in plantar flexion.

Shenjue (RN8)
Location: In the center of the umbilicus.

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About Zhu Gang

Zhu Gang studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and health-care, and has been a professional massage therapist since 1975. He specializes in Whole Meridian Massage Therapy and has published more than 20 clinical case summaries and articles in China. He is the chairman of Hunan Yeahcome Health Care LLC, the Dean of the Yeahcome Massage Hospital and the Vice-Chairman of the China Massage Association of Blind Practitioners. For more information, contact Tel: 86-731-4899333, international@yeahcome.com www.yeahcome.com/en

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