What to do if Qi and blood are not flowing smoothly? Just turn on a few "blood activation switches" and it will be done

There is a folk saying that "if the qi and blood are unobstructed, there will be no pain; if there is pain, the pain will be different". Due to qi deficiency and blood deficiency, the elderly often have problems with poor blood circulation, which makes them prone to minor ailments such as pain here and discomfort there. Lin Min, chief Chinese medicine doctor of the Tuina Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, teaches you a few tricks that will help turn on the body's "blood circulation switch" in just a few minutes a day.

【head】

Tapping and combing more often can improve brain function and calm nerves

Lin Min introduced that activating blood circulation in the head starts with massage, which mainly uses tapping and combing techniques. The knocking method is to relax the fingers, slightly separate the five fingers, and use the fingertips to knock elastically; the gesture of the combing method is similar to the knocking method, which is to use the fingernails to make a combing motion from front to back.

Next, you can press and rub the Fengchi point. Fengchi point is an acupuncture point on the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang. It has the functions of improving hearing and eyesight, strengthening the brain and calming the mind. This acupoint is level with the posterior hairline, between the depressions at the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper end of the trapezius muscle. This acupoint can be massaged by pressing or rubbing. First, cross the fingers of both hands, then raise both thumbs, place your hands behind your head, and press the Fengchi acupoint with the tips of both thumbs. Pay attention to apply force upwards, and apply force on your forehead. There will be a noticeable feeling of soreness and swelling. Then place both thumbs flat, and rub up and down with the fingertips. Rub quickly so that the acupoint feels slightly warm.

【Chest】

Rubbing the Tanzhong point can activate blood circulation

The main acupoint for promoting blood circulation in the chest is Tanzhong point, which treats all diseases related to qi and is closely related to the cardiopulmonary functions. This acupoint is located on the front midline of the body, level with the fourth intercostal space, and level with the line connecting the two nipples for men. The Tanzhong point can be treated by rubbing and pressing. When rubbing, use the thenar eminence of your palm, where there is the thenar acupoint belonging to the lung meridian. Use the thenar eminence to quickly rub the Tanzhong point up and down until you feel a slight warmth. The acupoint method requires you to put your five fingers together and use the fingertips to tap the acupoints flexibly. Be careful not to use too much force on the acupoints on the chest. When tapping, divide the points into three horizontal lines and tap from the inside to the outside. Be careful not to tap the Ruzhong point (i.e. the nipple area).

【abdomen】

Regular massage can strengthen the stomach and intestines and strengthen the body

To activate blood circulation in the abdomen, you can use patting and massage. The patting method is to use an empty palm, with five fingers together and slightly bent, with the palm empty. When patting, the fingertips and thenar and hypothenar eminences should touch the part being patted. You can stand or lie flat when patting, and cooperate with abdominal breathing (the abdomen rises when inhaling and sinks when exhaling). This breathing method can greatly improve the body's use of qi. After inhaling, hold your breath, keep your abdomen bulging, and pat the Shenque point on your navel with the palm of your empty hand.

The number and intensity of patting depends on individual constitution. You can start with fewer reps and lighter force, and then gradually increase the number and strength. The patting method is usually performed on an empty stomach and should not be performed within 1 hour after a meal.

The massage method is relatively simple. You just need to overlap your hands, place them on your abdomen, and massage in a clockwise direction. You can use a little force when you reach the lower left abdomen. Lin Min introduced that abdominal massage can improve gastrointestinal function and promote intestinal peristalsis, and patting the abdomen can also strengthen the body and improve physical fitness.