🌿 Folk Prescriptions

During the transition between winter and spring, colds become increasingly common. With numerous medications available on the market, patients often feel overwhelmed when choosing. However, for common colds—a frequent condition—Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tuina massage can yield excellent results.
Clinically, common colds present mainly with nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. Generally, they result from invasion of wind pathogens into the body, with short duration and easy recovery. During winter-spring transitions, colds often involve concurrent cold pathogen, manifesting as chills without sweating, headache, clear nasal discharge, sore throat, cough, thin white phlegm, and persistent cold sensations despite warmth. Alternatively, if wind-cold is not properly treated, the pathogen transforms into heat, producing symptoms such as high fever, sweating, head distension, sore throat, thick nasal discharge, cough, and yellow sticky phlegm—known as heat-transformed type common cold.
Selection of Points
For wind-cold type: Expel wind and dispel cold, release exterior and ventilate lungs. Select points from the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Governor Vessel, and Conception Vessel, combined with relevant points. Key points include Zhongfu (LU1), Fengmen (BL12), Fengchi (GB20), Fengfu (GV16), Feishu (BL13), Hegu (LI4), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Yingxiang (LI20), Jianjing (GB21), and Yintang (GV26).
For heat-transformed type: Dispel wind and clear heat, release exterior and clear lungs. Add Dazhui (GV14), Quchi (LI11), Tiantu (CV22), and Shanzhong (CV17).
Basic Manipulation Techniques
For wind-cold type: Rub Yintang (GV26), Taiyang (EX-HN5), and Yingxiang (LI20); separate and push across the forehead; grasp and press Hegu (LI4) and Wai Guan (SJ5); continue until mild sweating appears. Then forcefully pinch Fengchi (GB20) and Jianjing (GB21), followed by rubbing Zhongfu (LU1), Fengmen (BL12), Fengchi (GB20), and Feishu (BL13) (each for 1–2 minutes). Next, rub the upper back for 1–2 minutes, then pinch and rub the Hand-Taiyin Lung and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridians 1–2 times.
For heat-transformed type: Rub Yintang (GV26), Taiyang (EX-HN5), and Yingxiang (LI20); separate and push across the forehead; then rub along the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridians from shoulder to fingertips, 1–2 times. Focus on pressing Quchi (LI11), Chize (LU5), Wai Guan (SJ5), Hegu (LI4), and Yujì (LU10). Pinch Fengchi (GB20), then firmly press Zhongfu (LU1), Tiantu (CV22), and Shanzhong (CV17). Pinch Jianjing (GB21), massage the upper back for 1–2 minutes, point-press Dazhui (GV14) and Feishu (BL13) (each for 1–2 minutes), tap the upper back to shoulders five times, and stroke along the Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian from upper back to waist five times.
Therapeutic Principles
For wind-cold type: Rubbing Yintang (GV26) and Yingxiang (LI20), separating and pushing the forehead, helps relieve headache and clear nasal passages; pressing Feishu (BL13) and Zhongfu (LU1), combining back-shu and front-mu points, promotes lung ventilation, relieves cough, and clears nasal obstruction; pressing Fengmen (BL12), a meeting point of the Foot-Taiyang and Governor Vessels, disperses wind, stops cough, reduces fever, and alleviates headache and neck stiffness; rubbing and pinching Fengmen (BL12), Fengchi (GB20), and Jianjing (GB21)—points where the Foot-Shaoyang, Yangwei, and Yangqiao vessels meet—relieves exterior symptoms, dispels cold, and eases head and neck pain; rubbing Hegu (LI4), the source point of the Hand-Yangming Meridian, and Wai Guan (SJ5), an Eight Converging Point, promotes wind dispersion, clears heat, relaxes tendons, and enhances exterior-releasing effects.
For heat-transformed type: Point-pressing Dazhui (GV14), the meeting point of all yang meridians, activates yang qi, clears heat effectively; pressing Fengchi (GB20) disperses wind and clears heat; pressing Quchi (LI11), the confluence point of the Hand-Yangming Meridian, and Hegu (LI4) clears lung heat, relieves cough, and eliminates sore throat; pressing Shanzhong (CV17), a meeting point of the Hand- and Foot-Yangming Meridians, and Tiantu (CV22), a meeting point of the Yinwei and Conception Vessels, stops cough and relieves sore throat.
TCM tuina massage effectively treats common colds. Mild cases typically resolve within 3–4 sessions. During treatment, avoid wind and cold. Patients should also pay attention to keeping warm in diet and lifestyle, drink plenty of water, and avoid overexertion. Since massage therapy generally has no adverse reactions, it is especially suitable for children, elderly people, and those planning pregnancy. For pregnant women, certain points like Hegu (LI4) may be omitted under medical guidance.