🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Overwork and poor posture often lead to waist and back pain. Here we introduce a simple, effective back massage method that helps relax tense back muscles and provides varying degrees of auxiliary treatment for waist and back pain, muscle strain, and spinal disorders.
Massage by Another Person:
Use a firm bed of suitable height (best if it's a solid wooden board; a firm mattress is acceptable). Have the patient lie prone (face down on the bed). After washing hands, the operator stands on the patient’s right side and performs the following steps sequentially:
Pinch and Lift Jianjing
Place the thumb on the Jianjing acupoint (located at the shoulder back, midpoint between the lateral end of the shoulder and the spine level line), with the other four fingers lightly supporting the front of the shoulder, opposite the thumb. Apply force to lift the entire shoulder muscle group alternately—lifting and releasing. Keep the whole palm in contact with the shoulder, apply moderate force to fully lift the muscle. This action relaxes neck and shoulder muscles and effectively relieves fatigue. Gentle pressure can even help treat insomnia.
Press and Knead the Waist and Back
Place the palm root or knuckles on the muscles on both sides of the spine (start with the left side, then the right), performing quick, gentle circular motions. Ensure the hand presses firmly on the muscle, avoiding friction on the skin. After pressing and kneading at a fixed spot for several seconds, move the hand down by one palm width, repeat until reaching above the buttocks.
Lift and Pinch Jiaji
Use one or both hands’ thumbs and index fingers to grasp a strip of muscle beside the spine, lifting it while moving upward or downward. Start from top to bottom (from below the neck to above the buttocks), then reverse direction (from above the buttocks to below the neck). Repeat two full cycles. Maintain symmetry during lifting and pinching—avoid twisting or gripping tightly.
Point and Press Back Shu
Place the fingertips of both thumbs on either side of the Dazhui acupoint, about one finger-width away. Apply steady pressure and hold for several seconds, then move down about 1 cm and repeat. Continue until reaching above the buttocks. If sensitive or painful spots are encountered, extend the pressure time slightly—these points may indicate bodily discomfort, and pressing can partially relieve it.
Friction at Dazhui
Place the palm on the Dazhui acupoint (the depression below the most prominent vertebra where the neck meets the chest when the head is lowered), repeatedly rubbing back and forth (alternating hands) 20–30 times. This helps eliminate fatigue in the neck and shoulders, dispels wind-cold, and prevents colds.
Push and Press the Spine
Place both palm roots on either side of the spine, palms facing inward, fingertips outward. Push and press outward simultaneously. Begin at the neck and shoulders, push to the shoulder joint, then return to the spine sides. Repeat starting from a point slightly lower than the previous one. Continue from the back down to the waist.