🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Overwork and improper posture often lead to back and waist discomfort. Below is a simple back and waist massage method that helps relax tense back muscles and provides varying degrees of auxiliary treatment for back pain, waist pain, muscle strain, and thoracic-lumbar disorders.Massage by Another Person:Use a hard bed of suitable height (best if 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 in sequence:Pinching and Lifting the Shoulder Well (Jianjing)Place the thumb on the Jianjing point (located at the midpoint of the horizontal line connecting the outer end of the shoulder and the spine), with the other four fingers lightly supporting the front of the shoulder, opposite the thumb. Lift the entire shoulder muscle alternately up and down. Ensure the whole palm maintains contact with the shoulder, apply moderate force, and lift the entire muscle mass. This action relaxes neck and shoulder muscles and effectively relieves fatigue. Gentle pressure can also help treat insomnia.Pressing and Rubbing the Back and WaistPlace the palm heel or knuckles on the muscles on both sides of the spine (start with the left side, then the right). Perform quick, gentle circular motions, ensuring the hand presses firmly into the muscle without rubbing the skin. Hold pressure at a fixed spot for several seconds, then move downward by one palm width, repeating the process until reaching above the buttocks.Lifting and Pinching the Spinal Muscle BeltUse the thumb and index finger of one or both hands to grasp and lift the longitudinal muscle beside the spine, moving up and down while lifting and pinching. First from top to bottom (from below the neck to above the buttocks), then from bottom to top (from above the buttocks to below the neck). Repeat this motion twice. Maintain symmetry during lifting and avoid twisting or gripping too tightly.Point Pressure on Back-Shu PointsPlace both thumbs at the lateral sides of Dazhui (GV14), about one finger-width away. Apply steady pressure and hold for several seconds, then move down about one centimeter and repeat. Continue until reaching above the buttocks. If sensitive painful areas are encountered, extend the pressure time slightly. Painful spots may indicate underlying health issues, and point pressure can partially alleviate these symptoms.Friction at Dazhui PointPlace the palm on the Dazhui point (the depression just below the most prominent vertebra where the neck meets the thorax when the head is bent forward). Rub repeatedly (alternating hands) 20–30 times. This action eliminates fatigue in neck and shoulder muscles, dispels wind-cold, and helps prevent colds.Pushing and Pressing the BackPlace both palm heels on either side of the spine, palms facing inward, fingertips facing outward. Push and press simultaneously outward. Start from the neck and shoulders, push to the shoulder joint, then return to the spinal sides. Begin again slightly lower than the previous starting point. Continue this process from the back down to the waist.