Main qi-points

These are found on the following meridians: bladder (blue), small intestine (red), gall bladder (green), sanjiao (red), stomach (yellow), and du and ren (black).

YINTANG – extra point

Midway between the inner ends of the eyebrows. Treats insomnia and calms the mind.

TAIYANG – extra point

In a depression approximately 1 cun to the side of the outer corner of the eye and eyebrow.

The point is calming, treats lateral headaches and eases head cold symptoms.

FOR A REFRESHING AND CALMING FACIAL MASSAGE:

Press and knead BL 2 bilaterally with your middle fingers at least fifty times. Repeat on SJ 23, GB 1, ST 1, GB 13, GB 14 and taiyang points for healthy eyes.

For good hearing, press and knead SI 19, GB 2 and SJ 17 .

For clear sinuses, press and knead LI 20 and ST 3 .

For healthy jaws, press and knead ST 6, ST 7 and DU 26 .

1 KNEADING

With your partner lying on their back, stand behind the head. Use the heels of both hands to knead firmly from the midline of the forehead over GB 14 towards taiyang on the temples. Knead the taiyang points about twenty times and progressively knead the sides of the head to just above the ears, finishing on GB 8 . Repeat twenty times.

Kneading GB 13, GB 14, taiyang and GB 8 clears and refreshes the head.

2 HEEL OF THE THUMB KNEADING THE FACE

Starting on the forehead, use the fleshy area (LU 10 – see here ) at the base of the thumb to vigorously knead across the forehead from one temple to the other, using a relaxed side-to-side rocking action. Repeat for several minutes. Then tilt the head to one side and knead down the cheek area, around the chin, then – tilting the head the other way – up the other cheek and around the forehead, to complete the cycle. Repeat several times.

This technique enhances blood and qi-flow to the skin with excellent cosmetic results.

3 THUMB KNEADING THE FACE

With quick, firm thumb strokes, push outwards from the midline of the forehead at yintang over the eyebrows to the taiyang points on the temples (see right). Repeat several times, moving your starting point from the eyebrows to the hairline on the du meridian.

Repeat this technique on the cheeks, starting from ST 3 , just below the eyes, then from LI 20, DU 26 and, finally, from R 24 , moving progressively down the face with each stroke, always finishing on the taiyang points.

Improves blood flow in the skin, making the face glow.

4 THUMB RUBBING THE FOREHEAD

From the yintang point between the eyebrows, use rapid, alternate thumb strokes, up the centre of the forehead.

5 THUMB ROCKING

Place the thumb pad on the yintang point, keeping your fingers straight. Moving the relaxed hand with side-to-side swinging movements, thumb rock for several minutes.

Yintang powerfully relaxes and calms the mind, leading to good sleep.

6 KNEADING THE SCALP

With the fingers of both hands, knead the entire scalp vigorously. Keep contact throughout and use small side-to-side or circular movements.

Boosts hair growth and stimulates the brain.

7 RUBBING THE HEAD

Starting with your left hand on the right side of your partner’s head, rub to and fro around the outer edge of the ear along the gall bladder meridian with the tips of your fingers and thumb. The motion comes from a sideways rocking of the wrist. Repeat with your right hand on the left-hand side.

Rubbing over GB 8 will ease and prevent tension headaches.

8 PRESSING SCALP MERIDIANS

With your thumbs one on top of the other, press from yintang to DU 20 . Press firmly, repeating several times. Repeat on the bladder meridian, starting at BL 2 , and again on the gall bladder meridian, starting from GB 14 .

Pressing the du, bladder and gall bladder meridians stimulates the body’s yang energies to clear and relax the mind.

9 PULLING THE NECK

Slide your fingers under the neck to the occipital region of the skull. Knead both GB 20 and BL 10 (see here ) firmly for several minutes. Hook the index and middle fingers into GB 20 on both sides, lift and pull gently, holding the position for one minute.

Excellent treatment for headache and tense, painful neck muscles.

10 LIFTING THE NECK

Line up the fingers of both your hands under the neck on either side of the spine on the bladder meridian. With your fingertips, lift first one side of the neck and then the other, so that the head rocks from side to side. Repeat several times.

This helps to relax tense neck muscles and relieves a stiff neck.

11 KNEADING THE NECK

Lift the head and turn it gently to one side. Thumb knead along the band of muscle from below the ear towards the collarbone. Press and knead GB 20 and BL 10 (see here ). Repeat on the other side.

Good for side neck pain, while GB 20 and BL 10 can treat all headaches.