TUI NA SELF-TREATMENT

Tui Na identifies healthcare qi-points that are particularly effective for stimulating qi and blood flow, thus maintaining balance between the organ functions and inhibiting the onset of stagnation. For general good health, you can give yourself a daily workout, kneading the healthcare qi-points listed below. The whole-body routine works on all these points. The positions of these points are shown and described on the meridian illustrations here .

Daily healthcare qi-points for well-being

For general well-being, press and knead these healthcare qi-points at least daily.

• Start on the head and knead:
  DU 20, yintang
   
• Use the middle and/or index fingers of both hands to knead:
  BL 2, SJ 23, GB 13, GB 14, taiyang, GB 8
  LI 20, SI 19, SJ 17
  GB 20, BL 10
  GB 21 one side at a time
   
• Working on each arm in turn, use the thumb and middle and index fingers to knead:
  LI 15 and SJ 14 together
  LI 11 and H 3 together
  SJ 5 and P 6 together
   
• Thumb knead each hand in turn and then shake your wrists vigorously, using:
  H 7, P 7, LU 9, P 8, LI 4, SJ 3
   
• Nail press and then pull each finger, using:
  LU 11, LI 1, SJ 1, SI 1, H 9, P 9
   
• Lying on your back, knead:
  R 17, R 12, R 10, R 6, R 4, ST 25, SP 15
   
• Put both your hands behind your waist and thumb knead:
  BL 23
   
• Using both your knuckles, knead vigorously:
  GB 30
   
• Using the thumbs of both hands, knead the inner leg qi-points:
  SP 9, SP 6, K 3, K 6
   
• Using the index, middle and fourth fingers to do circular kneading with both hands, knead the outer leg qi-points:
  ST 36, GB 34, ST 40
   
• If you can reach your feet, knead each foot separately, using:
  LIV 3, K 1, SP 3, SP 4
  CAUTION: don’t use LI 4 or SP 6 during pregnancy.

If you have a like-minded partner, you should have all the back shu points, from BL 11 to BL 26 , kneaded every day.

Everyone can benefit from a daily Tui Na session.

Daily Tui Na – self-pummelling the meridians

Everyone can benefit from a daily Tui Na session. The best method is to pummel all the accessible parts of the body and knead the essential qi- points. If you make this a daily routine, you will boost your ‘feel-good’ factor and slow down the ageing process.

Start pummelling with your right hand down the inside of your left arm to the hand and then up the outside. Repeat several times. Then work with your left hand on the right arm. Support your right elbow with your left hand as you pummel across the top of the left shoulder, reaching GB 21 . Repeat on the other side.

Using both hands, pummel the front of the chest, particularly in the region of the qi-points LU 1 and LU 2 . From standing, bend forwards and pummel down both sides of the back and buttocks to stimulate the bladder meridian and GB 30 . Then, using the heels of both hands, vigorously rub BL 23 to stimulate the kidney.

Remaining in the forward-leaning position, move the legs apart and pummel down the outside and then up the inside of both the legs simultaneously. Lift one leg onto a chair, as high as is comfortable, and pummel with both hands up and down. Repeat for the other leg.