THE FIRST REGIME

EXTERNALLY PATTING THE EIGHT SUBTLE MERIDIANS AND TWELVE CAVITIES

Patting is an ancient method of the arts of nourishing life massage; it is usually referred to as kneading or shampooing the muscles. Practices such as pressing the skin, pushing and grasping, and relaxing the bones have developed from this art. The practice of kneading can also include the use of wooden pestles, bean and pebble sacks, and even iron rods (primarily in the martial art world).

The Eight Subtle Qi Meridians are not meridians normally associated with acupuncture. In fact, only two of these meridians—the Control meridian and Function meridian—have associated acupuncture points along their paths. These Eight Subtle Meridians are the channels in which the ching is accumulated and mobilized.

Acupuncture meridians are associated with the flow and accumulation of qi. When the Eight Subtle Meridians are obstructed, neither ching nor qi can move through the channels and collaterals properly, so the stimulation of these subtle meridians is crucial to the adept.

Normally, the entire meridian is massaged, but in most cases it is only necessary to pat just around the areas of the Twelve Cavities associated with the meridians, such as the Returning Yin cavity, the Gates of Life cavity, and so forth. On the following pages, you’ll find diagrams showing the paths of these meridians, along with a diagram of the Twelve Cavities. Each area requires a somewhat different approach to patting, and the different approaches are given with the descriptions of the meridians and cavities. The correct procedure is to pat the cavities and massage the pathways of the meridians.

Whereas the exercises of the Eight Brocades indeed stimulate these Eight Subtle Meridians, the aim here is to help further the process through external stimulation, especially in the important Function and Control meridians.

The whole subject of kneading is extensive. From ancient times, the Chinese have made use of numerous methods of kneading for curing disease and illness, as well as for nourishing their qi. It is without question an entire science within the self-healing methods of the arts of nourishing life and is well worth investigation. The methods described here are purely those of simple patting and rubbing. And it is vital that you refrain from patting and rubbing too strenuously; keep the stimulation vigorous and use some pressure, but do not work too deeply.

Although I’ve provided the diagrams showing the pathways of the Eight Subtle Meridians, I have included instructions only on how to massage the Twelve Cavities of the meridians, since in most cases it is necessary only to pat just around these main cavities, and the instructions for rubbing and patting these cavities should be more than sufficient for stimulating and accumulating ching and qi. The diagrams follow this brief introduction and the techniques for massaging the Twelve Cavities are subsequently presented.

The reason these meridians are called subtle is that they are not in effect qi meridians as you would find in acupuncture, with the exceptions of the Function and Control meridians, which are both ching and qi meridians—and this is the reason they predominate in the practice of inner self-cultivation. Hence, the intention of the first two regimes in externally patting and internally opening the cavities is precisely to stimulate blood flow in these routes and areas so that ching will accumulate. This in turn strengthens the qi so that it, too, can accumulate in these routes and areas. But too often authors erroneously encourage their readers to simply visualize the qi circulating through these pathways, which only ends in vain.

To truly experience qi circulation in these meridians, one cannot overlook the following basic requirements: increased blood circulation for the accumulation of ching; regulated breath control for the accumulation of qi; a focused intent to bring about the spirit.

The Eight Diagram images associated with the Eight Subtle Meridians correspond to the Fu Hsi arrangement, which is representative of the external realms and corresponds with the external practice of stimulationg these pathways and centers.

The Eight Subtle Meridians

CONTROL MERIDIAN (TU MO)

This meridian begins at the Tailbone cavity and ascends up the spine, continues over the top of the head, and ends on the gum below the nose. This meridian is represented by Heaven (Ch’ien).

FUNCTION MERIDIAN (JEN MO)

This meridian begins at the Returning Yin cavity, travels directly up the center of the front of the body, and ends just below the lower lip. This meridian is represented by Earth (K’un).

BELT MERIDIAN (TAI MO)

This meridian begins and ends at the Ocean of Qi cavity, traveling completely around the waist. This meridian is represented by fire (li).

THRUSTING MERIDIAN (CH’UANG MO)

This meridian begins at the Returning Yin cavity, travels up through the genital region, and then rises directly between the Control meridian and Function meridian paths, ending at the heart organ. This meridian is represented by water (k’an).

YANG ARM MERIDIAN (YANG WEI MO)

This meridian begins in the Ocean of Qi cavity, moves upward and across both the right and left sides of the chest, into the inner portion of both arms, down into the Dragon and Tiger cavities, and to the tips of the middle fingers. This meridian is represented by valley (tui).

YANG ARM MERIDIAN (YANG WEI MO)

This meridian travels up from the Gates of Life cavity, across both sides of the upper back, through the scapula, into the front area of the arms, and down to the tips of the little fingers. This meridian is represented by wind (sun).

YANG LEG MERIDIAN (YANG CHIAO MO)

This meridian begins on the bottom of the left and right heels, turns outward at the ankles and travels up the outside of the legs and along the left and right sides of the body, up through and meeting at the Mysterious Pass cavity, separating again and traveling over the left and right sides of the head into the Jade Pillow cavity. This meridian is represented by mountain (ken).

YANG LEG MERIDIAN (YANG CHIAO MO)

This meridian begins at the insteps of both feet, travels up the inner part of the legs, meets in the Returning Yin cavity region, and proceeds directly up the center of the body into the Mysterious Pass cavity. This meridian is represented by thunder (chen).

The Twelve Cavities: Methods for Self-Massage

When performing these methods, always start with the left (yang) hand. When the instructions say to rub or pat with the fingers, this means to use the pads of the fingers. Other than when rubbing and patting the small area between the eyebrows (the Mysterious Pass cavity) use all four fingers to circle and pat around each cavity, visualized as an area approximately three inches in diameter.

Rubbing is done in two ways: first, using the left hand (finger pads, sides of the fingers, palms, or fists, depending on the cavity) and then following with the right hand, or second, rubbing with both hands at the same time. When rubbing with the left hand, circle in one direction around the cavity thirty-six times, and grasp the right hand firmly, making the Tiger fist, so that you close off the meridian and generate more heat. Then switch positions and circle the right hand around the cavity in the opposite direction thirty-six times and make the Dragon fist with the left hand.

Patting can be done first with the left-hand fingers (finger pads, sides of the fingers, or palms, depending on the cavity) and then with the right-hand fingers, or in an alternating fashion—once with the left hand and then immediately following with the right, then with the left again, and so on.

When directed to heat a cavity, hold the breath and rub the palms together (or, for the Mysterious Pass cavity, rub the index and middle fingers of the left hand into the middle of the right palm in order to heat the fingertips), cover the cavity area with the left hand (palm or fingers, depending on the instructions), place the right hand on the lower abdomen, and perform nine natural breaths.

Although individual instructions will vary, the above information contains the basic ideas for massaging, patting, and heating the Twelve Cavities.

Returning Yin (hui yin): this cavity is located in the perineum area, the soft fleshy area between the anus and penis/vagina base.

• Using the fingers, rub the Returning Yin cavity thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the inner thighs and area of the Returning Yin cavity forty-eight times.

The Twelve Cavities

Tailbone (wei lu): rub the area of the tailbone and upper buttocks; pat the tip of the tailbone.

• Using the palm sides of the thumb and index fingers of both hands, simultaneously rub the tailbone and upper buttocks thirty-six times.
• Using the fingers, pat the tailbone twenty-four times with the left hand, then twenty-four times with the right.

Gates of Life (ching men): rub the hollow spaces of the lower back, the concave areas located to the sides of the spine; pat the cavity located at the dip of the curve of the spine, directly opposite of the navel.

• Using the back of each fist, simultaneously rub around the Gates of Life cavity thirty-six times.
• Using the sides of the index fingers, alternately pat the Gates of Life cavity forty-eight times.

Double Pass (shuang kuan): this cavity is located in the middle of the back directly over the protruding vertebrae.

• Bringing each arm over the shoulder and using the fingers, pat the Double Pass cavity twenty-four times with the left hand, then twenty-four times with the right.
• If this proves too difficult, draw in the shoulders forty-eight times, pulling them forward and then releasing the pressure.

Kiln of Tao (t’ao tao): rub the entire neck and pat the area covering the base of the neck and the first three vertebrae. (The kiln of Tao cavity is located right on the vertebra that protrudes at the base of the neck.)

• Using the fingers, rub the Kiln of Tao thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Kiln of Tao forty-eight times.

Jade Pillow (yu chen): rub and pat the areas of the upper neck and the Heavenly Drum, the hollow space where the neck attaches to the skull.

• Using the fingers, rub the Jade Pillow cavity thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Jade Pillow cavity forty-eight times.

Hundred Gatherings (pai hui): this cavity is located on top of the head in the area of the soft spot we had as babies.

• Using the fingers, rub the Hundred Gatherings cavity thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right. Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Hundred Gatherings cavity forty-eight times. Stop the breath and rub the palms of both hands until they are hot. Then heat the Hundred Gatherings cavity with the left palm, and the lower abdomen with the right palm.
• Breathe nine times.

Court of Heaven (t’ien ting): this cavity is located at the top of the forehead.

• Using the fingers, rub the Court of Heaven thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Court of Heaven forty-eight times.
• Using the palms, heat the Court of Heaven and the lower abdomen-left hand on the Court of Heaven, right hand on the lower abdomen.
• Breathe nine times.

Mysterious Pass (hsuan kuan): this cavity is located between the eyebrows where the nose attaches to the skull.

• Using the fingers of both hands, simultaneously rub from the Mysterious Pass cavity out to the temples and back thirty-six times.
• Rub the Mysterious Pass cavity thirty-six times with just the left-hand index and middle fingers, then thirty-six times with the right-hand index and middle fingers.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Mysterious Pass cavity forty-eight times.
• Heat the Mysterious Pass cavity and the lower abdomen. First, rub the index and middle fingers of the left hand into the Tiger cavity (middle of the palm) of the right hand. When the fingers and palm are hot, place the two fingers of the left hand onto the Mysterious Pass cavity and the palm of the right hand on the lower abdomen.
• Breathe nine times.

Bright Palace (chiang kung): this cavity is located in the solar plexus region at the base of the sternum.

• Using the palms, rub the Bright Palace cavity thirty-six times with the left hand, then thirty-six times with the right.
• Using the fingers of both hands, alternately pat the Bright Palace cavity forty-eight times.

Ocean of Qi (qi hai): rub and pat the area from the pubic bone to the navel.

• Using the palms of both hands, alternately pat the Ocean of Qi cavity forty-eight times.
• Using the palms, place the left hand on the Ocean of Chi cavity, with the right hand placed on top, and rub seventy-two times, first to the left (counterclockwise) thirty-six times, and then to the right (clockwise) thirty-six times.
• Using the palms of both hands, heat the Ocean of Chi cavity—left hand on the bottom, right hand on top.
• Breathe nine times.

Tiger’s Mouth (hu k’o): this cavity is located in the area between the bones of the thumb and index finger.

• Using the left-hand thumb, rub the Tiger’s Mouth cavity of the right hand thirty-six times. Then, using the right-hand thumb, rub the Tiger’s Mouth cavity of the left hand thirty-six times.
• Using the left-hand thumb, rub the Tiger cavity of the right-hand palm thirty-six times. Then, using the right-hand thumb, rub the Dragon cavity of the left-hand palm thirty-six times. These cavities are located directly in the middle of each palm.
• Rub the finger pads of both middle fingers together forty-eight times.

Bubbling Well (yung ch’uan): rub from the the central area of the bottom of each foot to the center of the balls of the feet.

• Using the thumbs of both hands, simultaneously rub the respective Bubbling Well cavities of each foot thirty-six times.
• Using the right-hand fingers, pat the bottom of the entire left foot, including the instep and heel area, forty-eight times. Then, using the left-hand fingers, pat the same area on the right foot forty-eight times.
• Using the palms of both hands, heat the Bubbling Well cavity of the left foot: place the right palm on the bottom of the foot and the left palm on top of the foot, so the palms are directly opposite each other. The two hands cradle the foot.
• Breathe nine times.
• Heat the Bubbling Well cavity of the right foot, placing the left palm on the bottom of the foot and the right palm on top of the foot.
• Breathe nine times.
• Conclude with the Restoring Youthfulness practice: hold the breath while you rub the hands together to heat them; then cup them over the face, fingertips touching the eyebrows. Breathe nine times. Heat the hands again and lightly rub the face thirty-six times.