The Pointing Method employs the protruding knuckle of a bent finger joint as the pressure point, applied to a specific therapeutic area. Evolving from the pressing technique, it falls within the category of pressing methods. Characterized by concentrated force and strong stimulation, it includes three variations: thumb-tip pointing, bent thumb pointing, and bent index finger pointing.
1. Technique Essentials
① Thumb-Tip Point Method: Make a loose fist with the thumb extended and pressed against the radial side of the middle phalanx of the index finger. Apply pressure to the treatment area using the thumb tip as the pressure point.
② Flexed Thumb Pointing Technique: Make a fist with the thumb flexed against the radial side of the middle phalanx of the index finger. Apply pressure to the treatment area using the radial side of the thumb's interphalangeal joint as the pressure point.
③ Flexed Index Finger Pointing Technique: Make a fist with the index finger extended. Apply pressure to the treatment area using the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger as the pressure point.
Pressing Technique
Applying pressure with a finger or palm surface to a specific body area or acupoint, gradually increasing force, is termed the pressing technique. Clinically, it is divided into finger pressing and palm pressing. This technique can also be combined with others: when combined with pressing, it becomes the pressing-and-pressing technique; when combined with kneading, it becomes the pressing-and-kneading technique.
Finger Pressing Technique
A technique where the thumb pad or fingertip presses the body surface is called finger pressing. When single-finger pressure is insufficient, the thumb of the other hand may be overlapped to assist. It is often combined with kneading in clinical practice.
1. Key Technique Points:
① Pressure should be applied vertically downward.
② Apply force gradually from light to heavy, maintaining steady and sustained pressure to ensure the stimulus reaches deep tissues. Avoid sudden, violent force.
③ When ending the technique, do not release pressure abruptly; instead, gradually decrease the force.
2. Applicable Areas: Acupoints throughout the body.
3. Effects: Relieves spasms and pain, warms meridians and dispels cold.
4. Indications: Pain, urinary retention, and similar conditions.
5. Examples:
Epigastric pain: Press Spleen Shu (SP17), Stomach Shu (ST21), or sensitive points along the spine for 1–2 minutes per point. Abdominal pain: Press and knead Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6). Stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders: Press and knead Lieque (LU7) and Houxi (SI3). Toothache: Press and knead Hegu (LI4). Dysmenorrhea: Press and knead Sanyinjiao (SP6).Urinary retention: Press Zhongji (CV6).
Palm Press Technique
Palm press involves applying pressure to the body surface using the heel or entire palm. This technique can be performed with one hand or by overlapping both palms. It may also be combined with kneading.
1. Key Techniques:
① Hold pressure briefly after each press before repeating.
② To increase pressure, extend both elbows and lean the body slightly forward during application, using body weight to assist downward pressure.
2. Suitable Areas: Large, relatively flat body surfaces such as the lumbar-dorsal region and abdomen.
3. Effects: Loosens tendons and meridians, warms the middle burner to dispel cold, promotes blood circulation to remove stasis.
4. Indications:Lumbosacral pain, spinal scoliosis, epigastric and abdominal pain.
5. Illustrative Examples:
Lumbago: Apply palm pressure to the sacrospinalis muscles. Gastric cold pain: Apply palm pressure to the upper abdomen (avoid excessive force), allowing the palm to rise and fall with the patient's breathing.
Rolling Technique
This technique features a large surface contact area, strong yet gentle stimulation force.Primarily used for treating musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system disorders. The technique involves two coordinated movements: forearm rotation and wrist flexion/extension, forming a composite hand maneuver. Pressure is applied from the hypothenar muscles to the dorsal aspects of the fifth and fourth metacarpal bones.
1. Key Technique Points:
① Coordinate forearm rotation with wrist flexion/extension.Specifically, during pronation of the forearm, the wrist must extend, with the hypothenar muscles serving as the force application point. Conversely, during supination of the forearm, the wrist must flex, with the dorsal surfaces of the fifth and fourth metacarpal bones as the force application point. This creates a continuous back-and-forth rolling motion on the body surface. The frequency is approximately 120–160 times per minute.
② Maintain an upright posture. Avoid bending at the waist or arching the back, and do not sway the body.
③ Allow the shoulders to hang naturally. Keep the upper arms 5–10 cm away from the chest wall, and absolutely do not swing the upper arms.
④ Keep the wrists relaxed, with a large range of flexion and extension—approximately 120° (80° of flexion and 40° of extension).
⑤ Avoid dragging the back of the hand across the skin, bouncing, pressing with force, or striking the treatment area with the back of the hand.
2. Applicable Areas: Muscularly dense regions such as the neck, shoulders, back, waist, hips, and limbs.
3. Effects: Relaxes tendons, promotes blood circulation, relieves spasms and pain, releases adhesions, and improves joint mobility.
4. Indications: Rheumatic aches, skin numbness, limb paralysis, and motor dysfunction.
5. Illustrative Examples:
Lower back pain: Focus on the sacrospinalis muscles. Frozen shoulder: Target the deltoid muscle with this technique, supplemented by passive joint movements.Sciatica: Apply along the Bladder Meridian from the buttocks, posterior thigh, popliteal fossa, and posterior calf down to the heel and dorsum of the foot, supplemented by acupoint pressure and passive movement.
Patting Technique
Keep fingers naturally together with metacarpal joints slightly flexed to create a hollow palm. Rhythmically pat the treatment area with this hollow palm—this is the patting technique.
1. Technique Essentials:
① Use firm fingers and a hollow palm, leveraging air vibration to combine firmness and softness. Achieve crisp tapping sounds without causing significant pain.
② Tapping should primarily utilize wrist strength, performed with flexibility and ease.
③ Typically perform 3–5 pats. For areas with dull or numb skin sensation, continue until the epidermis shows slight redness and congestion.
2. Applicable Areas: Shoulders, back, lumbar-sacral region, lateral thighs, and lateral calves.
3. Effects: Promotes qi circulation, activates blood flow, relaxes tendons, and unblocks meridians.
4. Indications: Rheumatic aches, heaviness, numbness, muscle spasms, and similar conditions.
5. Example Application:
For rheumatic back pain: After pressing and kneading the Weizhong point (BL40) and local massage, apply a small amount of wintergreen oil to the lower back. Perform downward tapping strokes until the skin shows slight redness and congestion.
Kneading Technique
Using the thenar eminence, palm base, or finger pads to adhere to a specific treatment area, perform gentle, circular movements that mobilize the subcutaneous tissue. This is called kneading. When using the thenar eminence as the pressure point, it is called thenar kneading; using the palm base is palm base kneading; using the finger pads is finger kneading.Among these, the thenar kneading technique requires greater skill.
Thenar Kneading Technique
1. Key Techniques:
① Apply pressure with the thenar eminence, using moderate force to press down; slightly adduct the thumb, with the interphalangeal joints slightly flexed; keep the wrist relaxed, using coordinated oscillatory movements of the wrist joint and forearm to guide the thenar eminence in circular kneading motions over the treatment area.If pressure is applied with the heel of the palm, it is termed palm-heel kneading. ② Movements should be flexible and force gentle. Avoid causing friction on the skin surface or intentionally pressing down. ③ Movements should be rhythmic, with a frequency of approximately 120–160 times per minute.
2. Applicable Areas: All body regions. Most commonly used on the head, face, chest, abdomen, and joints of the limbs.
3. Effects: Relaxes tendons and unblocks meridians, alleviates pain, promotes blood circulation and disperses stasis, strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach, and regulates chest qi.
4. Indications: Headache, facial paralysis, chest and rib pain, epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, soft tissue injuries of the limbs.
5. Examples:
Headache, facial paralysis: Apply fish-hand kneading technique to forehead and face. Chest and flank pain: Palm kneading on Zhangmen, Qimen, and affected areas. Acute soft tissue injuries in limbs: Use kneading around the affected area; apply ice massage and immobilization directly on the injury site.
Finger Rubbing Technique
Using the pad of the thumb or middle finger, or the pads of the index and middle fingers, or the pads of the index, middle, and ring fingers, perform gentle, small-amplitude circular rubbing motions on a single point, several points, or a specific area. This is called the finger rubbing technique. It is further categorized into single-finger, double-finger, and triple-finger rubbing methods.
Clinically, finger kneading is often combined with pressing to form a composite technique. Single-finger kneading can be applied to all body areas; double-finger kneading is suitable for back-shu points, as well as for pediatric massage on the sides of the breast, the breast root point, or bilateral Tianshu points; triple-finger kneading can be used on back-shu points and for conditions like congenital muscular torticollis in children.