Treating gastrointestinal disorders by Chinese massage, some experience has been accumulated as below. The possibilities of gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation and cancer should be ruled out before giving the massage.
1. The patient lies on his back with knees flexed and abdominal muscles relaxed.
1.1 The abdomen was massaged from the epigastrium down to the hypogastrium by the thenar muscles fairly and forcefully for about 3-5 minutes.
1.2 With both hands open, the thumbs were applied to bilateral sides of the navel to push and rub back and forth for about 2-3 minutes.
1.3 Pressing the acupoints Zhongwan (CV12) Front-Mu Point of the Stomach, Xiawan (CV10), Tianshu (ST25) Front-Mu Point of the Large Intestine and Guanyuan (CV4) Front-Mu Point of the SmallIntestine.
1.4 Massaging the large intestine with the palms clockwise and counterclockwise for 50 to 100 times, and pressing and rubbing Zusanli (ST36) He-Sea Point for about half a minute.
1.5 With a prone position, the acupoints Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21) and Sanjiaoshu (BL22) were pressed and rubbed each for half a minute.
2. Other acupoints selected according to syndrome and differentiation
2.1 Pain due to liver qi stagnation: CV12, Jiexi (ST41) Jing-River Point, Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point and Taichong (LR3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point were applied.
2.2 Pain due to deficiency of spleen and cold: CV12, BL20, BL21 and ST36 were applied.
2.3 Pain due to blood stasis: Xuehai (SP10), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Geshu (BL17) were applied.
2.4 Pain due to immoderate eating and drinking: CV10, CV4 and Neiting (ST44) Ying-Spring Point were massaged.
2.5 Pain due to indigestion: Jianli (CV11), ST44, CV4 and ST25 were pressed.
3. Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders by western medicine diagnose
3.1 Gastric and duodenal ulcers: Tender spots could be detected on both sides of the
mid-epigastrim over points Burong (ST19) and Chengman (ST20) on the stomach channel, and the 7th to 12th vertebrae on the urinary bladder channel. For gastric ulcer, the tender spot was located on the left side, but for duodenal ulcer, it was on the right side. 12 cases were treated with relief of symptoms and enhanced healing of the ulcers.
3.2 Chronic gastritis: The points were on the epigastrium and on the back, such as CV12, BL20, BL21 and BL22. 15 cases were treated with good effects.
3.3 Gastroptosis: The first was locate the lower margin of the stomach with fingers, then press and push the stomach gently upward to the left subcostal region and then downward each for 30 seconds. The patient experienced a feeling of soreness and distention. 15 cases were treated with good results.
3.4 Gastroneurosis: The points CV12 and Juque (CV14) Front-Mu Point of the Heart were selected for forceful pressure with the thumb for 5-8 minutes. Then ST36, Gongsun (SP4) Luo-Connecting Point, The Eight Confluent Point and PC6 were needled. 21 patients were treated with good effects.
5. Gastrointestinal functional disorders:
3.5 Gastrointestinal functional disorders: The points selected as CV12, CV4 and ST25 and the abdomen was massaged in a counterclockwise direction. 62 cases were treated and 45 cases were cured, 15 cases were improved.
3.6 Distortion of stomach: The patient took a semireclining position with the trunk turned to the left. The therapist pushed and pulled the patient's right shoulder while his right thumb and palm were placed on the patient's epigastrium to massage the latter for 2-3 minutes in coordination. And then, the patient took the knee-elbow position and the therapist places both palms on the abdomen of the patient to shake it up and down for 2-3 minutes at a time. 4 cases were treated and they all recovered satisfactorily.
3.7 Prolapse of gastric mucosa: One thumb pressed the right Liangmen (ST21) for 3 minutes to produce a sensation of warmth, and then the thumb moves to the left hypochondrium with massage manipulations back and forth along an arc line. 24 patients received this treatment, and the total effective rate was 87.5%.
3.8 Duodenectasis: CV12, CV11 and ST21 were massaged counterclockwise for 5-8 minutes, and CV14 was pressed with both palms side by side down for 10 seconds, then pushing to ST19 and finally to Shuifen (CV9) to be retained there for 20-30 seconds. 37 patients have been treated. The total effective rate was 100%.
3.9 Acute gastrectasis: The treatment was to dredge the bowels. 4 cases have been treated and they all cured.
3.10 Dyspepsia: The conventional manipulations were applied. 113 cases have been treated. The total effective rate was 89.4%.
Key Words: Gastrointestinal disorders, massage, acupoint
Writer: Yangao Li
Department of Physiotherapy, the Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050082, Hebei Province
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