Seated Massage Techniques: Opening Meridians and Nourishing the Brain

During seated massage: The patient sits upright on a stool with both arms hanging down naturally, eyes looking straight ahead, the whole body relaxed, and breathing freely, waiting for the masseur to start the massage. Seated massage techniques include: Tianmen Opening Method, Zhengding (Middle Vertex) and Du Meridian Vertex Pushing Method, and Pianding (Lateral Vertex) Kneading Method, etc.

1. Heaven’s Gate Opens, Meridians Unblock – Opening Heaven’s Gate

Technique & Patient assumes a seated massage posture, with the massage therapist standing in front.

Manipulation: The masseur supports the patient’s right temporal region with the left hand, places the pulp of the right thumb on the Yintang acupoint (EX-HN3, located at the midpoint between the two eyebrows), and rubs in a clockwise direction. After every six rubs, push upward once. After repeating this sequence three times continuously, push straight upward from Yintang to Shenting acupoint (GV24) with the thumb pulp. Alternate the pushing with the right and left hands (right first, then left, then right again), performing a total of three upward pushes. This is known as “Opening the Heavenly Gate.”

Key Points: When massaging Yintang (EX-HN3), apply uniform and gentle pressure, making circular, clockwise movements before pushing upwards. The path from Yintang to Shenting (GV24) must be in a straight line. The frequency of massaging and pushing must be consistent, without sudden changes in speed or intensity of pressure.

Function: The Heavenly Gate opens, and the meridians are unobstructed. It is just like opening the door of a house, from which one’s daily life, study, and work will commence.

2. Invigorate yang qi throughout the body – Push Zhengding (Vertex), Governor Vessel Meridian

Technique & Patient assumes a seated massage posture, with the massage therapist standing on their left side.

Manipulation: Immediately following the previous technique, after completing the “Opening the Heavenly Gate” procedure, the massage therapist swiftly moves the pad of the right thumb to the Yintang (EX-HN3) acupoint. From there, the therapist performs a straight thumb-pushing technique upward along the line from Shenting (GV24) – Baihui (GV20) – Dazhui (GV14) – Mingmen (GV4) to Changqiang (GV1), repeating this process three times.

Key Points: During the operation, the pulp of the right thumb should be closely pressed against the skin without letting go from the head, back, waist, sacrum to the tail. The speed should be slightly slow, the movements gentle, the force applied uniformly consistent, and the location must be accurate. The patient should feel relaxed and comfortable during the pushing and shifting.

Function: The Governor Vessel belongs to the yang meridian, governing all the yang qi of the body and serving as the sea of all yang meridians. Pushing the vertex and the Governor Vessel meridian has the important functions of regulating and invigorating the yang qi throughout the body. Additionally, since the Governor Vessel ascends from below, runs through the spine, and is connected to the Kidneys, it also has the function of maintaining the primordial qi of the whole body.

3. Nourish the brain, calm the spirit, and purge heat from the gallbladder meridian – knead Pianding (GB-14)

Technique & Position: The patient assumes a seated massage posture, and the massage therapist stands beside them.

Operation: Taking the left side as an example. The masseur supports the front side of the patient’s head with the left hand, and uses the pulp of the right thumb to perform a rubbing and moving action, starting from Toulinqi (directly above Yangbai acupoint) on the Gallbladder Meridian on the left side, passing through Zhengying, Chengling, Naokong and other acupoints, and ending at Fengchi acupoint as the first line; after the operation is completed, the right hand returns to Touwei on the Gallbladder Meridian at the front temporal corner of the head, moves backward about 1 cun above the ear apex, passes through Wangu, and ends at Fengchi as the second line; then the right hand returns to the Taiyang acupoint located posterior and superior to the outer side of the eyebrow on the head, passes through Jiaosun above the ear apex to Fengchi as the third line, repeating continuously for 2 – 3 times. For the right side, the masseur supports the front side of the patient’s head with the right hand and performs the operation with the left hand, with the operation technique and sequence being the same as that on the left side.

Key Points: The positions of the three lines to be kneaded must be accurate. The manipulation should be gentle, steady, and forceful. After kneading each line, extend the force of the fingertips and relax at the junction of the neck and shoulder.

Effects: The temporal regions on both sides of the head are the pathways where the Gallbladder Meridian runs. Therefore, the method of rubbing the parietal-temporal area has the effects of clearing and purging heat from the Gallbladder Meridian, strengthening the brain, and calming the spirit.

4. Improve eyesight, activate meridians to helps with occasional pain, dispel wind and restore consciousness – Facial friction

Technique & Position: The patient assumes a seated massage posture, with the massage therapist standing behind.

Operation: The masseur places the eight fingertips (excluding the thumbs) of both hands opposite each other at the center of the forehead, and slowly exerts force to spread the fingertips outward to both sides of the forehead. Following along both temple angles downward, passing through Taiyang (EX-HN5), the area in front of the ears, the zygomatic region, the cheeks, the chin, and reaching Chengjiang (RN24) at the midpoint of the lower lip. At this point, the two hands cross and overlap by half a finger’s width, then slowly separate again to both sides, moving upward along the chin, cheeks, zygomatic region, and temple angles to the center of the forehead, then downward again. Along Yingtang (EX-HN4) and Shangen (the root of the nose) to Suliao (GV25) at the tip of the nose, the thumbs of both hands press on the outer edge of the zygomatic bones, while the index and middle fingers of both hands respectively grasp the inner sides of the zygomatic bones (beside the nostrils), spreading outward along the upper and lower edges of the zygomatic bones to the outer edges of the zygomatic bones, then downward. The ten fingers are slightly bent and slightly spread open in a comb-like shape, pressing tightly against the skin of the forehead and moving upward through the front of the head, the top of the head, to the back of the occiput, continuing downward through the nape of the neck, and relaxing at the junction of the nape and shoulders. After performing the above method continuously for three times, the masseur then places the pads of the middle fingers of both hands opposite each other at Yintang (GV29), and performs a spreading technique along the supraorbital ridges of both upper orbits, slowly moving downward to the outer canthus (outer corner of the eye), and relaxing in front of the ears, repeating this 3 to 5 times. Then, the masseur places the index and middle fingers of both hands on the lower orbital and nasal side regions in the middle of both sides of the nose, with the index finger moving along the lower orbit and the middle finger moving along the lower edge of the zygomatic bone, spreading to the front of both ears respectively, repeating this 3 to 5 times. After that, the masseur stands in front of the patient, and uses the tips of the thumbs of both hands to respectively press on Yangbai (GB14), Cuanzu (BL2), Yuyao (EX-HN4), Sizhukong (TB23), Tongziliao (GB1), Jingming (BL1), Chengqi (ST1), Sibai (ST2), Xiaguan (ST7), Yingxiang (LI20), Jiache (ST6), Dicang (ST4), Chengjiang (RN24), and other acupoints on both sides.

Key Points: When performing facial rubbing movements, apply even, steady, and gentle pressure with the fingers, avoiding fluctuations in force or brute strength. When pressing acupoints, locate them accurately; the proper degree of stimulation is achieved when sensations of soreness, numbness, or distension are felt at each point. After supports, the local area should feel warm and comfortable.

Function：Applying this method on the face has the functions of dispelling wind and opening orifices, improving eyesight, activating meridians, and relieving pain.

5. Nourish the Brain and Calm the Mind, Awaken the Brain and Restore Consciousness – Head Massage

Technique & Patient assumes a seated massage posture, with the massage therapist standing behind.

Manipulation: The masseur uses one hand’s single finger or multiple fingers, or both hands’ single fingers or multiple fingers to press and knead the scalp skin, focusing on areas with blocked nodules or sclerosis in the scalp blood vessels.

Operation: In practical terms, the difference between cerebral vascular obstruction and cerebral arteriosclerosis lies in the following: Cerebral vascular obstruction may cause blood vessels to dilate due to blood stasis, but once the stagnant blood within the cerebral vessels is cleared, the vessel walls can contract back to their original state. In contrast, cerebral arteriosclerosis involves the dilation of cerebral blood vessels caused by the deposition of foreign substances within them. Over time, the vessel walls become deformed and lose their elasticity, so even after the foreign substances within the vessel lumen are removed, the vessel walls remain dilated and cannot contract back to their original state. Generally, cerebral vascular obstruction is prone to leading to cerebral infarction or cerebral thrombosis, while cerebral arteriosclerosis is more likely to cause cerebral hemorrhage. Repeatedly press and knead in this manner for 3 to 5 minutes. After that, slightly flex the ten fingers of both hands, with a slight gap between them, forming a comb-like shape. Start from the front hairline and slowly comb backward to the occipital region, then relax in the occipital area for 2 to 3 times.

Key Points: When massaging the head, rub along the direction of the cerebral blood vessels’ course on the scalp to promote blood circulation within the cerebral blood vessels of the scalp and ensure smooth cerebral blood flow in the scalp area. When combing and massaging the scalp, the ten fingers should cover the entire head area. During the combing and massaging movement, the force must be steady and the pressure must be even. After combing and massaging, the head should feel relaxed and comfortable.

Function: The head is the residence of the brain’s central nervous system. This method has the functions of dredging cerebral blood vessels, promoting cerebral blood flow, awakening the brain and opening the orifices, strengthening the brain, and calming the nerves.