Massage to Relieve Menstrual Pain
Menstrual pain refers to pain in the lower abdomen and hip region around the menstrual period, which belongs to a type of menstrual disorders. TCM claims that menstrual pain is mainly due to non-smooth activities of blood and qi (vital energy) in the pelvic region.
From a TCM viewpoint, menses flow is derived from blood and promoted by qi movement. When blood and qi are abundant, and circulate smoothly inside the body, the menses flow will be smooth and pain free. In case if there is qi stagnation, coldness or dampness accumulated in the pelvic region that block the normal flow of menses, then painful menstruation will occur.
Chinese massage aims at promoting the qi and blood flowing and resolving the obstructions. When applying massage during the menstrual period, the techniques should be softer so as to avoid initiating a heavy menses flow.
The usual massage protocol for menstrual pain is below:
For individuals with particular signs, the following steps are added to the protocol:
Breast tenderness, scanty purplish menses with clotted blood, menstrual pain is distended in nature and aggravated by pressure
Menstrual pain that can relieved by warming, scanty and darkish menses, and limb coldness
Dull menstrual pain that can be alleviated by pressure, scanty and thin menses, fatigue and a pale complexion
Massage techniques for relieving menstrual pain
From a TCM viewpoint, menses flow is derived from blood and promoted by qi movement. When blood and qi are abundant, and circulate smoothly inside the body, the menses flow will be smooth and pain free. In case if there is qi stagnation, coldness or dampness accumulated in the pelvic region that block the normal flow of menses, then painful menstruation will occur.
Chinese massage aims at promoting the qi and blood flowing and resolving the obstructions. When applying massage during the menstrual period, the techniques should be softer so as to avoid initiating a heavy menses flow.
The usual massage protocol for menstrual pain is below:
- Use fingertips to knead heavily on both sides of lumbar spine, 30 times;
- Clench fists and beat the kidney areas, 30 times;
- Use the middle fingertip to strike along the midline of lower abdomen, especially around the navel (Rn 6, 4), 30 times;
- Place the palms on both sides of the navel and then scrub up and down over the lower abdomen, 30 times;
- Cross the hands and place below the navel, rub in circular motions over the area, 30 times;
- Nip and grasp at the middle of palm web between thumb and index finger (Li 4), 30 times each hand;
- Use the thumb to knead at 1-finger-breadth below the anterior crest of each tibia (St 36), 30 times;
- Use the thumb to knead at 3-finger-breadth above the inner malleolus of each ankle (Sp 6), 30 times.
For individuals with particular signs, the following steps are added to the protocol:
Breast tenderness, scanty purplish menses with clotted blood, menstrual pain is distended in nature and aggravated by pressure
- Use middle fingertip to knead at the midpoint between the two nipples (Rn 17), 30 times;
- Place the hands on the sides of rib cage and then rub to and fro along the ribs, 20 times;
- Use the middle fingertips to knead the sides of the chest spine, about the level of the 7th thoracic vertebra (Bl 17), 30 times;
- Use the middle fingertips to press below the free end of the eleventh ribs (Lr 13), and knead for 30 times;
- Use the thumb to knead on inner upper portion of kneecap (Sp 10), 30 times on each leg;
- Knead at tai chong (Lr 3, depression between big toe and second toe on the dorsum of the foot), 30 times each foot.
Menstrual pain that can relieved by warming, scanty and darkish menses, and limb coldness
- Use fingertips to knead at the root of neck (Du 14), 30 times;
- Cross the hands and place on the upper abdomen, rub in circular motion over the area, 30 times;
- Use both hands to wipe transversely across the lumbar and hip, to warm up the regions;
- Use the middle fingertip to strike the center of the lower abdomen (Rn 4), 30 times each leg;
- Use the thumb to knead on inner upper portion of the kneecap (Sp 10), 30 times each leg.
Dull menstrual pain that can be alleviated by pressure, scanty and thin menses, fatigue and a pale complexion
- Clench the fists and use the knuckles to forcefully knead on the sides of upper lumbar spine (Bl 52), 30 times;
- Use the middle fingertips to press below the free end of the eleventh ribs (Lr 13), and knead for 30 times;
- Cross the hands and place on the upper abdomen, rub in clockwise and then counterclockwise motions, 30 times each;
- Use both hands to wipe transversely across the lumbar and hip, 30 times;
- Use the thumb to knead at the depressions behind the inner ankle malleolus of each ankle (Ki 3), 30 times on each foot.
- Knead at tai chong (Lr 3, depression between big toe and second toe) on the dorsum of the foot, 30 times each foot.
Massage techniques for relieving menstrual pain
