Everyday we face challenges that keep our mind too active at bedtime, preventing us from getting to sleep. Stress-reduction strategies are alway important for a tense body, and massage is a good way to create a relaxing bedtime routine, so as to help the body unwind and encourage falling asleep.

Chinese massage is mainly based on theories dealing with the organs and meridians. Massage therapists use the fingers to strike, press, knead and pinch to stimulate the acupoints along the meridians and promote the free flow of energy. Despite being applied to the external surface of the body, massage creates signals that induce physiological and chemical changes within the body, helping to restore the internal balance. People often report pleasant feelings and deep relaxation after receiving a massage, the mental pampering effect is just important and valuable as any physical benefit.

A full body massage before going to bed is ideal. If not, a short backrub, face and/or scalp massage also helps prepare a person for sleep. Be sure that the massage strokes are slow, gentle, yet firm.

Below are some massage protocols to promote sleep.

Insomnia massage remedy 1

1. Use both index fingers, wipe apart from the centre of forehead towards the sides, 30 times;
2. Use the thumbs, knead the temple areas, 30 times;
3. Press on the front hairline with the fingers, knead backward through the scalp, 30 times;
4. Pat the head crown, 10~30 times;
5. Press-knead the bottom of the skull with the thumbs, 30 times;
6. Use the palm, rub on the inner and distal end of the forearm, 15 minutes each side;
7. Lay down and use the palm, rub on the upper abdomen in a clockwise direction, 5 minutes;
8. Rub the inner auricular region, 2 minutes.

Insomnia massage remedy 2

1. Press the middle point between the eyebrows with the middle finger tips, and knead or push upward to the hairline, 5~6 times;
2. Use the index finger tips, rub from inner sides of the eyebrows toward the temple areas, back and forth for 5~6 times;
3. Use the index finger tips, rub around the eye sockets, 3~4 times;
4. Use the middle finger tips, rub downward along the nose, then rub through the cheek to reach the ear front, 2~3 times;
5. Follow the above steps but use the whole palm, back and forth 5~6 times; then use the middle finger tips to knead on the points of inner and middle eyebrows;   
6. Comb the hair and rub on the scalp with all the fingers for 1 minute, then grasp the scalp for 1 minute;
7. Thumb knead and the grasp the base of the skull for 1 minute respectively;
8. Grasp along neck toward the shoulders, back and froth 10 times;
9. Rub the whole abdomen in a clockwise direction for 2 minutes;
10. Tap along the midline of the lower abdomen for 2 minutes.

Insomnia massage remedy 3

The bladder meridian runs along the sides of the spine and divides into two branches. The acupoints along the sections of the meridian have close relationships with the inner organs and thus can be specially used for regulating them. TCM massage like to pinch muscles along the spine to promote sleep and release tension.


Pinching along the spine is especially suitable for the infantile digestive problems, and also insomnia, gastrointestinal and menstrual problems in adults.  

The massage usually starts from the hip and ends at the neck region. Therapists squeeze the tissues along the spine, as they hold, twist, knead or pinch at specific acupoints if necessary, e.g., shen shu (Bl 23), pi shu (Bl 20) and gan shu (Bl 18) to promote sleeping. The whole procedure is usually repeated 3~5 times.