This massage works best when it is done first thing in the morning. To perform this massage follow this simple instructions.
1.- After waking up, go to the restroom to empty your bladder and bowel as you normally do every morning.
2.- Return to bed and sit on the edge of it. Your back should be straight and your feet should be parallel and well placed on the floor. Put your hands on the lower stomach. Concentrate and breath deeply and slowly during a couple of minutes.
- Keep your lips closed but not tight. Unless you are directed to do otherwise your upper and lower incisors should be touching but not clenching. Hold the saliva in the mouth during the whole process and do not swallow until directed.
3.- “Clacking the teeth” (叩齿Kòu chǐ):
Clack the incisors 9 times; the left molars and premolars 9 times; the right molars and premolars 9 times and again the incisors 9 times. Do not swallow.
4.- “The red dragon shakes the sea” (赤龙搅海 Chì lóng jiǎo hǎi):
Rub all the external gum with the tip of your tongue in a circular clockwise motion 9 times, starting up on the superior gum (up, left, down, right and up again). Then perform the rub counterclockwise 9 times. Do not swallow
5.- “Opening the three imperial locks” (开三 皇锁 Kāi sān huáng suǒ):
Knock 3 times on the internal spots indicated below, with the tip of the tongue, in the order shown: (Do not swallow.)
6.- How to swallow the saliva:
First: wash the mouth with the saliva that has been accumulating in the mouth, as if you were using mouthwash.
Second:
For beginners: divide the saliva in order to swallow all of it in 3 parts, evoking the three dāntián (丹田) (superior, middle and inferior) each time you swallow.
For accustomed practitioners: swallow all the saliva at once; then swallow two more times as the saliva forms again in the mouth.
(If you are not accustomed with this practice and you try to swallow all the saliva at once you may choke. Once you are accustomed you won’t have that problem.)
Remember to crane the neck with the chin upwards and then swallow in this position each time, it will produce the characteristic “gulp” sound.
7.- Remain sited for 2 or 3 minutes in order to perceive how the saliva goes down to the inferior dāntián (下丹田) . In some cases you may feel the natural movement of the intestines. After this period of observation lay down on the bed to start the abdominal massage.
8.- CIRCULAR ABDOMINAL MASSAGE:
Lay down on bed facing up. Place a thin pillow under the head. Put the palm of your dominant hand over the navel and your other hand on top. Apply a firm pressure over the abdomen. Give a circular massage to the whole abdominal area in a clockwise direction to complete 36 to 49 circles (starting from the lower part, then upwards through the right side, and downwards through the left side). Stop the movement, release the pressure and breath deeply and slowly 5 times.
Repeat this cycle of 36 t0 49 circular massages and 5 deep breaths for 5 times. (Thus completing 5 cycles)
9.- MASSAGE TO UNBLOCK THE SMALL INTESTINE.
A.- Left side: With both hands, using the tip of the fingers (except the thumb), you will perform a series of firm compressions and sudden decompressions of the small intestine loops: First, starting in the lower left zone of the abdomen (below the navel, beside the iliac crest), press to find each intestinal loop, apply hard pressure and move your hands towards the thorax, as if hooking the loop up towards the thorax; then release the pressure abruptly. Move your hands up a notch, towards the thorax and repeat the procedure until you reach the upper left zone of the abdomen, below the rib line, as expressed in the photographs below.
B.- Right side: With both hands, using the tip of the fingers (except the thumb), you will perform a series of firm compressions and sudden decompressions of the small intestine loops: First, starting in the upper right zone of the abdomen (below the rib line), press to find each intestinal loop, apply hard pressure and move your hands in a short semicircular counterclockwise movement, like describing a small “c”; then release the pressure abruptly. Move your hands down and inwards a notch, as to go in a spiral around and to the navel; repeat the procedure until you reach the lower right zone, beside the iliac crest, as expressed in the photographs below.
(NOTE: This massage must be performed only after the 3rd cycle of the “Circular Abdominal Massage” or between cycles at any point after this. You may repeat the “Massage to Unblock the Small Intestine” 2 or 3 times as needed.)
10.- MASSAGE TO STIMULATE THE LARGE INTESTINE.
As in the “unblocking massage”, put the tips of the fingers of both hands (except the thumbs) over the right iliac region. Perform a series of softer, fast paced, rhythmical, bouncing compressions and decompressions following the large intestine:
First, start in the right iliac region (Cecum) and go upward all over the right side (Ascending Colon) to the upper right zone, under the rib line (Right Colic Flexure). Then, continue horizontally (Transverse Colon) all the way to the upper left zone (Left Colic Flexure). After that, continue the movement downward (Descending Colon) until you reach the left iliac region (Sigmoid Colon). Finally continue horizontally (Sigmoid Colon) to reach the zone just below the navel (Rectum). Now yow have completed one round. Perform the round continuously without stopping at any point.
After you complete the round, stop the movement and take 3 deep, slow and conscious breaths, thus completing a cycle.
Perform this cycle 3 times. (as expressed in the photos below)
11.- MASSAGING Guān yuán (关元) 4 R.M.
Identify the point Guān yuán (关元) 4 R.M. at a distance of 3 cún (寸) (4 fingers) in the middle abdominal line, under the navel.
Use only the four fingers of your dominant hand, apply a very soft pressure over Guān yuán (关元) and give a continuous clockwise circular massage, without lifting the fingers nor moving them away from this zone. For beginners: perform this massage for 2 to 3 minutes; carefully and softly. For advanced practitioners perform for 5 to 10 minutes.
12.- CLOSING MASSAGE.
To complete the whole exercise, just perform only one cycle (36 circles) of the “circular abdominal massage” but make it softly in order to close the massage.