The Classic Tuina Herbal Preparations

Classic preparations can be applied to points or areas with proper techniques. These substances are used to reduce friction, protect the skin, and enhance the therapeutic effects of massage through their pharmacological actions. Herbal preparations are selected according to the conditions of the disease. For example, in the treatment of an external syndrome, sudorific substances may be useful; in the treatment of blood stasis, an herbal preparation that activates blood flow may be helpful

When treating cold syndromes, a hot nature herbal preparation may be helpful. Also in the treatment of heat syndromes, preparations of a cold nature, etc., may be desired. This type of medicine follows a logical method.
The suitability of each preparation and its other characteristics, such as dryness, moisture, concentration, and lubricant, should also be considered.

Generally, after the Tuina massage, there is no need to wash these preparations off immediately as they remain effective for up to two hours. According to the dosage forms, they can be classified into preparations based on juice, water, alcohol, vinegar, oil, honey, powder; or as a decoction, medicinal plaster, pill, etc.

Juice preparations:
These tend to be undiluted juices obtained from fresh uncooked substances. They can be made into water preparations by adding a small amount of distilled water.

human milk
Get milk from a healthy woman, although fresh cow’s milk can be used as a substitute, people with allergies may not tolerate it well. The properties are sweet, salty and placid. It is useful for invigorating the weakened person, benefiting vital energy, clearing heat, moistening dryness, supplementing the Five Yin Organs, improving the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, nourishing the blood, etc.

In ancient cultures it was commonly used in the treatment of children’s illnesses. For the treatment of conjunctivitis, tear excess and tics due to invasion of wind. It is generally applied to the Yintang, which is the area between the eyes. When applied to the upper abdomen, navel, or lower abdomen, it is useful in the treatment of weak flatulence, infant malnutrition, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and enuresis in children. When applied locally to the skin, it can relieve pain and itching caused by cracking or dryness. As a massage medium, human milk can invigorate the weakened constitution and remove heat from the blood.

egg white
First break the eggs and separate the whites. The properties are sweet, salty and placid. It can be used to strengthen the Spleen-Stomach, moisten the skin, reduce swelling and relieve pain. It is useful for toothache, gingivitis, mumps, scrofula, sore throat and other similar foods when applied to the cheeks and sides of the neck. The use of nopal pulp together with the egg white will improve the results. It can be applied to the chest or abdomen to treat cough and fever in children, child malnutrition, etc. In local application, it is useful against the pain and dry itching of smallpox and pus-producing skin infections.

Porcine bile (no longer used)
Fresh pig bile was used as it was the best way to use the energies of this substance. The dried preparation, ground in water, can be used as a substitute, as can chicken bile, which is also effective and is still used in a certain area of ​​China. It has the properties of bitterness and cold. It can be used to clear heat, relax the intestines, reduce bloating, and eliminate stagnation. When applied to Shenque, it can relieve constipation, bloating, and jaundice. It is also effective against dizziness, hypertension, etc., when applied to Yongquan with rubbing and kneading action.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera, Lian Fang)
Select thick, tender specimens and drain them to extract the juice. They are properties of those that are sweet and cold. This can be used to clear heat, promote production of bodily fluids, cool blood, and resolve stasis. The juice is slippery and greasy and is often used to treat children for food such as dry and itchy skin, smallpox, and pus-producing infections.

Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum, Pu Gong Ying)
Wash a bunch of the whole herb and grind it to get the juice extract. Its properties are sweet, bitter and cold. It can clear heat, detoxify ills, reduce swelling, and remove stagnation. When applied to the neck and nape, it is useful against scrofula, carbuncles and cellulite. When applied to the chest and breasts, it can prevent and treat the inflammation and pain of acute mastitis. When applied locally, it treats pus-producing skin infections.

Snake gourd (Trichosanthes kirilowoo, Gua Lou)
Peel the skin of the fresh fruit, discard the seeds, and crush the fruit to obtain its juice. Its properties are sweet and cold. It can moisten the lung, large intestine and skin, resolve phlegm and eliminate stagnation. When applied to Huagai, Tanzhong, and Rugen, it can treat cough due to Phlegm-Heat, choking pain, and chest tightness and swollen sinuses. In local application, it is effective for cracked hands and feet and can relieve the pain of boils.

Lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera, He Ye)
Hit the lotus to squeeze the juice. The properties are bitter, astringent and placid. It can raise and disperse clear yang, remove Summer Heat, resolve stasis, and stop bleeding. It is most commonly applied to the abdomen and back. It is used in the treatment of rubella, smallpox, purpura, etc.

Water chestnut (Eleocharis tuberosa, Bi Qi)
Wash and clean the chestnuts, then cut them into pieces and drain the juice. The properties are sweet and slightly cold. This can help clear heat, improve eyesight, remove stasis, and resolve phlegm. The juice is slippery and greasy and is often used in massages for children. Spleen deficiency fever, mass in the abdomen, jaundice and other childhood diseases can be treated by applying this juice on the forearms and abdomen along with spot massage.

Patchouli (Agastache rugosa, Huoxiang)
Pound the leaves and stems to squeeze out the juice. The properties are spicy and slightly warm. It helps to clear the heat of the summer to solve the humidity, to rectify the vital energy and to harmonize the average heat. When applied to Yintang, Shenting, Taiyang, Fengfu and Fengshi, it helps to treat headache due to heat stroke and dizziness due to adherence of moisture. Nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness, and heaviness in the chest can be treated by rubbing and kneading the upper abdomen. Applied locally, it can stop the itching caused by mosquito bites or rubella.

Mint (Mentha haplocalyx, Bo He)
Pound the leaves and stems to extract the juice. Its properties are spicy and fresh. It can disperse wind, clear heat, relieve depressed energy, and drive out pathogenic factors from the Outside. When applied to the forehead in Taiyang, Yingxiang, Jiache and Tiantu, it can treat an attack of Wind-Heat, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat and toothache due to Wind-Fire, etc.

Garlic (Allium sativum, Da Suan)
Peel the skin of the garlic cloves and crush them to extract their juice. The properties of garlic juice are spicy and warm. It can detoxify bacteria, warm the environment, and tone the stomach. When applied to Tanzhong and Feishu, it is useful for common colds and whooping cough. It can also be used to reduce swelling and stop itching when rubbed and kneaded locally on the ringworm or rash.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Sheng Jiang)
Pound the ginger into a pulp to get the juice. Its properties are spicy and slightly warm. It can relieve external cold, disperse, warm medium heat, and stop vomiting. It is useful in the treatment of the common cold, stiff neck, headache, dyspnea, and cough due to phlegm and fluid retention when applied to the neck and neck, and points such as Fengchi, Diazhui, Fengmen, and others. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating can be treated by applying to Jiuweo, Shangwan, Zhongwan, and Xiawan, among others.

Spring onion (Allium fistulosum, Cong Bai)
After washing the spring onion stems, crush them to obtain the juice or essence. The properties are spicy and warm. It can induce perspiration, communicate Yang, and promote normal urination. Grasping and kneading Fengchi, Dazhui and the nose with chive juice in the fingers helps to treat common cold, headache, nasal congestion, etc. Applying chive juice to Shenque and the lower abdomen can relieve abdominal pain, dysuria, and other symptoms. The thick chive juice is suitable for adults. Slightly diluted chive juice is more suitable for children