Eight and a Half Locks (1)

Su Ziyang and Fairy Li entered the residential area. The landscaping in the area where Zhang Rongyi lived was quite nice.

Zhang Rongyi was practicing his martial arts downstairs. Su Ziyang and Fairy Li watched from afar. Zhang Rongyi stood with his arms swaying in the breeze, like willow leaves.

Looking into the distance, Su Ziyang noticed that Zhang Rongyi seemed to have become one with the large tree in front of him.

After watching for a while, Zhang Rongyi slowly opened his eyes, noticed the two watching him, and chuckled twice.

"You're older. Let me call you Uncle Zhang. I've come to see you today."

After much refusal, Zhang Rongyi finally accepted the gifts that Su Ziyang had bought.

"Have you two eaten?"

"I've already eaten."

Su Ziyang sat in the seat he had sat in yesterday and said with a smile.

"It's been a rare opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people these past few days. I thought about it late into the night yesterday and decided to pass on another family-inherited massage technique to you. Consider it fate that we're here!"

After Su Ziyang and his companion left yesterday, Zhang Rongyi sat in the living room until midnight.

After much deliberation, Zhang Rongyi decided whether or not to pass on this technique to Su Ziyang. Considering that his son was about the same age as Su Ziyang, yet showed no interest in his method and even looked down on it, Zhang Rongyi made a decision.

If Su Ziyang visits again in person the next day, then I will convey the message.

If Su Ziyang leaves the next day and only says goodbye over the phone, then that's fine.

Unexpectedly, Su Ziyang not only arrived the next day, but also brought a lot of bags and packages.

Since it was traditional massage, Su Ziyang naturally didn't hesitate and immediately nodded to learn.

Zhang Rongyi didn't waste any time, explaining as he operated on Su Ziyang.

The massage technique passed down by Zhang Rongyi is called "Eight and a Half Locks." If mastered, it can be used to open and close joints, adjust the body's joints, and treat diseases.

There is a set of preparatory movements before performing the technique.

Zhang Rongyi explained and demonstrated simultaneously:

First, press the Jingming acupoint. Use the tip of your left (right) thumb to press the patient's left (right) Jingming acupoint, and press gently to stimulate the acupoint.

Second, press the Zanzhu acupoint. The practitioner uses the tip of the left (right) thumb to press the Zanzhu acupoint on the patient's left (right) side, and presses it gently to stimulate the Zanzhu acupoint.

Third, press the Yintang acupoint. The practitioner uses the pad of the left (right) thumb to gently move and massage along the route from the Yintang acupoint to the Yangbai acupoint, massaging 3 times.

Fourth, press the temples. This involves two steps. First, repeat the steps for the Yintang acupoint. Then, use the pad of your left (right) thumb to gently massage along the route from the Yintang acupoint to the Yangbai acupoint (left (right)) and then to the temples (left (right). Repeat this three times.

The above techniques are like switches, and their main therapeutic effect is to refresh and invigorate the mind by massaging these four acupoints. They can also prevent fainting or coma in people with weak constitutions during the massage.

This method can not only prevent dizziness during massage, but also prevent fainting during acupuncture. If the patient is nervous during acupuncture, this method can also be used to prevent fainting.

After massaging the above four parts, you need to relax your neck. There are four areas to relax your neck: the trapezius muscles on both sides of the cervical vertebrae in the back of the neck, the trapezius muscles on the side of the neck, and the two muscles that bifurcate at the lower end of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

The practitioner faces the patient, stands with feet apart, and performs the Butterfly Technique simultaneously with both hands.

With four fingers slightly bent and together, opposite the thumb, use the outer edges of the first and second phalanges of the index finger and the outer edge of the thumb to pinch the trapezius muscles on both sides of the cervical vertebrae (the trapezius muscles on the side of the neck, the two muscles that branch off from the lower part of the sternocleidomastoid muscle). Twist the muscles as needed, depending on the patient's tolerance.

The force should be applied gradually, from light to heavy, and should not be applied suddenly. The movements should be gentle. As long as you have a certain amount of finger strength and can apply the force appropriately, a momentary squeeze can achieve the therapeutic purpose.

Except for the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, the other 11 meridians all have a main or branch meridian passing through the neck.

After massaging the neck, all the blood and energy flow smoothly, so you can unlock it.

The first lock is named the Azure Dragon Lock.

Located at the junction of the neck and shoulder, one on each side.

It is also known in folk medicine as "Well Lock" or shoulder tendon. Unlocking method: The patient can sit or lie down. The practitioner faces the patient or stands behind the patient with feet apart, in a standing (sitting) or horse stance (lying) position.

The technique involves using Butterfly Technique: the four fingers are brought together and slightly bent, opposite the thumb. The outer edges of the first and second phalanges of the index finger and the outer edge of the thumb are used to pinch the trapezius muscle of the shoulder joint.

Depending on the patient's tolerance, twist the object with appropriate force. Apply force gradually, from light to heavy, avoiding sudden exertion. The movements should be gentle; as long as the patient has sufficient finger strength and can apply just the right amount of force, a momentary squeeze will achieve the therapeutic goal. Apply force gently to children.

This method can treat mild cervical spondylosis and is also beneficial for relaxing the muscles in the neck and shoulders.

After unlocking the Azure Dragon Lock, proceed to the next steps.

This procedure, performed on the arm, primarily massages the three Yang and three Yin meridians of the hand.

The practitioner uses their left hand to pinch and lift the patient's left (right) middle finger, then uses their right thumb to press down firmly and slowly pull the patient down, roughly following the path of the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin (from the armpit to the wrist) and the middle finger to roughly follow the path of the Triple Energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang (from the shoulder to the wrist).

This step, which relaxes all the meridians in the arm, will lead to the next step, called the Soul-Returning Lock.

There are three Soul-Returning Lock in total—one on each side. They are located in the armpits and have three gates: front, middle, and back.

These three checkpoints are described as a lock within a lock.

The anterior clavicle is the pectoralis major muscle, which is located on the anterior wall of the axilla.

The middle clavicle is the junction between the armpit and the forearm (corresponding to the upper part of the biceps brachii, including the nerve tissue passing through the armpit).

The posterior lock is the latissimus dorsi muscle, which is located on the posterior wall of the axilla.

In folk tradition, the three gates of the Soul-Returning Lock are referred to from front to back as: Great Fixation, Returning Soul, and Rear Pavilion.

It is also called the front tendon, the middle tendon (when you hold this tendon, your arm will feel numb), and the back tendon.

When opening the Soul-Returning Lock, the practitioner faces the patient sideways, adopting a horse stance or a T-stance. One hand grasps the patient's forearm, causing the patient's arm to be in an abducted position. The other hand uses the Butterfly Technique to unlock the lock in front of the patient's armpit, behind the armpit, and in the middle of the armpit, first grasping the main tendon, then the back tendon, and finally the numb tendon.

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states. "When the liver is affected by pathogenic factors, its Qi stagnates in the armpits. This lock can remove these pathogenic factors from the liver."

After Soul-Returning Lock, proceed to the next step – the elbow.

The practitioner uses their left hand to pinch and lift the patient's left (right) middle finger, causing the patient's left (right) upper arm and forearm to bend at approximately 90 degrees, with the elbow pointing downwards and the palm facing the patient's face.

The practitioner then uses their right index finger to press and rub the numbing tendon (the tendon between the two Bones at the elbow joint) next to the Xiaohai acupoint, causing numbness in the patient's forearm, ring finger, and little finger. Then, the practitioner asks the patient to swing their elbow outward, roughly parallel to the horizon, and then uses the pinching technique (pinching the skin and muscles from the bone surface with the fingers at appropriate locations).

Using a pinching technique, pinch the three large tendons next to the Quze, Chize, and Shaohai acupoints in the patient's elbow crease in sequence.

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon Classic states. "When there is evil in the lungs and heart, the qi will stagnate in the elbows. This technique can remove the evil from the lungs and heart."

After pressing your elbow, shake your fingers.

First, use your left hand to pinch and lift the patient's left (right) middle finger, then shake it three times. Next, shake the index finger, ring finger, thumb, and little finger in sequence. This exercises the hand joints and vibrates the meridians in the hand.

This technique can vibrate the various meridians in the arm.

Then move your hands (1. The patient moves their left and right hands in three circles clockwise and three circles counterclockwise respectively. 2. The patient moves their left and right hands around the front of the neck, the top of the head, and the back of the neck respectively). This is to move the hand joints.

This area allows for movement of all joints in the hands and fingers, and is very effective for minor joint dislocations.

After Zhang Rongyi performing the massage techniques on the upper limbs and neck and shoulders, Su Ziyang felt very light and refreshed, which was indeed different from ordinary massage.

This feeling was just like when Old Madam Liu gave me a massage.