Hypertension is a common cardiovascular disease. It main symptoms are headaches and dizziness, which occur in the upper portion of the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, "disease at the upper should be treated from the lower," so self-massage b! Rubbing and kneading Yongquan (K 1) in the centre o the sole of the foot is helpful for lowering blood pressure. This point has a special function of "bringing down." Rubbing the arch of the foot can bring down the hyperactive fire of the liver" and lead blood to flow downwards so that headache and dizziness will be alleviated. This is known as "taking away the burning firewood from under the cauldron" or "conducting the fire back to the origin"(origin referring to the lower portion of the body). Furthermore, traditional Chinese medicine holds that massages of the head and neck especially the hypertensive groove behind the ear ant the carotid artery can get the blood in the head flowing

"In traditional Chinese medicine, hypertension in most cases is attributed to the liver fire, which is often caused by emotional disturbances and manifested in headaches, dizziness; irritability, etc. downwards and thus reduce the up rushing of blood to the head and relieve dizziness and headache.

Since the causes of hypertension are multifarious, its treatment should be complex. However, if sell: massage is applied in combination with drug, acupuncture and diet therapies, it will result in a more satisfactory effect than any of these therapies alone. Self-massage is simple and hypertensives are advised to try it.

Instruction

1. Rub the centre of the sole of the foot: Do it daily in the morning before getting up and in the evening before going to sleep. Sit in bed and rub and knead bilateral Yongquan (K 1) (sec Fig. 1) with both thumbs for 100 times (about 2 minutes). The centre or the sole of one foot can also be rubbed with the heel of the other foot for 100 times. Note that the rubbing should be forcefully performed in the direction of the toes. Not to and fro.

2. Massage of the head and neck: Massage with the pains, starting from the forehead to the vertex and occipital region. Then turn the palms with the fingers directed upward, and massage with the lateral aspect of the fingers the bilateral hypertensive grooves behind the ears (see Fig. 2) and Fengchi (G 20), which is located at the base of the skull, in the depression between the heads of the sternocleidomastoid and trapeziums muscles (see Fig. 3). Then move downwards along the sides of the nape and neck to the upper chest while pushing and rubbing the carotid artery with the lateral aspects of the back of the hands. Repeat ten to twenty times (about half a minute).

These two steps can be performed in succession, i.e. rubbing the centre of the sole of the foot followed by rubbing of the head and neck or vice versa. Generally speaking, after the manipulation there will be a comfortable feeling in the head and a reduction of the blood pressure by 10-20 mmHg that will last for 4-5 hours. To maintain a steady therapeutic effect, massage of the head can be performed at any time.

Although the manipulation is simple, consistent practice is necessary for obtaining a satisfactory result. At the beginning, a combined use of drugs should be indicated, and the dosage can be gradually reduced under the physician's supervision after the massage treatment begins.

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