(Massage Therapy)
GENERAL EXPLANATION:
Phrenospasm is a non-specific symptom caused by uncontrollable and intermittent contracture of the diaphragm. It is often related to gastritis, mediastinitis, or cold invasion after a meal and abrupt food intake which can irritate the vagus nerve and phrenic nerve endings so as to cause paraxysmal spasm in the diaphragm and sudden closure of the glottis, resulting in continuous hiccuping. The clinical manifestations are sudden onset and short and frequent hiccup. It can last from several minutes to several hours and may not even disappear for several days. Massage therapy functions to harmonize the stomach and spleen, correct the upward-flowing Qi, and stop hiccuping.
NOTES:
1. It is advisable to avert one’s attention or hold one’s breath temporally after a deep inhalation for several times during the attack and press the upper border of the orbits with both hands. If not relived, it is advisable to use the above-mentioned techniques.
2. It is necessary to eat less uncooked, cold and spicy food, pay attention to keeping warm and maintaining a peaceful mood.
3. It is advisable for those who have repeated attacks that last for a long time and show no improvement after various treatments to seek medical attention for further examination.
TREATMENT:
1. Press and knead Quepen(ST-12) till a sore and distending sensation is felt 30 times.
2. Press Jianjing(GB-21), Shousanli(LI-10) and Zusanli(ST-36) for one minute each.
3. Press Tiantu(RN-22) and Jiuwei(RN-15) for two minutes each with the index fingers of both hands simultaneously. Inhale deeply and then hold the breath in pressing the acupoints. Repeat it several times.
4. Rub the abdomen with Zhongwan(RN-12) and the centre clockwise 300 times.
5. Chafe the back downwards along the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang. Press and knead Geshu(BL-17), Pishu(BL-20) and Weishu(BL-21) 30 to 50 times each.
6. Chafe the hypochondrium on both sides.
