If you are still taking medicine to nourish your body, you are really OUT

Zusanli can be regarded as the "number one acupoint" for health preservation. There is an old saying that "regularly pressing Zusanli is better than eating old hens", which shows the importance people attach to Zusanli. So, why does Zusanli have such a great effect? What are the benefits of long pressing Zusanli acupoint to the human body? Let us reveal them to you one by one today.

Where is “Zusanli”?

Zusanli is located 3 inches below the outer knee pit. The length of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger put together is 3 inches. Put the four fingers together and place them horizontally under the outer knee. Follow the lower edge of the little finger and measure a finger width outward from the bone in the front of the calf called the tibia. This is the location of Zusanli.

Three health benefits of Zusanli

1. Strengthen the spleen and stomach, aid digestion

Some studies have found that massaging Zusanli will enhance the gastrointestinal motility of the human body. It is precisely because Zusanli can strengthen the spleen and stomach and aid digestion that it has such a good health-care effect. Many patients with weak qi and blood will gradually recover after using this acupoint for treatment. People with weak spleen and stomach and frequent diarrhea can see improvements by regularly pressing the Zusanli point.

2. Unblock meridians and activate blood circulation

To put it simply, this can dredge the Qi and blood in the meridians, and is mainly beneficial for people with poor lower limb mobility. Elderly people often feel weak in their legs when walking and have to sit down to rest after walking for a short time. Or patients like stroke patients have hemiplegia and have difficulty moving one side. In this case, you can massage the Zusanli point more often to promote blood circulation and reduce the stress of activity.

3. Disease prevention and health care

This effect is very important for people who are usually weak and always sick. We have encountered some patients who are always prone to catching colds, several times a month, and would catch a cold if they were exposed to a little wind or cold. For such patients, acupuncture, massage, and moxibustion on Zusanli will show very good results.

How to press Zusanli?

The muscles at the Zusanli point are relatively thick, and we can massage them ourselves by pressing, kneading, and tapping.

1. Press the method

Generally, we use the tip of our thumb or index finger, or we can bend the thumb and use the thumb joint to press on the acupoints. Press lightly each time, and gradually increase the force until you feel a local soreness and swelling. Press for 5-10 seconds each time, then lift your fingers and press a second time.

2. Kneading method

Use the tip of your thumb or index finger, or the thenar and hypothenar eminences to rub the Zusanli point in a clockwise direction. When kneading, be sure not to rub the skin back and forth. Use your fingers to move the local skin together and do kneading in a small range, otherwise it will become a massage. The kneading method can be continued for a period of time each time, usually 5-10 minutes each time.

3. Tapping method

Tapping is done by gently and rhythmically tapping the metacarpophalangeal joints or thenar and hypothenar eminences at the Zusanli position, generally 60 to 80 times per minute. It is best to tap until you feel a local soreness and swelling, but be careful not to damage the local skin.