The Ding family's finger acupressure originated 150 years ago. It was developed by Li qin cheng, an imperial doctor of the Qing dynasty .This therapy's origins are traced back to an ancient form of Chinese martial art "Yi zhi chan "( one finger Kongfu).

This massage became popular during that time in the area of Jiangxi and Zhejiang province, and was passed down to Li qin cheng's prodigy students Ding yong chun , and from him to Ding Shu Shan .

I am the 4 th generation of this therapy. From childhood I received Kongfu training from different teachers, later I became interested in medicine, and began to study different methods of treatment, such as acupuncture from Han Zhen Shen, spinal manipulation from Go Ya Bo professor from Ti wan. In 1993 I enrolled in a course of TCM which was given at The SiChuan self-study college , later I took another course at The Chengdu university of TCM. In 1995 I passed the bar examination conducted by the international research institute of Qigong therapy, and received a practitioner's certification.

Using the theory of TCM, as my guideline, I combined all these methods I had learned to develop this new form of therapy called The Ding family's finger acupressure therapy. The principle underlying this therapy is a process wherein the practitioner focuses his Qi (energy) at the DanTian (the center of vital energy located beneath the navel), and projects this energy to both of his palms during the treatment. At the same time the patient should relax and also focus his/her mind on the affected part of his/her body. In this state, the patient is said to be under the "Qigong condition".

How to learn this method of treatment? The first step is to learn two kinds of martial arts ----"Shao Lin temple Yi zhi chan "and "Wu dang Tie Bu Shan "(iron cloak Wu dang Kongfu ) .The training process includes practices such as strengthening the fingers and palms by beating upon a sand bag , and beating oneself to strengthen the body and increase stamina . The second step is to learn the basic TCM theories such as The theory of Yinyang, five elements, Zhangfu organs and meridians and collaterals , the theory of 4 levels , and the eight principles of diagnosis , differential diagnosis and treatment . The third step is to master varies technique , such as finger pressure , palm pressing , kneading, pushing, grasping, rubbing, pulling, rolling, holding-twisting , wiping ,shaking , vibrating etc . The trainee should especially concentrate on training the first 3 fingers of each hand which are used most in the therapy. The most frequently used acupoints are Huatuo Jiaji and the points proximal to the spinal cord. This technique is applicable to all parts of body, and to a variety of diseases and conditions.

Today medical treatment and therapy methods are developed rapidly, the advantages of "Ding family's finger pressure therapy" are the following:

1 , Inexpensive and affordable to most people .

2, Using fingers instead of needles or surgical instruments, this method is not intimidating to patients who are afraid of being needled and probed.

3, Noninvasive and very effective way of alleviating pain and relaxing the patient .

4, Environmentally friendly and economically .

In general the process of treatment is as follows:

A. Spinal disorder, meridian disorders

• Points selection: most using Jiaji points, points of Foot taiyang meridian, and combine with Ren meridian, Du meridian, and points located on the 4 extremities and head.

• Specific points : Jiaji points, the first line of foot taiyang meridian, Du20, Si shen chong(extra points ), Yintang ,TaiYang ,ST8, GB20, DU14, DU4, SRN22, RN17, RN8, RN6, RN4, RN3, LI11, LI10, PC6, SJ5, LU7, LI4, GB30, BL36, BL40, BL57, ST36, GB34, SP6, KI6, BL62, SP4, GB41, LV3, etc.

• Application: ankylosing spondylitis, sequela of CVA, fatigue, functional disorders, prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, cervical spondylosis, encephalatrophy, hyperparathyroidism, disorder of Qi& blood , and gynopathy ,etc.

• Treatment technique: applying methods of kneading, pushing, grasping, foulage, rotating, shaking, and pulling by the first 3 fingers, bottom of palms, and elbow.

• Manipulation :

•  Patient lies on the belly and relaxes, practitioner stands at the front of the patient's head, focusing his/her Qi (energy) at the DanTian (the center of vital energy located beneath the navel), and projects this energy to both of his/her palms.

•  The practitioner fixes the patient's head with his left hand , applying "Yi zhi chan" kneading at DU20 for 30 seconds using his right thumb.

•  Kneading Sishengchong for 30 seconds with both thumbs.

•  Pressing GB20, DU16 for 30 seconds respectively with index finger or middle finger.

•  Grasping-kneading tendons located besides cervical vertebrae with right hands until patient feel distention and warm.

•  Foulage-kneading with bottom of palms at DU14, DU4 for 30 seconds .

•  Finger-pressing from BL11 down to BL28 with Feng Yan Chui (Eye of Phoenix hammer method) for 30 seconds per point ,

•  Foulage-kneading JiaJi points for 60 seconds per point in an upward direction at both sides, then apply FengYanChui method downwards at both sides of the jiaji points.

•  Plucking tendons besides spine in a downwards direction, then pushing-kneading the tendons besides spine downwards with the bottom of the palm, one side after another.

•  Pressing-kneading BL31-BL34 with the bottom of the palm.

•  Elbow kneading at GB20, BL 40 for 60 seconds per point.

•  Grasping-kneading BL40, BL57, SP6, BL60, BL62, KI6, SP4, KI1 with both thumbs, index fingers and middle fingers, 30 seconds per point.

All the manipulation methods mentioned above should be continued until the patient feels a sense of distention.

•  Patient lays on his back, practitioner stands at the patient's right, fixing his head with his left hand. He then applies "Yi zhi chan" kneading from Yintang to DU24 9 times (so called opening the door of heaven).

•  Kneading both GB2, TaiYang, GB8, ST7, ST6, ST4, RN24, LI20, DU26, GB21 with both thumbs, index fingers and middle fingers 30 seconds per point respectively.

•  Grasping-kneading LI11,PC6,LI10,LU7,LI4 , 30 seconds per point respectively.

•  Kneading with both index fingers and middle fingers at points RN22, LU1, RN17, ST18, LV14, LV13, RN12, RN8, ST25, N6, RN4, RN3, 30 seconds per point.

•  Practitioner stands infront of patient's feet, kneadingSP10, SP6, ST36, GB34 using the FengYanChui method.

•  Grasping-kneading ST44, LV3, GB41, 30 seconds per point.

•  All the manipulation methods should be given until patient gets the sense of distention.

•  After the above 2 steps are completed and before finishing the treatment ,practitioner moves patient's arms and legs using methods of kneading , shaking, rotating, and pulling .

Case 1
1 .Zhongdiying, female, 24y, worker of a silk factory at Zhongjiang county .
Main syndromes: sequelae of pesticide poisoning, whole body weakness, lack of appetite. Treated with both western and Chinese medicine but with no positive effect . In 1995, she was brought over to me by family members to receive treatment. Physical inspection showed the patient had a thin bony appearance, skin had a dark purple color, dark patches beneath her eyes, patient cannot open her eyes, pulse was weak and thin, her body weight was 35 Kg. I proceeded to use the treatment described above after which the patient miraculously stood up and walked for seven meters. The next day the patient came by her self riding her bicycle. However the patient was still in a depressed state of mind. After 3 treatment sessions the patient began to speak and laugh. After 10 treatments the patient began eating on her own. After 30 treatments the patient began recovering her physiological functions. Her body weight increased to 50 kg. Shortly after she fully recovered and returned to work.

Case 2
Fang Man Jun, female, 50y, address: Shanghai, YanAn Dong Lu 285-62-2.
Main syndrome: Paralysis for more than 10 years, muscle atrophy on one side of the body. Western diagnosis: Encephalotrophy. In 1998 the patient flew over from Shanghai to especially receive treatment from me. Physical examination: Patient was carried into the clinic by his son and daughter. Muscle atrophy on half of the upper body and on both legs. Before treatment the leg measurements were taken: Thigh girth – 36cm. lower leg girth- 26cm. Deformity of the cervical vertebrae . After 20 treatment sessions the patient could stand up on his own . After 30 treatments the patient's thigh girth increased to 40cm, leg girth increased to 29cm, he was able to walk with the help of other people. As part of the treatment process, the patient, during the 40'th treatment patient was treated using bone - setting technique after which the cervical deformity was rectified and the cervical spine became normal. During the 50'th treatment the patient was able to walk independently after which followed complete recovery of physiological functions.

Case 3
MuWanKun, female, 12y, student at Zhong Jiang Xian elementary school .
Main syndrome: wind stroke for one month. Loss of controlling in the right hand and leg. The corner of the mouth drooped down, Decrease of intellectual abilities. She visited many different doctors but with no positive effect. She arrived in my clinic at March 1995.
The patient received the treatment described above. After one treatment the patient got a warm and itching sensation all over her body. After 3 treatments the patient regained mobility in her right arm. After the 5'th treatment she could hold a pen with her right hand and her mouth returned to normal. After ten treatments she fully recovered both her intellectual and physiological abilities.

• Cervical Disorders and frozen shoulder.

• Point selection: Points located on the head, neck, arms and back and around the shoulders.

• Specific points:DU20, SiShenCong, YingTang, Taiyang, BL2, ST8, DU16, GB20, SI11, SI14, SI15, SI9, LI15, SJ14, HI1, LI10, PC6, SJ5, LU7, LI4, Neck Jiaoji, points and tendons around neck ,etc.

• Application: Various cervical disorders, prolapse of cervical vertebral disc, frozen shoulder, neck pain, back pain, stiff neck, headache, dizziness, etc .

• Treatment technique : applying methods of finger-pressing, kneading, pressing, pushing ,grasping ,rotating , shaking , and pulling with the first 3 fingers and the bottom of hands .

• Manipulation: Patient can sit or lie down and relax , practitioner faces the patient , focusing his/her Qi (energy) at the DanTian and projects this energy to both of his/her palms . The manipulation applied on the head ,neck, arms ,and back is the same as that described above . After that , applying methods of shaking /rotating at the arm so as to smooth joints . then bone-setting method follows . The Bone-setting method is like this : patient lays on his back , practitioner sits at the front of his head , holds his jaws with his 2 hands . Thea he turns patient's head to one side until it cannot move anymore. Practitioner applies the bone-setting method just as the patient breathes out entirely emptying his lungs, A cracking sound indicates successful manipulation, then, repeat the same step in the opposite direction . Patient can also sit on the chair , while practitioner stands at his back, holding his mandible with one hand , occiput in the another hand. Turn his head to one side and let patient breath deeply ,then apply manipulation, a cracking sound indicates successful manipulation. Repeat the same manipulation in another direction.

Case 1
Nu xing lan .female ,33y , a worker at Zhongjing shop .
Main syndrome: cervical damage caused by falling down, leading to numbness of hands and feet , accompanied by weakness, dizziness, loss of working ability .MRI shows : Prolapse of intervertebral disc of C4 ,5,6.
April ,1996 ,patient came to my clinic , after giving the treatment described above 30 times, numbness of hands and feet disappeared. Patient returned to work ,and after 60 treatments, all the symptoms disappeared .

Case2
Liling, male , 39, student of SiChuan university .
Main syndrome: frequent dizziness, pain of neck and upper back, cannot study and write normally, has visited many doctors before coming to my clinic, but none of the treatments had a positive effect. CT shows: prolapse of intervert of intervertebral disc of C 3-4,C6-7 .
He came to my clinical at Nov 1999 and received my treatment, after 10 treatments, all the syndromes became less , all the syndromes disappeared after 20 treatments .

Case 3.
Pu ming shan , male ,52y. working in Qifu brewery of Zhitong Xian
Main syndrome: pain of right shoulder with limited movement , cannot hold chopsticks or pen with his right hand .
He received treatment at May 1997, and all the symptoms disappeared after 20 times treatment, and shoulder could move normally.

C—Pain on the lower back and leg

1. Points selection: the common used points at the area of lower back and leg.

2.Specific points: Jiaji points ,BL31-34, GB20,BL36,BL37, BL40, ST36, GB34, BL57, BL60, BL62, KI6, SP4, KI1, SP12, SP10, ST35, KI5, ST41, LI3, GB41.

3 .Application: pain at lumbar area and leg, prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, osteosis, strain , wind-dampness ,sciatic.

4 .Treatment technique: applying methods of finger-pressing, kneading, pressing, pluck, pushing, grasping, pulling with the first 3 fingers, FenYanTui method.

5. Manipulation: patient first lays on his belly then lays on his back and relaxes. Practitioner stands besides patient, focusing his vital QI at DanTian, and projects this energy to both of his palms. Applying the same manipulation as described above. After that, lets patient lay on right side with upper leg straight and lower leg flexed and puts the upper arm behind body and relaxes. Practitioner stands behind patient, holds his shoulder with one hand and another hand places at the upper edge of the pelvis. Practitioner applies manipulation gently until a cracking sound is heard. He then lets patient lay on the left side and repeats the same procedure. Patient also can use this position : Patient lies on his side. Practitioner stands in front of the patient's chest. then patient bends his legs as much as he can and places his feet on the practitioner's thigh. Practitioner holds patient's lower hand with one hand, and puts his body against patient's shoulder, and asks patient to turn his upper part of body backwards. Then practitioner puts another hand at the effected vertebras and fixes them with index and middle fingers. Practitioner applies the bone-setting method just as the patient turns backwards and breathes out entirely emptying his lungs, A cracking sound indicates successful manipulation , both patient and practitioner can feel local tension disappear after the manipulation . The practitioner then lets patient lie on another side and repeats the same steps. Patient can also sit on a chair facing the back of the chair, practitioner stands at his left side. Patient puts his hands on the back of his head crossing his 10 fingers, practitioner inserts his left hand through the patient's arm and holds his nape. At the same time the practitioner uses his right thumb to firmly press the effected vertebrae. To ensure the patient remains immobile an assistant should crouch by the patient's right side and fixes his legs firmly. The patient should relax his lumbar area. Next, practitioner applies the bone setting maneuver until a cracking sound is heard. Repeat the same step in the opposite direction.

Case 1
Feng Kai, male, 33y, manager of the zhuangxiu company.
Main syndrome: lower back pain and leg pain. CT shows prolapse of intervertabral disc of lumbar 3,4,5 accompanied by Osteriosis. He arrived at my clinic on October 1994. After 10 treatments the pain was relieved. During the following treatments the bone–setting method was applied after which all the symptoms disappeared. CT showed the lumbar discs returned to normal and the osteorosis disappeared.

Case 2
ChuiDaiFu, 43y, citizen of MianYang.
Main syndrome: Pain of lower back and leg. Walks with a limp. CT shows prolapse of intervertabral disc of L4-5. 0.5-0.6cm. Narrowing of interverabral foramen. There was also Osteriosis. He arrived at my clinic January 2001. After 30 treatments he completely recovered.

Case 3
LiQin, Female, 12y, student of zhongJiangXian school.
Main syndrome: pain of both legs. Severe limp. X-ray shows dislocation of both hip joints. Her western doctor suggested surgery but her family could not afford it. She arrive at my clinic on July 1994. At the time there was a 3cm difference in length between her two legs. After 30 treatments the pain disappeared and the legs returned to normal.

Points to pay attention to:

1, Practitioner should locate the points correctly , and press the points while applying the pressure gradually increasing it until reachinf the patient's threshold.

2. Bone-setting method should be applied according to patient's disease . For patients suffering from chronic diseases and spinal cord disorders this method should only be used after the symptoms are releaved.

3. During the acute stage and after bone setting manipulation is completedpPatient should remain lying down for a while in order to reduce the pressure of the inter-vertabral disc, and relieve swelling and adhesion of the effected area, so as to promote fiber regeneration.

Summary

My medical practice is based on a combination of meridian theory and my teachers` experience. 1. The Jiaji points which I frequently use are in fact located directly above the spinal nerves which come out of the spinal cord and connect to the whole body. By stimulating these points around the spine we stimulate the spinal nerves and thus affect the whole body influencing the Zang Fu organs as well as the body's physiological functions. 2. By stimulating the acupoints which I frequently use, the practitioner can help to move blood, relieve stagnation and thus alleviate pain. 3. As mentioned before, this method has the advantage of being effective yet easy to apply, inexpensive and not harmful to the environment.

Fujiang physical-rehablitation center, Mianyang, Sichuan province,PRC

Ding Jipu 2003.8.18