Traditional preparations/formulas can be utilized to the areas or pressure points using the proper techniques protect the skin, reduce friction, and boost the therapeutic effects of massage via their pharmacological processes. Herbal formulas are chosen based on the conditions of the disease. For example, in the treatment of blood stasis, an herbal formula that stimulates blood flow can be useful; when addressing an external syndrome, sweat inducing substances may be helpful.

Herbal preparations/ formulas of a hot nature may be ideal when treating cold syndromes; when treating heat syndromes, preparations of a cold nature might be required, etc. This type of healing system is based on logic.

The suitability of each formula and its other attributes, such as lubricant, concentration, dampness, and dryness should also be taken into consideration.

After a Tuina massage therapy, there is usually no need to wash these formulas away quickly because their efficacy lasts for a couple of hours or more. They may be sorted as formulas made with powder, honey, oil, vinegar, alcohol, water, juice etc. or as a pill, medicated plaster, decoction, etc. based on their forms of dosage.

Human Milk

While milk from a healthy woman is the best milk humans can drink or use, fresh cow’s milk can also be a proper substitute. However, people with allergies may be unable to tolerate milk (human or cow’s milk) well. The properties of milk are placid, salty, and sweet. It can be helpful in invigorating a weakened person, nourish blood, bolster the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, supplement the Five Yin Organs, clear heat, increase vital energy, etc.

Milk was widely used in ancient cultures to treat a variety of children’s diseases include tics, lachrymal excess, conjunctivitis, and other issues caused by invasion of external wind. It is generally applied to the area between the eyes, which is known as Yintang. When it’s used on the navel, lower stomach, or upper stomach, it can help treat enuresis, diarrhea, stomach pain, infantile malnutrition, and weak flatulence in children. When locally applied to the skin, it can help ameliorate itching and pain caused by dryness or chapping. Human milk as medium massage can expel heat from the blood and revitalize a weakened constitution.

Juice preparations

These are likely to be to be undiluted juices acquired from uncooked fresh substances. By adding a few amount of clean water, they can be turned into water preparations.

Swine bile (obsolete)

The reason fresh pig bile was used is because it was the best way of utilizing the energies of this substance. Now used in lieu of it is chicken bile dried preparation which is commonly used in some regions in China and is as equally effective. Swine bile posses the qualities of cold and bitterness and is used to eliminate stagnation, reduce swelling, relax the bowels, and dispel heat. When it’s used on Shenque, it can treat jaundice, stomach distention, and constipation. When used on Yongquan with kneading and rubbing action, it can treat hypertension, dizziness, etc.

Egg White (Albumen)

The egg is broken and the albumen is separated from the yolk. Albumen’s properties are placid, salty, and sweet. It is traditionally used to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, emolliate the skin, and fortify Stomach-Spleen. When applied to the sides of the neck and cheeks, it can help treat ailments such as sore throat, scrofula, parotitis, gingivitis, and toothache. Albumen combined with cactus pulp can augment the benefits. It can be applied on the stomach or chest to treat infantile malnutrition, fever and cough in children, etc. It can also help treat dry itch and pain in poxes and skin infections that produce pus.

Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying, Taraxacum mongolicum)

Clean the herb and then beat it to a pulp to extract the juice. Dandelion’s properties are cold, bitter, and sweet. It can be used to eliminate stagnations, reduce swelling, detoxify evils, and eliminate heat. It can help treat cellulitis, carbuncles, and scrofula when applied to the nape and neck. It treats or prevents pain and swelling of acute mastitis when applied to the breast and chest. When locally applied, it cures pus producing skin infections.

Lotus (Lian Fang Nelumbo, nucifera)

Choose tender and thick varieties and wring them out to extract the juice. The properties of lotus are cold and sweet. It can be utilized to resolve stasis, cool blood, clear heat, and encourage production of body fluids. Its juice is greasy and slippery and is often used to treat pediatric ailments such as infections which pus producing infections, poxes, and itching and dryness of the skin.

Snakegourd (Gua Lou, Trichosanthes kirilowoo)

Select a fresh fruit and peel its skin. Throw away the seeds, and beat the fruit to a pulp to extract its juice. The properties of snakegourd are cold and sweet. It is used to eliminate stagnation, resolve phlegm, and moisten the skin, large intestine, and lungs. It can treat mastitis or swollen breasts, stiffness in the chest, choking pain, cough associated with Phlegm-Heat when it’s used on the Rugen, Tanshong, and/or Huagai. It helps relieve pain from boils and treat chapped feet and hands in local application.

Lotus Leaf (He Ye, Nelumbo nucifera)

Crush the lotus to a pulp to obtain the juice. The properties of lotus leaf are placid, astringent, and bitter. It can halt bleeding, resolve stasis, dispel Summer-Heat, raise and diffuse clear yang. It is usually applied to the back and stomach and is commonly used to treat purpura, pox, rubella, etc.

Patchouli (Huo Hsiang, Agastache rugosa)

Crush the stalks and leaves to extract the juice. Properties of patchouli are slightly warm and pungent. It can be used to harmonize the middle warmer, rectify vital energy, resolve dampness, and dispel summer-heat. When used on the Fengshi, Fengfu, Taiyang, Shenting, and Yintang, it can help treat dizziness caused by adhesion of dampness and headache caused by sunstroke. By kneading and rubbing the juice into the upper stomach it can treat heaviness in the chest, feelings of fullness, nausea, and vomiting. Locally applied, it can relieve itching caused by rubella or mosquito bites.

Water Chestnut (Bi Chi, Eleocharis tuberosa)

The chestnuts should be washed and cleaned first, then broken down into small pieces and then wrung to let the juice out. Water chestnut’s properties are slightly cold and sweet. It can be used to eliminate phlegm, resolve stasis, boost eyesight, and dispel heat. Its juice is greasy and slippery and commonly used in massage of children. It helps treat childhood diseases such as jaundice, mass in the abdomen, and fever associated deficient spleen when applied to the stomach and forearms coupled with point massage.

Garlic (Da Suan, Allium sativum)

Remove the garlic cloves from the skin and crush them to obtain the juice. The properties of garlic extract are warm and pungent. It can be used to invigorate the stomach, heat the middle warmer, and kill pathogenic microorganisms. When used on the Feishu and Tanshong, it can help treat convulsive coughing and the common colds. When locally kneaded and rubbed on rach or tinea, garlic extract can be used to stop itching and reduce swelling.

Peppermint (Bo He Mentha haplocalyx)

Crush the stalks and leaves to extract the juice. The properties of peppermint are cool and pungent. It is used to remove pathogenic factors from the External, alleviate depressed energy, dispel heat, and clear wind. When used on the forehead at Tiantu, Jiache, Yingsiang, and Taiyang it can treat toothache and sore throat associated with Wind-Fire, stuffy nose, headache, invasion of Wind-Heat, etc.

Chinese Scallion (Cong Bai, Allium fistulosum)

Wash the stalks of the scallions then beat them to a pulp to obtain their essence or juice. The properties of scallion are warm and pungent. It can be used to promote normal urination, communicate Yang and induce sweating. Kneading and grasping the nose, Dashui, and Fengchi, with scallion juice on the fingers can resolve stuffy nose, headaches, the common cold, etc. Applying scallion juice on the lower stomach and Shenque can help alleviate dysuria, stomach pain, and other symptoms. For adults, thick scallion juice is recommended while for children slightly diluted scallion juice is more appropriate.

Ginger (Sheng Jiang, Zingiber officinale)

Crush the ginger till the juice has been extracted. The properties of ginger juice are slightly warm and pungent. It can be used to halt vomiting, heat the middle warmer, dispel cold, and alleviate the external. When applied to the nape and neck, and pressure points Fengmen, Diashui, Fengchi, and others it can help treat cough due to retention of fluids and phlegm, and resolve dsypnea, headaches, stiff neck, and the common cold. When ginger juice is applied on the Hsiawan, Shongwan, Shangwan, Jiuweo, and other points, it can help treat stomach distention, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.