〔原文〕一法∶偃卧,展两胫两手,仰足指,以鼻纳气,自极七息。除腹中弦急切痛。
〔解说〕仰卧,伸展两腿两手,将足趾仰翘向上,用鼻吸气,尽力行七息。可治腹内
痉挛急剧痛。
〔原文〕二法∶偃卧,口纳气,鼻出之,除里急。饱咽气数十,令温,中寒,干吐呕腹痛。
口纳气七十所,大振腹,咽气数十,两手相摩令热,以摩腹,令气下。
〔解说〕仰卧,用口吸气,鼻出气,可消除腹内里急坠胀。用口将气吞足咽下数十次,让
气在口中变温。可以温中祛寒,治干呕、腹痛。用口深吸气七十次,使气至腹内,腹随气而
大幅度地鼓起收缩,起伏振荡,然后用口吞气咽下数十次,并用两手相互摩擦使掌心发热,以热
掌摩腹,则可使气下。
〔原文〕三法∶偃卧,仰两足两手,鼻纳气七息。除腹中弦切痛。
〔解说〕仰卧,将两足掌两手掌向上仰,用鼻吸气,行气七息。可消除腹中痉挛剧痛。
小结∶
中医所说心腹痛是指心下,即剑突下胃脘部及腹中疼痛。《诸病源候论》“卷十六·心腹
痛病诸候”说∶“心腹痛者,由腑脏虚弱,风寒客于其间(指心腹之间)故也。邪
气发作,与正气相击,上冲于心则心痛、攻于腹则腹痛,上下相攻,故心腹绞痛,
气不得息。”认为心腹痛,是由于脏腑虚弱,风寒停留于心腹之间,邪气上下相攻
而成。治疗应温中扶正,理气祛寒。
本篇的功法,均取仰卧位,展伸手足,可使全身放松,腹部舒适。呼吸采取以鼻
纳气,口吐气,或口吸气,鼻出气,使气达腹的腹式呼吸法,吸气时腹部隆起,呼气
时腹部凹陷(顺呼吸),或吸气时腹部凹陷,呼气时腹部隆起(逆呼吸)均可,但应
以使气压腹中,使小腹感到充实、饱满、臌胀和振动,达到一定程度后还可感到发热。
这样就能温中祛寒,调气止痛,治疗腹痛、呕吐、气郁等症。实践证明,腹式呼吸法
对消化系疾病,如胃溃疡、胃痉挛、过敏性肠炎、便秘等有良好效果。
本篇还介绍了“咽气”法和摩腹法。“咽气法”,后世称“吞气“或“食气”法,
是将空气大口吞咽于胃中,然后再吐出,或以意引气通过胃肠,由肛门排出的一种功法。
这种功法可使胃肠蠕动直接得到调解,使腹中气机通利,积聚消散,对胃痛、腹痛、消化
不良、便秘等,有良好功效。“咽气”可以由大口吸气和大口吐气的喘吸法练起,逐渐能
使气停留胃中,下达肠间,最后由肛门排出。摩腹法是调理肠胃功能的重要方法,古人又
称其为摩脐腹、摩生门,认为“腹宜常摩”为养生要诀之一。方法是两手搓热,然后相叠(
一般右手按在左手背上),用掌心在脐的周遭,右边上来,左边下去的顺时钟方向,分小圈
、中圈、大圈各转摩12次。腹痛时摩腹可以理气止痛,无病之人,常摩腹可以调理脾胃。
帮助消化,健脾强身。
Method 1: Lie supine, extend both legs and arms, point the toes upward, inhale through the nose, and perform seven breaths to their fullest extent. This eliminates spasmodic and severe abdominal pain.
Explanation: Lie supine, extend both legs and arms, lift the toes upward, inhale through the nose, and practice seven *xi* (breaths) to their limit. It can treat acute spasmodic pain within the abdomen.
Method 2: Lie supine, inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose to eliminate a sensation of internal urgency (*liji*). After a full meal, swallow air dozens of times to warm it; this treats middle-jiao cold, dry heaving, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Inhale deeply through the mouth seventy times to vigorously vibrate the abdomen, then swallow air dozens of times. Rub both hands together until hot, and massage the abdomen with the palms to direct the qi downward.
Explanation: Lie supine, inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose, which can eliminate the sensation of internal urgency and distension in the abdomen. Swallow air down the throat dozens of times using the mouth, allowing the air to warm in the oral cavity. This warms the middle and dispels cold, treating dry retching and abdominal pain. Inhale deeply through the mouth seventy times so that qi reaches the abdomen; the abdomen expands and contracts significantly, oscillating up and down. Then, swallow air down the throat dozens of times using the mouth, rub both hands together until the palms are hot, and massage the abdomen with the warm palms to cause the qi to descend.
Method 3: Lie supine, face the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands upward, and inhale through the nose for seven breaths. This eliminates spasmodic and cutting pain in the abdomen.
Explanation: Lie supine, turn the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands upward, inhale through the nose, and practice seven *xi* (breaths). This eliminates severe spasmodic pain in the abdomen.
Summary:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, "heart and abdominal pain" refers to pain in the epigastrium (below the heart, specifically the stomach region below the xiphoid process) and the abdomen. The *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* (General Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of All Diseases), Volume 16, "Manifestations of Heart and Abdominal Pain Diseases," states: "Heart and abdominal pain arises from the weakness of the fu and zang organs, where wind-cold pathogenic factors lodge between them (referring to the space between the heart and abdomen). When the pathogenic factor attacks, it clashes with the healthy qi; if it rushes upward to the heart, it causes heart pain; if it attacks the abdomen, it causes abdominal pain. As they attack each other from above and below, severe cramping pain occurs, and breathing becomes difficult." It is believed that heart and abdominal pain results from the weakness of the zang-fu organs, with wind-cold lingering between the heart and abdomen, causing pathogenic factors to attack each other from above and below. Treatment should focus on warming the middle, supporting the upright qi, regulating qi, and dispelling cold.
The exercises in this section all adopt a supine position, extending the limbs, which relaxes the whole body and comforts the abdomen. Respiration adopts abdominal breathing methods where qi reaches the abdomen: inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, or inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nose. During inhalation, the abdomen rises; during exhalation, it sinks (natural breathing). Alternatively, during inhalation, the abdomen sinks; during exhalation, it rises (reverse breathing). Both are acceptable, provided the pressure forces the qi into the abdomen, making the lower abdomen feel full, plump, distended, and vibrating. At a certain level, warmth may be felt. This warms the middle, dispels cold, regulates qi, stops pain, and treats symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and qi stagnation. Practical experience demonstrates that abdominal breathing has good effects on digestive system diseases, such as gastric ulcers, gastric spasms, allergic enteritis, and constipation.
This section also introduces the "swallowing qi" method and abdominal massage. The "swallowing qi" method, later known as "swallowing air" or "eating qi," involves swallowing large amounts of air into the stomach and then expelling it, or using intention to guide qi through the gastrointestinal tract for expulsion via the anus. This exercise directly regulates gastrointestinal peristalsis, promotes the smooth flow of abdominal qi, dissipates accumulations, and is effective for stomachache, abdominal pain, indigestion, and constipation. "Swallowing qi" can be practiced starting with rapid inhalation and exhalation (panting breathing), gradually enabling the qi to remain in the stomach, descend to the intestines, and finally be expelled through the anus. Abdominal massage is an important method for regulating gastrointestinal function. In ancient times, it was also called massaging the umbilical abdomen or the Life Gate. It is considered one of the key secrets of health preservation that "the abdomen should be massaged regularly." The method involves rubbing both hands until hot, stacking them (usually the right hand over the left), and using the palms to massage around the navel in a clockwise direction (moving up on the right, down on the left), completing 12 rotations for small, medium, and large circles respectively. Massaging the abdomen when experiencing pain can regulate qi and stop pain; for healthy individuals, regular abdominal massage can regulate the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, and strengthen the spleen and body.