On another forum i belong to members talk of "scritching" done with a horn or wooden comb and camellia oil, though i think the camellia oil is used more like a leave in conditioner on just the length. I might be wrong though. The purpose of it is to remove any scalp build up, skin, dried sebum, product etc and loosen it just before washing the hair. Also for the added benefit of scalp stimulation to promote hair growth.
Unless camellia is antifungal then i doubt the action of "scritching" by itself would treat dandruff but oils like neem, coconut, jojoba can be helpfull for treating the fungus. If it's only flaking that you are dealing with though then it sounds a good idea.
Sorry i've not been more helpfull on the Oriental information, i'm not so clued up on that

sorry for the delay in replying ChloeDharma and thank you for your information scritching does sound similiar to the 'nails' method I had the misfortune to experience in my childhood!

I'm still doing it, as it's the flakes I had a problem with and they've all but gorn now-albeit a 'no pain, no gain' method LOL

I used to remember lots of adults having dandruff when I was a child but few seem to have it today. I think it's because back then people thought it was bad to shampoo more than once a week so they had oily build up and lots of skin cells clinging to that oil. Sometimes dandruff is caused by a nutritional deficiency. I'm thinking it's selenium but I don't really know.