The Practice of Chinese Massage Therapies

Chinese Massage

Like acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese massage is based on theories dealing with the organs, meridians, qi (vital energy) and blood. Physicians focus on particular meridians or acupoint of body, and massage to regulate the flows of the body network, creating either a local or general effect for the body.

Each massage protocol is designed for specific purposes, such as aiming to tonify deficiency, reduce excess, rectify healthy energy, expel pathogens, regulate yin and yang, or harmonize blood and qi, so as to let the body reach a new balance state. Physicians will evaluate their patients carefully, and then decide the massage protocols based on syndrome differentiation. Like those described in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, patients are being treated as below:

  • Cold state should be heated;
  • Heat state should be cooled;
  • Firm mass or stagnation should be resolved;
  • Exogenous pathogen should be expelled;
  • Physical overstain should be warmed;
  • Abnormal accumulation should be dissipated;
  • Persistent waste should be arrested;
  • Depletion should be replenished.

Appropriate body parts and massage skills are selected for creating specific purposes, which are claimed under two categories, tonification and reduction.

  • Tonification massage is doing for excitatory, stimulating, and enhancing effects. The techniques are usually light, gentle and slow, physicians massage along the running direction of the meridians (an anti-clockwise direction in the abdominal region), and will last for a longer time.
  • Reduction massage is doing for suppressing, calming and expelling effects. The techniques are usually forceful, manipulations are strong but appropriate, and in a fast frequency. Physicians massage against the running direction of the meridians (a clockwise direction in the abdominal region).

For example, in order to massage for replenishing yang qi, physicians will apply gentle, slow yet rhythmic swinging, rubbing and squeezing on certain body part or acupoints, and do it in continuous manner.

When the Bladder Meridian reaches the back, it divides into two branches and both run along the side of the spine. The acupoints locate on these branches have a close relationship with inner organs, and thus they are often applied for regulating organ functions.

The number of massage sessions needed depends on the severity and types of condition. In general, acute conditions tend to response faster, and so they require less time for recovery. For example stiff neck due to poor sleep position can usually be alleviated in 1〜3 sessions; a simple lumbar sprain may be recovered after 3〜5 sessions. For chronic cases such as organ dysfunction, the course of treatment can last up to 3 months, stubborn joint problems such as sports injuries or painful conditions in the lumbar or legs may take 3〜6 months. In addition, the massage responses are largely relied the competence of physicians, a proficient physician can definitely bring a quicker recovery time.

Even after the patients recovered, they are also recommended for a period of subsequent maintenance, that keeps on general massage sessions for 1〜2 weekly, or once every 2 weeks.

Chinese massage therapies are not indicated for all kinds of conditions, they should be done under proper indications, especially for joint and muscular injuries. It is not uncommon to see joint dislocation, ligament damages or skin bruise after inappropriate massage therapies. If you are in doubt or under medical supervision, discuss with your doctor before embarking on massage therapy.

Indications for massage therapies:

  • Physical injuries that caused by indirect violence or chronic strain, such as spinal slipped disc, acute sprains and muscular strains;
  • Chronic soft tissue injuries that caused by direct violence;
  • Before and after bone surgeries, so as to prevent deformed joint, stiff limbs and tissue cramps.
    Certain bone or joint diseases that lead to pain and limited movement;
  • Certain internal disorders, such as hypertension, vasculitis, asthma, ulcers, gastro-intestinal dysfunctions, mental weakness, paralysis, common disorders in children and some women diseases.

Contraindications for massage therapies:

  • Early stage bone fractures, or bone fractures accompanied with sprain, that usually start massage after 3 months;
  • Suspected fractures, strains, injuries that are accompanied with neural signs;
  • Tumors, tuberculosis, bone marrow infections or osteoporosis;
  • Early acute joint sprains with severe swelling;
  • Acute soft tissue contusions with severe swelling;
  • Severe heart and lung diseases;
  • Bleeding or blood vessel disorders;
  • Presence of infected skin and wounds in the selected region;
  • Pregnancy and during menstrual period are not appropriate to stimulate the abdomen, lower back and inner thigh regions;
  • People with a very weak body;
  • After meals, when drunk or extremely tired are not appropriate for massage, cupping and scraping therapies.

 

 

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