Obesity is often caused by an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, resulting in fat accumulation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that overeating, especially foods high in fat and sweeteners, disrupts the function of the spleen and stomach, leading to deficiency of vital energy and accumulation of dampness and phlegm, which in turn causes obesity. Therefore, the treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen, promoting dampness, and clearing heat from the stomach. So, is massage therapy effective for weight loss?
Is Massage Therapy Effective for Weight Loss?
Massage therapy has a certain effect on weight loss.
By massaging specific areas and acupoints, massage therapy not only promotes fat burning and metabolism, but also accelerates intestinal peristalsis, improves blood circulation, and boosts metabolism, thereby achieving weight loss.
The Principles of Massage Therapy for Weight Loss
1. By stimulating specific meridians and acupoints, massage therapy can effectively suppress hunger and control appetite, thus reducing calorie intake.
2. By using appropriate hand techniques in combination with meridians and acupoints, massage therapy can speed up intestinal peristalsis, reduce the time food stays in the intestines, and decrease calorie absorption.
3. Massage therapy on specific meridians and acupoints can regulate the body's endocrine system and hormone levels (such as increasing levels of sex hormones), thereby inhibiting fat synthesis and accelerating fat breakdown.
4. Massage therapy can increase cellular metabolism and accelerate cellular apoptosis.
5. Certain massage techniques can directly act on fat cells and accelerate their apoptosis.
6. After physical activity, massage therapy can quickly improve microcirculation, enhance the absorption and dissipation of lactic acid metabolites, and thus rapidly relieve fatigue, providing feasibility for subsequent physical activities.
Common Techniques Used in Massage Therapy for Weight Loss
Common techniques used in massage therapy for weight loss include tapping, pressing, kneading, pressing and pushing, pinching, and grasping and kneading.
1. Tapping: Using the back of the 4th and 5th metacarpophalangeal joints as the focal point, press on the corresponding meridians and acupoints while performing wrist flexion and extension movements as the main action, with forearm rotation as an auxiliary action, at a rate of about 12 times per minute.
2. Pressing: The masseur uses fingertips or elbows to press directly on the corresponding meridians or acupoints, perpendicular to the surface of the body, applying slow and steady pressure until the recipient feels a sensation, then holds for a moment before slowly relaxing.
3. Kneading: The masseur uses fingertips, palms, palm roots, or elbows as the focal point, pressing on the meridians or acupoints, based on the pressing technique, and after achieving the sensation, maintains sufficient pressure (to maintain the sensation), and then adds a 360° circular motion.
4. Pressing and pushing: Based on the pressing technique, after achieving the sensation, maintain sufficient pressure and perform linear movements consistent with the meridians or acupoints.
5. Pushing: Using the thumb pad, palm root, elbow, etc., as the focal point, press on the corresponding meridians or acupoints, maintain sufficient pressure, and perform unidirectional linear movements consistent with the meridians or acupoints.
6. Pinching: The masseur uses the thumb pad and the radial side of the index finger (or the thumb pad and the index finger and middle finger) as the focal point, applies relative force, pinching and pulling the recipient's skin in a sequential and orderly manner, known as "Nie" technique.
7. Grasping: The masseur uses the thumb pad and the other four finger pads (or both palms facing each other, with the palm root as the focal point), applies relative force, grasps the recipient's skin and subcutaneous tissue, and performs rhythmic tightening and loosening movements.
Massage Therapy for Weight Loss Target Areas
1. Rubbing the abdomen: Place one or both palms on the navel, rub the abdomen in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, gradually increasing and then decreasing the pressure, rubbing the abdomen 10-20 times each.
2. Grasping the abdominal acupoints: Lie on your back with slightly bent lower limbs and relaxed abdomen. Use one palm to grasp and lift the Zhongwan and Qihai acupoints, with a large area and deep pressure. Apply a twisting and pressing motion when lifting, and release slowly. Repeat 10-20 times.
3. Massaging the abdominal muscles: Lie on your back with slightly bent lower limbs and relaxed abdomen. Use both palms to massage the abdominal muscles from the sides, alternately grasping and releasing with force. Apply forceful twisting and pressing from top to bottom. Repeat 10-20 times.
4. Rubbing the abdomen: Use both palms to vigorously rub the abdomen from the sides towards the lower abdomen, until a heat sensation is felt.
5. Pushing the upper limbs: Use one palm or the entire palm along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian from top to bottom, then turn along the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, and Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian from bottom to top, pushing to the shoulder. Rub the shoulder joint. Repeat 10-20 times.
6. Grasping the lower limbs: Use one thumb and the other four fingers to apply pressure along the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian from top to ankle; then switch hands to grasp the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian from bottom to groin. Repeat 10-20 times.
7. Rubbing the lumbar and sacral region: Use the palm roots to exert force on the lumbar and sacral region, rubbing back and forth vigorously until a heat sensation is felt.
Precautions for Massage Therapy for Weight Loss
1. Massage therapy for weight loss is particularly effective for simple obesity, and it can also have a good regulating effect on obesity secondary to neurological, endocrine, and metabolic disorders, or those related to genetics or medications.
2. During the massage therapy session, it is important to stay focused and avoid excessive mental burden, while maintaining confidence.
3. It is advisable to use some massage ointments during the therapy to enhance the weight loss effect.
4. Pay attention to diet and moderate control, especially the intake of high-calorie fats and carbohydrates should be limited, but excessive dieting is not advisable.
5. Engage in regular physical activities in daily life, especially sports exercises.
