Massage is one of the methods of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation. Massage not only relaxes your body and mind but also effectively enhances the absorption of various skincare products, giving you a smooth and beautiful complexion. Consistently practicing correct massage techniques every day can keep your skin looking young, while incorrect techniques can worsen skin damage. Today, I will share some knowledge about massage techniques.
Warm and soothing massage techniques:
There are various massage techniques, each with different therapeutic effects. Below, I will introduce some warm and soothing massage techniques.
1. Rubbing technique:
(1) Palm rubbing: Place your palms on your abdomen and perform circular and rhythmic rubbing, also known as abdominal rubbing. When rubbing the abdomen, follow this sequence: upper abdomen => navel => lower abdomen => lower right abdomen => upper right abdomen => upper left abdomen => lower left abdomen.
(2) Finger rubbing: Attach the pad of your index finger, middle finger, ring finger, or little finger to the treatment area and perform circular and rhythmic rubbing. This technique is used for facial, chest, or certain acupoints.
2. Friction technique:
(1) Palm friction: Apply pressure with your palm on the treatment area and perform quick back and forth linear rubbing. This technique has a large contact area, low heat production, and is mainly used for the lumbar-sacral region, limbs, and shoulders.
(2) Side friction: Apply pressure with the side of your hand on the treatment area and perform quick back and forth linear rubbing. This technique has a small contact area, high heat production, and is mainly used for the lumbar-sacral region, shoulder and back, and limbs.
(3) Fish fin friction: Apply pressure with the edge of your hand on the treatment area and perform quick back and forth linear rubbing. This technique has a small contact area, fast heat production, and is mainly used for the upper limbs and neck and shoulder area.
3. Pushing technique:
(1) Palm pushing: Apply pressure with your palm on the treatment area and perform unidirectional linear pushing. The pushing should be gentle but not floating, and heavy but not stagnant. This technique is mostly used for the back, chest and abdomen, rib area, and lower limbs.
(2) Finger pushing: Apply pressure with your fingers on the treatment area and perform unidirectional linear pushing. This technique is used for muscles, tendons, and tendon sheaths.
(3) Elbow pushing: Apply pressure with your elbow on the treatment area and perform unidirectional linear pushing. This technique is used for both sides of the spine.
(4) Thumb splitting pushing: Place the radial side of both thumbs on the forehead and push them apart from the midline of the forehead.
(5) Ten-finger splitting pushing: Bend all ten fingers slightly and push them apart from the midline of the chest along the intercostal spaces. This is also known as chest opening and qi flow.
(6) Fish fin splitting pushing: Apply pressure with the radial side of both thumbs and the edge of the hand on the abdomen and push them apart from the midline of the abdomen along the rib arches.
