Fatty liver, refers to the excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells caused by various reasons. Fatty liver disease seriously threatens the health of the Chinese people and has become the second largest liver disease after viral hepatitis. Fatty liver is a common clinical phenomenon, not an independent disease. The clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic in mild cases to severe conditions in severe cases. Generally speaking, fatty liver is a reversible disease, and early diagnosis and timely treatment can often restore normalcy.
Many people think that massage can only treat orthopedic diseases such as neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, and cannot treat internal diseases. In fact, as an important method of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, massage has always been mainly used to treat internal and external, women's and children's diseases. For fatty liver, massage also has its unique effects.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that fatty liver is a syndrome of liver-spleen disharmony and phlegm turbidity. Therefore, massage treatment for this disease is inseparable from the liver and spleen meridians. In terms of techniques, the "he" technique in the eight massage techniques is selected, with a focus on gentle abdominal techniques that soothe the liver, nourish the blood, relieve depression, and promote qi circulation. It combines tonification, purgation, and various techniques such as pushing, rubbing, and vibrating acupoints.
Considering that the foot Shaoyang gallbladder meridian has the unique function of harmonizing and resolving, regulating the middle burner, it is also the focus of treatment. Corresponding acupoints and meridians are selected to achieve the effect of promoting transportation and excretion, balancing qi and blood, and harmonizing rigidity and softness. At the same time, following the concepts of holism and differentiation of symptoms for treatment, based on the basic techniques mentioned above, treatment points and areas are adjusted according to the patient's constitution, tongue, pulse, and other conditions.
How does massage treat fatty liver?
Massage treatment for fatty liver mainly uses abdominal massage and acupoint selection along meridians, and adjusts the techniques and acupoints according to the patient's condition. Each treatment lasts about 20 minutes, with ten treatments as a course of treatment, once every other day. Generally, one to three courses of treatment are sufficient. B-ultrasound and blood lipid tests can be performed before and after treatment to evaluate the effectiveness.
The majority of patients who undergo massage treatment experience improved digestive function, relief or disappearance of related discomfort symptoms, reduction or disappearance of fatty liver as shown by B-ultrasound, and normalization or reduction of biochemical indicators such as triglycerides, cholesterol, and transaminases. At the same time, it also has a good auxiliary therapeutic effect on constipation, insomnia, diabetes, and obesity.
Characteristics of massage treatment for fatty liver
Currently, in clinical practice, Western medicine generally uses hepatoprotective drugs, lipolysis drugs, and antioxidants to treat this disease, such as vitamins, adenosine, statins, and fenofibrate. Although these drugs are clinically used, further verification of their efficacy and safety is still needed. In the current situation where some drugs have a single action and it is difficult to eliminate side effects, people have turned their attention to non-drug therapy.
Abdominal treatment-based visceral massage reflects the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in dealing with multifactorial and chronic diseases. Massage therapy can achieve many effects, such as promoting visceral blood circulation, activating cell functions, and reducing intra-abdominal pressure, thereby improving lipid metabolism, enhancing digestion function, and ultimately achieving overall therapeutic effects.
Prevention
1. Balanced diet
Adjust your daily diet to achieve a balance of coarse and fine foods and nutrient intake. Adequate protein intake can help eliminate liver fat.
2. Regular exercise
Engage in physical exercise every day, choose suitable sports based on your physical condition, such as jogging, table tennis, badminton, etc. Start with small exercise intensity and gradually increase to an appropriate level to enhance fat burning.
3. Use medication with caution
When taking any medication, be cautious and avoid medications that may have harmful effects on the liver. Further damage to the liver should be prevented.
4. Maintain a positive mindset
Avoid anger, minimize irritability, and pay attention to work-life balance, which are also important.
