Effects
Chinese massage unblocks meridians
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states: "When the meridians are blocked, diseases arise from lack of benevolence, and they can be treated with massage." This indicates that massage has the effect of unblocking meridians. For example, massaging the acupoint Zusanli can increase the secretion function of digestive fluids. From the perspective of modern medicine, massage mainly stimulates peripheral nerves, promotes blood and lymph circulation, and enhances the metabolic processes between tissues, thereby coordinating the functions of various tissues and organs and improving the metabolic level of the body.
Chinese massage harmonizes qi and blood
Luo Hong, a health expert from the Ming Dynasty, said in his book "The Immortal Book of Longevity": "Massage can unblock the pores and regulate the circulation of qi and blood." Massage uses gentle and soft force to stimulate the body through meridians and acupoints, regulating the whole body and harmonizing the circulation of vital energy and blood, thus enhancing the health of the body. Modern medicine believes that the mechanical stimulation of massage techniques, through the conversion of mechanical energy into heat energy, can increase the temperature of local tissues, promote the dilation of capillaries, improve blood and lymph circulation, reduce blood viscosity, lower peripheral vascular resistance, and reduce the burden on the heart. Therefore, massage can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Chinese massage enhances the body's immune function
For example, in children with dysentery, symptoms are relieved or disappear after massage. When there are dry or wet rales in the lungs of children, massaging the horizontal lines on the palm is effective. A study compared a group of children who received health massage with a control group of the same age. The children in the massage group had a lower incidence rate, higher height, weight, appetite, etc. The above clinical practices and other animal experiments have proven that massage has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and immune-enhancing effects, and can enhance the body's resistance to diseases.
It is precisely because massage can unblock meridians and maintain the circulation of qi and blood, it can make the muscles relax, the joints flexible, and make people feel refreshed and eliminate fatigue, which plays an important role in maintaining physical health.
Advantages of Chinese massage
There are many advantages of massage. It is easy to learn, simple to operate, economical, and can replace medication. For example, some patients can feel mentally refreshed after massage, acting as a stimulant, while others can calm down, acting as a sedative.
Because massage is beneficial to the circulatory system and metabolism, it is relatively safe and reliable for patients with general chronic diseases or excessive physical weakness. For children who are not convenient to take medication, massage can enhance their physical fitness and play a preventive and health-promoting role. For certain complex diseases, it can be combined with acupuncture and medication. However, for acute or high fever infectious diseases, or organ diseases such as typhoid fever, pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis, massage can only play a complementary role. If there are tumors, acute suppurative appendicitis, intestinal perforation, cholecystitis caused by biliary ascariasis, etc., with a sudden onset, it is necessary to immediately transfer to the emergency department of a hospital and not to use massage to delay the condition. For married women who suddenly experience severe pain in the lower abdomen around two months after amenorrhea, in order to confirm the possibility of ectopic pregnancy or other acute attacks, they should also be promptly sent to the hospital for rescue and not delayed.
Precautions for Chinese massage
1. Before massage, trim nails and wash hands with hot water. At the same time, remove rings and other items that may hinder the operation in advance.
2. The attitude should be amiable, serious, and meticulous, and the patient should be patiently explained about the condition to strive for cooperation.
3. The position of the patient and the doctor should be arranged properly; especially when the patient is sitting or lying down, it should be comfortable and convenient for operation.
4. The massage technique should be appropriate in strength, and observe the patient's expression at any time to make the patient feel comfortable.
5. The massage time should be about 20-30 minutes each time, and the number of massages should be twelve times as a course of treatment.
6. In the case of great anger, joy, fear, or sadness, massage should not be performed immediately.
7. After a full meal, do not massage immediately. Generally, it is appropriate to wait for about two hours after a meal.
8. During massage, some patients are prone to fall asleep. They should be covered with a towel to prevent catching a cold and pay attention to the room temperature. Do not massage in a drafty place.
Chinese massage relaxes the body and mind
In addition to concentration, it is particularly important to be calm and relaxed throughout the body.
Chinese massage accurately locates acupoints
Master the methods of locating common acupoints and the techniques of operation to ensure accurate acupoint selection and correct techniques.
Chinese massage applies appropriate force
Because too little force cannot produce the necessary stimulation, excessive force can easily cause fatigue and skin damage.
Chinese massage progresses step by step
The number of massage techniques should start from few and gradually increase, the strength of the massage should start from light and gradually increase, and the acupoints for massage can be gradually increased.
Chinese massage requires perseverance
Whether using massage for health maintenance or treating chronic diseases, it is not effective in one or two days. It often takes time to gradually show results, so one should have confidence, patience, and perseverance.
In addition to the above precautions, one should also grasp the timing of massage for health maintenance, with 20 minutes each time being appropriate. It is best to do it once in the morning and once before bed, such as before getting up in the morning and before going to bed at night. In order to enhance the therapeutic effect and prevent skin damage, a certain lubricant, such as talcum powder, sesame oil, or massage lotion, can be used during massage. If there are local skin damage, ulcers, fractures, tuberculosis, tumors, bleeding, etc., massage for health maintenance should be prohibited in these areas. When performing self-massage, it is best to wear only a vest and shorts, and the technique should directly contact the skin as much as possible. If there is sweating after massage, pay attention to avoiding drafts to prevent catching a cold. In addition, when excessively hungry, full, drunk, or excessively fatigued, do not perform health maintenance massage.
