Traditional Chinese Massage has a long history. In ancient times, there were activities of massage therapy in China. When people in labor experienced pain due to injury, they instinctively massaged the painful area, and they would feel relief or disappearance of the pain. After long-term practice, ancient people realized the role of massage and it gradually developed into the discipline of Traditional Chinese Massage.
Indications:
Traditional Chinese Massage
Indications: sprains, joint dislocations, lumbar muscle strain, muscle atrophy, migraines, anterior and posterior headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, sciatica, ischialgia, lumbosacral neuralgia, joint pain in limbs (including shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, finger (toe) joint pain). Facial paralysis, facial muscle spasms, gastrocnemius muscle spasms. Muscle pain in the shoulder, back, waist, knee caused by rheumatism. Acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis, joint bursa cyst pain, and joint stiffness, etc.
Other conditions such as neurogenic vomiting, indigestion, habitual constipation, gastric ptosis, chronic gastritis, insomnia, nocturnal emission, dysmenorrhea, and neurosis can also consider using or combining massage techniques.
Contraindications:
Contraindications: various acute infectious diseases, acute osteomyelitis, tuberculous arthritis, contagious skin diseases, eczema, burns, skin ulcers, tumors, and various sores. In addition, it is contraindicated in women during menstruation, pregnant women over five months, patients with acute peritonitis, acute suppurative peritonitis, acute appendicitis. Patients with chronic illness who are excessively weak, have severe cardiovascular disease, or are elderly and weak are all contraindicated for massage.
Characteristics:
Traditional Chinese Massage is economical and convenient because it does not require special medical equipment and is not limited by time, place, or climate conditions. It is stable, reliable, easy to learn, and use, with no side effects. Because of these advantages, massage has become a popular health and fitness measure loved by the general public. For normal people, it can enhance the body's natural resistance to disease and achieve health effects. For patients, it can not only relieve local symptoms but also accelerate the recovery of the affected area, thus achieving good treatment results.
Types and Techniques:
Overview of Massage Therapy
One type is active massage, also known as self-massage, which is a self-care method of massaging oneself. The other type is passive massage, which is a medical method used by doctors for patients, also known as massage therapy in this article. Massage techniques are not consistent, but the commonly used techniques can be selected from the following eight types: pressing, rubbing, pushing, grasping, kneading, pinching, trembling, and striking. It should be noted that these eight techniques are not used in isolation, but are often used in combination with each other.
Pressing Technique
Using fingertips or palm to press rhythmically on the appropriate part of the patient's body is called pressing technique. Commonly used techniques include single-hand pressing and double-hand pressing. In clinical practice, single-hand or double-hand pressing is usually applied below the ribs or on the abdomen. In areas such as the back or areas with thick muscles, single-hand pressure can also be used. This refers to one hand pressing down with the other hand lightly pressing on the back of the hand, or the right hand pressing down with the left hand pressing on the back of the right hand.
Rubbing Technique
Rubbing is a gentle massage technique using fingers or palm to rub the appropriate part of the patient's body. Rubbing is often used in combination with pressing and pushing techniques. It is commonly used for single-hand rubbing on the upper limbs and shoulders and double-hand rubbing on the chest.
Pushing Technique
Pushing is a technique of pushing forcefully. The commonly used techniques include single-hand pushing or double-hand pushing. Pushing and rubbing are inseparable, as rubbing is already included in pushing. For example, in areas with thick muscles in both arms and legs, pushing and rubbing are often used. The posture we see is a method of single-hand pushing and rubbing in which the left hand holds the patient's wrist and the right hand lightly presses on the back of the left hand. Can fingers be used for pushing and rubbing? Yes, they can. However, the area of the fingers is too small. When operating, we often use the left hand to hold the patient's wrist and use the right thumb and index finger to push and rub on one of the patient's fingers, or only use the right thumb to push and rub on the patient's finger. The traditional Chinese pediatric massage methods that have been passed down are actually using pushing and rubbing techniques. Pushing and rubbing techniques are diverse. By focusing both hands together, with the thumbs facing each other and the index fingers facing each other, the two hands are concentrated and pushed forward together. This is called the double-handed concentrated pushing and rubbing technique, which is the most effective technique in pushing and rubbing techniques.
Grasping Technique
Grasping is using the hand to grasp the skin and muscles of the appropriate part, and it is called grasping technique. Commonly used techniques include single-hand grasping in the leg or areas with thick muscles. If a patient experiences chest tightness, chest congestion, or symptoms similar to fainting due to emotional tension or anger, the single-hand grasping technique can be used by grasping and releasing the muscles above the clavicle, with each grasp and release happening twice per second, repeating 20 times, and then taking a short rest before repeating 20 times, which can relieve chest tightness and regulate breathing.
Kneading Technique
Kneading is a gentle rotation and kneading of the patient's skin and muscle tissue with the palm pressed against it, and it is called kneading technique. Kneading techniques are divided into single-hand kneading and double-hand kneading. For small areas like the temples, finger kneading can be used, and for larger areas like the back, palm kneading can be used. There is also a technique called single-hand pressure kneading, for example, kneading the calf, with the left hand pressing on the calf and the right hand applying pressure on the back of the left hand. The double-hand kneading technique can be used on the thick muscles of the calf. Kneading has the effect of reducing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation, and it is very suitable for local tender points.
Pinching Technique
Using the fingers to pinch the skin and muscles from the bone is called pinching technique. Pinching is similar to grasping, but grasping requires more force, while pinching focuses on the fingers. Grasping requires more force, while pinching requires less force. Pinching actually includes the squeezing action of the fingertips. Due to the slight squeezing action of pinching, it can enhance the activity of the skin and tendons, improve blood and lymph circulation. Light pinching can dispel wind and cold, and can dissolve stasis, while deep pinching can treat muscle and joint pain caused by wind, cold, and dampness inside and around tendons and joint capsules.
Trembling Technique
It is a massage technique that uses a vibrating and shaking motion. The movement should be rapid, short, and even. It is recommended to vibrate about 10 times per second, or about 600 times per minute. Trembling technique is inseparable from "movement", so it is also called trembling technique. Place the thumb vertically on the patient's pain point, vibrate the entire wrist, and create a trembling and shaking motion that drives the thumb, called single-finger trembling technique. Use the thumb and index finger or the index finger and middle finger to place them on the patient's painful area or brow, and vibrate with wrist strength, creating a double-finger trembling technique.
Striking Technique
Striking technique is also called tapping technique. It is often used after massage therapy. Of course, it can also be used alone. The strength of striking technique should be appropriate, and the movement should be soft and flexible. The technique should be suitable to give the patient a comfortable feeling. The striking time is generally 1-2 minutes, or 3 minutes is enough. In extremely rare cases, according to the condition, the time can be extended or shortened. This technique can also be performed in conjunction with massage therapy or mixed with other massage techniques.
Acupoint Massage
1. Yingxiang Acupoint
Location: Yingxiang acupoint is located on both sides of the nose, aligned with the eyes when looking straight ahead.
Efficacy: Massaging this acupoint can quickly eliminate lung heat and have a significant regulatory effect on facial color that becomes pale due to physical discomfort.
Massage Method: Use your fingertips to press the acupoint and gently move back and forth to stimulate the acupoint. Each time is about 1 minute, it is recommended to do it before bedtime. In addition to using the fingertip of the index finger, it is believed in Traditional Chinese Medicine that there is a "yin-yang surface relationship" between the thumb of the Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Yingxiang acupoint. Changing to use the thumb for massage will enhance the effect.
2. Taiyang Acupoint
Location: I believe no one doesn't know where the Taiyang acupoint is, right?
Efficacy: The Taiyang acupoint is closely related to facial nerves. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the Taiyang acupoint can promote drainage and reduce swelling, and it is effective for facial edema caused by poor circulation and dull complexion caused by excessive fatigue.
Massage Method: Use both thumbs to press the acupoint and gently rub it, and if necessary, it can be accompanied by massage on the forehead and eye sockets at the same time, anytime, anywhere.
3. Daying Acupoint
Location: The Daying acupoint is located on the lateral side of the head, in the concave part below the jaw bone and above the lip.
Efficacy: It can not only promote blood and energy circulation in the face, but also tighten the skin. As it happens to be close to the cheeks on both sides of the chin, it is often said that "women who like to support their cheeks have small and beautiful faces" is not without reason.
Massage Method: Use the index finger to press the acupoint, exhale while applying pressure for 6 seconds, repeat 4-5 sets.
Summary
In addition to the above precautions, it is also necessary to grasp the timing of massage for health preservation. It is recommended to do it for 20 minutes each time. It is best to do it once in the morning and once before bedtime. To enhance the effectiveness 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 injuries, ulcers, fractures, tuberculosis, tumors, bleeding, etc., massage therapy should be prohibited in these areas. When performing self-massage, it is best to wear only a vest and shorts, and try to have direct skin contact during the operation. When sweating occurs after massage, attention should be paid to avoiding drafts to prevent catching a cold. In addition, massage should not be performed when extremely hungry, full, drunk, or excessively fatigued.
Relaxation of body and mind
During massage, in addition to focusing on the technique, it is especially important to have a calm and peaceful attitude and to relax the whole body. Both body and mind should be relaxed.
Accuracy of acupoint selection
Master the acupoint selection method and operation technique of commonly used acupoints to ensure accurate acupoint selection and correct technique.
Appropriate force
Because too small force cannot produce the necessary stimulation, and too much force can cause fatigue and skin damage.
