First, the basic principles
The so-called static force refers to the force fixed on a certain part and acupoint during exertion; the moving force refers to the force that moves back and forth within a certain part or range. This force is influenced by the direction and range of movement. The movement direction includes straight, horizontal, diagonal, and circular. The movement range includes local and full-body movements. The combination of dynamic and static forces refers to applying static force to one part and applying moving force to another part. These three forces have different degrees of penetration due to their different levels of force. They can be roughly divided into shallow, medium, and deep. However, because the manipulation acts on the skin, meridians, tendons, muscles, and bone marrow, it is actually divided into five types: shallow (skin), slightly shallow (meridians), medium (muscles), slightly deep (tendons), and deep (bone marrow).
According to physics, when a force acts on an object, it moves the object a certain distance in the direction of the force, and this force does work on the object. The various treatments in massage, such as joint dislocation and muscle slippage, utilize this principle of physics. Because the dislocated joint and slippage of muscles have moved away from their original anatomical positions, in order to return these joints and muscles to their original positions, external force must be applied to move them in the direction of the force. Therefore, the work done by the external force is one of the basic principles of massage therapy. Physics also believes that if one object can do work on another object, the latter object will gain a certain amount of energy. This is called "energy", which can be divided into kinetic energy, potential energy, chemical energy, thermal energy, electrical energy, magnetic energy, and nuclear energy.
The "static force" applied in massage produces potential energy, the "moving force" produces kinetic energy, and the friction generated by the movement produces thermal energy. These energies are transmitted to the relevant systems in the body and converted into internal energy, thereby adjusting the function of the tissues in the system. For example, blood circulation relies on the contraction of the heart and arteries, the back and forth movement of the blood in the veins, and the potential energy generated by gravity. When the heart, arteries, and veins fail to generate enough kinetic energy or when the blood in the blood vessels stops due to some reason, the required kinetic energy for blood circulation weakens, resulting in pathological phenomena of blood circulation disorders. In this case, external kinetic energy needs to be provided to the blood, which can be converted into the required kinetic energy for blood circulation, in order to change this pathological phenomenon. This conversion of energy is the second basic principle of massage.
Modern scientific research has proven that the human body is an information system. It can emit, receive, and transmit information. When receiving information, it is transmitted from the outside to the inside along a certain path. When emitting information, it is emitted from the inside to the outside along another path. Some of this information is very obvious and can be known without any instruments. But some information can only be detected with the help of instruments. For example, body temperature, pulse, respiration, pain, etc. are obvious life activity information that does not require instrument examination, while electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyogram, etc. need specific instruments to measure. Information is transmitted through energy as its carrier. The energy as the carrier can be chemical energy (such as pain), thermal energy (such as body temperature), kinetic energy (such as pulse, respiration), electrical energy (such as electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram), etc. There are two pathways for information transmission: one is from the viscera to the body surface, and the other is from the body surface to the viscera. Both pathways pass through neurons, the central nervous system, and neurotransmitters. Due to the differences in the structure and function of various organs and tissues in the body, they have their own specific thresholds for receiving and emitting information. If the received or emitted information is lower or higher than this threshold, it indicates that the internal function has changed or caused pathology. For example, sudden and loud noise can cause symptoms such as palpitations, blanching, and cold limbs. This is the result of the incoming information exceeding the threshold that these organs can accept. In some heart disease patients, the parameters of their electrocardiogram may be higher or lower, which is the result of the information sent by the heart changing on the basis of the original threshold. Massage is a kind of information transmitted through contact with the body surface. This information is transmitted into the body through the body surface to the viscera, and it amplifies or attenuates the information of the viscera, making it close to or restore the original value. Thus, the purpose of treatment is achieved. This method of information transmission is the third basic principle of massage.
Two, yin and yang, and the five elements Yin and yang originated from Fuxi, and the five elements originated from the "Hongfan". They are theoretical tools for ancient working people to understand nature, utilize nature, and change nature. They have a simple materialist view and are the core of Taoism's "follow the way of nature". Yin and yang are the theories that divide and explain the properties and relationships of things that are both mutually unified and mutually opposed, mutually dependent and mutually restrictive. It is applicable to any field. Traditional Chinese medicine introduced this theory because the human body is an integrated whole with nature, reflecting the results of various changes in the natural world within the body. The human body is a whole that is interconnected by yin and yang. Under the condition of yin flat and yang secret, the harmony of the natural world is maintained, and normal physiological activities are maintained. If one aspect of yin and yang is excessive or deficient, it will cause the imbalance of the dynamic equilibrium of yin and yang and cause pathological changes. The manipulation in massage varies in strength, direction, size, depth, length, etc. This makes the effects of different manipulations have two completely different properties. The gentle, shallow, short, and small manipulations are gentle and stretching, and have the function of supplementing deficiencies; the strong, deep, long, and large manipulations are strong and stagnant, and have the effect of reducing excess. Therefore, gentle, shallow, short, and small manipulations belong to yin; strong, deep, long, and large manipulations belong to yang. The manipulations of different attributes of yin and yang complement each other, with appropriate strength, to adjust the imbalance of yin and yang in the body and restore balance, thereby achieving the purpose of treatment. The five elements are used to divide and explain the properties and relationships of all things in the universe based on the properties of the five basic substances: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It is more refined and profound than the analysis and understanding of all things by yin and yang. From a certain perspective, yin and yang are tools for macroscopically understanding and utilizing the universe, while the five elements are methods for microscopically analyzing and mastering the world. The five elements are divided and restricted by the relationship of birth, control, multiplication, and mutual restraint, and they mutually nourish and restrict each other to maintain coordination and balance among themselves in a constant state of motion. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the various organs and tissues in the human body have properties and relationships similar to the five elements in terms of their functional roles. For example, the heart governs blood vessels and spirits, and its nature is upward, similar to fire; the liver governs tendons and stores the soul, and its nature is ascending and exuberant, similar to wood; the spleen governs muscles and stores food, and its nature is nourishing and earth-like; the lungs govern qi and spirits, and its nature is solemn and descending, similar to metal; the kidneys govern essence and bones, and its nature is moistening and downward, similar to water. The manipulations in massage can be divided into several basic techniques based on the depth and penetration of the force, the direction of movement, etc. These techniques include pushing, grasping, pressing, rubbing, bouncing, flicking, pinching, shaking, acupressure, kneading, etc. Rubbing and rubbing are used on the skin, with light and shallow force, mostly circular, which affects the lungs, so they belong to metal. Pushing and shaking are used on the meridians, with slightly shallow force, mostly straight and scattered, which affects the heart, so they belong to fire. Grasping and pinching are used on the muscles, with medium force, mostly horizontal or upward pulling, which acts on the spleen, so they belong to earth. Flicking and flicking are used on the tendons, with slightly deep force, mostly left and right shaking, which affects the liver, so they belong to wood. Pressing and pressing are used on the bones, with deep force, mostly vertical downward, which affects the kidneys, so they belong to water. All the related evolved techniques can be classified according to this. In clinical massage, not a single technique is used, but several techniques are used in combination. When they are combined, they are often matched according to the relationship of birth and control of the five elements.
The rules of the combination of the relationship of birth are as follows: after tapping and flicking, apply acupressure and pressing, which is the birth of metal to water. Because tapping and rubbing activate the qi and blood in the skin, and then acupressure and pressing can cause the qi and blood in the skin to penetrate into the bones, warming and nourishing the bone marrow. It can nourish yang, activate blood, dispel stagnation, and is therefore the birth of metal to water. After acupressure and pressing, apply bouncing and flicking, which is the birth of water to wood. Acupressure and pressing can stimulate the yang in the bones, and then bouncing and flicking the tendons can make the yang reach the tendons, benefiting the tendons and having the effects of dispelling wind, relieving pain, and supplementing excess. It is therefore the birth of water to wood. After bouncing and flicking, apply pushing and shaking, which is the birth of wood to fire. Bouncing and twisting enhance the circulation of qi and blood in the tendons, and then pushing and shaking make the qi and blood in the tendons enter the meridians. This promotes the stretching and reaching of the tendons, the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians, so it is the birth of wood to fire. It has the effects of nourishing blood, relieving cold, and dispelling stagnation. After pushing and shaking, apply grasping and pinching, which is the birth of fire to earth. Pushing and shaking activate the qi and blood in the meridians. Then grasping and pinching can make the qi and blood in the meridians gradually stop in the muscles, thereby nourishing the muscles, with the functions of replenishing qi, nourishing blood, and promoting the movement of the meridians. It is therefore the birth of fire to earth. After grasping and pinching, apply pulling and rubbing, which is the birth of earth to metal. Pulling and rubbing activate the qi and blood in the muscles, providing conditions for the qi and blood in the skin to penetrate into the muscles. It has the functions of supporting the positive, expelling the evil, promoting the circulation of qi and dispelling the surface. Therefore, it is the birth of earth to metal. These five types of birth relationships create conditions for the subsequent manipulations and enhance the effects of the subsequent manipulations.
The rules of the combination of the relationship of control are as follows: bouncing and flicking promote the activity of qi and blood in the meridians. However, only bouncing and flicking easily cause the stagnation of qi and blood in the tendons. Therefore, after bouncing and flicking, apply rubbing and kneading to make the qi and blood in the meridians ascend to the skin, replenishing the lost qi and blood. This combination of manipulations is called metal controlling wood, which has the effects of soothing the liver, dispelling wind, and eliminating stagnation. Grasping and pinching can affect the muscles and stimulate their activity. However, simple squeezing and holding can cause muscle congestion. Therefore, after grasping and pinching, apply bouncing and flicking to divert the activity of the muscles to the tendons, eliminating the adverse effects of squeezing and holding. This combination of manipulations is called wood controlling earth, which has the effects of promoting the smooth flow of the six fu organs, regulating qi and relieving stagnation. Pointing and pressing are applied vertically downward with deep force, reaching the bone. It can stimulate the internal yang. However, simple pressing and pressing can easily cause the stimulated yang to disperse. Therefore, after pointing and pressing, add grasping and pinching to stimulate the activity of the muscles, using acquired to supplement innate, so that the innate yang does not disperse. This combination of manipulations is called earth controlling water, which has the effects of supplementing yang, dispelling dampness, and promoting blood circulation. Pushing and shaking can promote the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians and mobilize various joints. It strengthens the circulation of qi and blood in the joints. However, pushing is a one-way movement, and shaking is a vibration of qi and blood, which is easy to dissipate qi and blood. Therefore, after pushing and shaking, add pointing and pressing to slow down the speed of qi and blood circulation and tend to converge, so as not to dissipate. This combination of manipulations is called water controlling fire, which has the functions of activating blood, resolving stagnation, and calming the heart. Rubbing and kneading can activate the qi of the skin and muscle. However, because they are located in the superficial layer, the qi of the skin is easily lost from the surface. The internal qi and blood cannot reach the skin and hair in time. Therefore, after rubbing and kneading, apply pushing and shaking to make the qi and blood in the vessels reach the skin and replenish the lost qi and blood. This combination of manipulations is called fire controlling metal, which can clear the lungs, dispel heat, and dredge the meridians. The combination of these manipulations based on the relationship of control of the five elements can overcome the disadvantages of the initial manipulations and achieve more perfect effects of the manipulations. The rules of the five elements' generation and control can not only be used for normal treatment in massage but also can correct pathological phenomena caused by excessive or deficient of the five elements. Like other treatments in traditional Chinese medicine, massage also formulates medical principles based on the correspondence between heaven and man. The yin and yang and the five elements of the human body are influenced by changes in external natural conditions. Therefore, the treatment principles should be formulated according to the changing conditions.
For example, in spring, the weather is mild, everything is budding, and plants are turning green. The earth is full of vitality. Therefore, spring belongs to wood. In this season, the weather begins to warm up, the earth's energy begins to discharge, the ice melts, and the wind is strong without rain. It corresponds to liver qi. The invasion of wind evil easily affects the liver, causing liver qi depression. The treatment principle used is soothing the liver and dispelling wind, mainly using bouncing and flicking, supplemented by pushing and shaking to promote the circulation of meridians. Summer weather is hot, and everything is flourishing. The earth is full of vitality. Therefore, summer belongs to fire. In this season, the weather is hot, the earth's energy is upward, the meridians are full of qi, and the skin is plump. It is hot and less rainy, corresponding to heart qi. The invasion of heat evil easily affects the heart, making the heart fire exuberant. The treatment principle used is clearing heat and resolving toxicity, calming the heart and reducing fire, mainly using pushing and shaking, supplemented by grasping and pinching. Autumn weather is cool, and autumn wind begins to blow. Everything is ripe, and the earth is full of harvest scenes. Therefore, autumn belongs to metal. In this season, the weather begins to cool, the earth's energy begins to gather, the skin and hair contract, and the pores close. The meridians are full and the skin is dry. It corresponds to lung qi. The invasion of cold evil easily affects the lungs, causing lung qi depression. The treatment principle used is clearing the lungs and moistening dryness, mainly using rubbing and kneading, supplemented by acupressure and pressing, to clear the lungs and moisten the skin. Late summer weather is damp and hot. Everything is flourishing, and the earth is full of vitality. Therefore, late summer belongs to earth. In this season, there is both dampness and heat, corresponding to spleen qi. The dampness and heat evil easily invades the spleen, which is prone to physical weakness and fatigue. The treatment principle used is invigorating the spleen and dispelling dampness, mainly using grasping and pinching, supplemented by bouncing and flicking, to invigorate the spleen and dispel dampness. In autumn, the weather is cool and the autumn wind gradually rises. Everything is fruitful, and the earth is full of abundance. Therefore, autumn belongs to metal. In this season, the weather begins to cool, the earth's energy begins to converge, the pores of the skin contract, and the hair falls out. The meridians are active and the skin is dry. It corresponds to lung qi. The invasion of cold evil easily affects the lungs, so the treatment principle used is clearing the lungs and moistening dryness, mainly using pointing and pressing, supplemented by rubbing and kneading, to clear the lungs and moisten the skin. Winter weather is extremely cold, and plants wither, and everything enters a dormant state. The earth is closed. Therefore, winter belongs to water. In this season, the weather is cold, the earth's energy is sealed, and it is cold and less hot. Qi and blood are hidden in the body, hiding in the bones, and correspond to kidney qi. The invasion of cold evil easily affects the kidneys, damaging yang qi. The treatment principle used is raising yang and overcoming cold, dredging meridians and activating collaterals, mainly using acupressure and pressing, supplemented by bouncing, flicking, pushing, and shaking to help bones and boost yang.
