What are the massage techniques in traditional Chinese medicine?

There are many massage methods in traditional Chinese medicine, which mainly use finger techniques to massage our body to achieve the effect of health care and treatment. So do you know what massage techniques there are? Let’s take a look together below!

There are roughly two types of massage therapy: one is active massage, also called self-massage, which is a health care method in which one massages oneself. The other is passive massage, which is a medical method mastered by doctors and used on patients. Massage techniques are not consistent, but in summary, the following eight techniques can be commonly used: pressing, rubbing, pushing, holding, kneading, pinching, shaking, and hitting, etc., and often several techniques are coordinated with each other.

(1) Pressing method: Using the fingertips or palms to press up and down rhythmically on the appropriate parts of the patient's body is called pressing method. Commonly used methods include single-handed pressing and double-handed pressing. Clinically, it is applied under the ribs or in the abdomen, usually on the back or areas with thick muscles.

(2) Massage: Using fingers or palms to gently touch appropriate parts of the patient's body is called massage. Massage is often combined with pressing and pushing. There are one-handed massage that is commonly used on the upper limbs and shoulders, and two-handed massage that is commonly used on the chest.

(3) Pushing method: Pushing forward with force is called pushing method. There are two commonly used massage methods in clinical practice: one-handed or two-handed. There are various methods of pushing and rubbing. Put your hands together, with thumbs against thumbs, index fingers against index fingers, and push both hands forward. This is called the concentrated double-handed pushing and massage method, and it is the most effective method of pushing and massage.

(4) Nai Fa: Picking up the skin at an appropriate part with your hands with a little force is called Nai Fa. Commonly used clinical method is one-handed holding on the legs or muscular areas.

(5) Kneading method: Put your hands on the patient's skin and make slight rotating movements. This is called kneading method. There are two methods of kneading: single-hand kneading and double-hand kneading. For small areas such as the temples, you can use your fingers to rub. For large areas on the back, you can use your palms to rub.

(6) Pinching: Using fingers to lift the skin and muscles away from the bone surface at appropriate locations is called pinching. The pinching rule focuses on the fingers. The holding method requires heavier force, while the kneading method requires lighter force. Kneading is a basic technique commonly used in massage. As a result of gently squeezing the muscles, kneading can enhance the mobility of the skin and tendons and improve blood and lymphatic circulation.

(7) Vibration: It is a vibrating and shaking massage technique. The movements should be quick, short and even. It is required to vibrate about 10 times per second, which is about 600 times per minute. Place the thumb vertically on the patient's pain point, vibrate the entire wrist vigorously, and cause the thumb to produce a tremor-like shake. This is called the single-finger vibration method.

Through the editor’s sharing above, you have a certain understanding of the massage techniques of traditional Chinese medicine. Then in your future life, you might as well follow the editor’s sharing, experience it carefully, and at the same time do a good job of personal health care!