The difference and connection between acupuncture and massage

Acupuncture and massage both belong to the external treatment system of traditional Chinese medicine. The core logic is to regulate qi, blood, yin and yang to prevent and treat diseases by stimulating the meridians and acupoints. The core difference between the two is the different operating carriers and stimulation levels - acupuncture uses metal needles as the carrier, which is an invasive operation and can act on deep tissues.； Massage uses manual techniques as a carrier and is a non-invasive operation. Its action levels are mostly concentrated from the body surface to the fascia layer. In clinical practice, the two are often used together. There is no absolute advantage or disadvantage. The adaptation scenarios vary greatly depending on the genre, technology and patient conditions.

To use an inappropriate analogy, the meridians are like sewer pipes at home. When they are clogged, massage is like wearing rubber gloves and rubbing the wall of the pipe from the outside, which can loosen the siltation near the surface. Acupuncture is like using a slender dredge to reach into the pipe and directly open up the deep blockage. Last time I met an aunt with a stiff neck at a community free clinic. She woke up in the morning with her neck crooked and unable to move at all. I first massaged her Jianjing and Tianzong for ten minutes. Her superficial muscles were loosened a bit, and she could turn her neck slightly, but it still hurt when it was turned to 45 degrees. Then I gave her an injection of Houxi. After the injection, she felt a little sore and numb for 30 seconds, and she was able to turn left and right to the full extent on the spot. She also wondered why the massage worked without needing a needle. In fact, her spasm point was at the insertion point of the deep levator scapulae muscle. The strength of ordinary massage could not penetrate the layers of muscles, and the needle could just hit the precise location.

Of course, acupuncture does not penetrate deeper than massage in all cases. I once worked with a senior practitioner from the Lingnan Traumatology Department. His tendon management technique can sink into the bone seams. There was a patient with lumbar protrusion whose legs were numb after sitting for a week even after a week of acupuncture. The teacher felt that the patient had deep myofascial adhesions that compressed the nerve roots. He performed tendon management three times in a row, and the adhesions were loosened, and most of the leg numbness disappeared on the spot. What the old master often said is "the hand is a living soft needle, and if it is strong enough, it is more effective than a steel needle." This is also a very representative view in the industry. No one is right or wrong, it all depends on the technical accuracy of the operator.

Let’s talk about the risks that ordinary people are most concerned about. After all, acupuncture requires breaking the skin, and the operation requirements are much higher. It must be operated by people with medical qualifications. Insufficient disinfection may cause infection. The acupuncture points cannot be found accurately, and the needles may be inserted too deep, and may even pierce the lungs, nerves or other organs. I once encountered a traditional Chinese medicine enthusiast who blindly inserted Zusanli at home and poked the common peroneal nerve. The foot was numb for half a month before it recovered. Therefore, it is definitely not recommended for ordinary people to try acupuncture at home. The fault tolerance rate of massage is much higher. Ordinary health-care shoulder rubs and belly massage can be used by ordinary people if they learn the correct way to apply force. They can massage the elderly and children at home without any problem. As long as they don’t use brute force to bend their necks and waists, there will basically be no major problems.

In fact, clinically we don't distinguish the two so clearly. For many patients with chronic low back pain, we first prick the Shenshu, Weizhong, and Ashi points and leave the needles in for 20 minutes. After the deep spasms are almost loosened, we then use rolling and kneading methods to relax the tight erector spinae muscles on the surface, and finally add waist stretching. The recovery speed is at least one-third faster than using one method alone. Elderly Chinese medicine practitioners often say that "acupuncture and acupuncture are not divided into different branches." The "Huangdi Neijing" has long listed acupuncture and nine-needle as the core methods of external treatment. They are complementary things.

Oh, by the way, there is another misunderstanding that many people have. They think that massage is for health care, and only acupuncture is for serious treatment. This is really a prejudice. For example, many children in the pediatric department have fever, food accumulation, and cry at night. Parents are reluctant to give them acupuncture. Reliable pediatric massage can cure the disease by just three or five massages. The effect is no worse than taking medicine and acupuncture. ； For some patients who are naturally dizzy from needles, we will also give priority to massage. As long as the acupuncture points are accurately identified and the strength is sufficient, the therapeutic effect can be achieved.

I usually deal with minor problems at home. If I feel bloated after eating too much, I rub the Zhongwan and Zusanli for ten minutes and burp a few times to feel better.； If you stay up late and get a migraine, pressing your temples and rubbing them for a long time will have no effect. One injection will be too strong and the soreness and numbness will disappear immediately. In the final analysis, whether you use a needle or use your hands, the core is to give the body appropriate stimulation, help it open blocked meridians, and bring back the deviated Qi and blood. There is really no need to worry about which one is more effective. Finding the right reliable operator and choosing the method that suits you is better than anything else.