Chinese Massage Therapy

Chinese Massage Therapy is a generic term used for all tissue manipulation techniques currently used by the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners. This particular branch of TCM consists of five popular systems that include manipulation of not only external skin, muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, and inner fascia but also the internal organs and organ systems.

This ancient therapy is used as a preventive treatment as well as a healing modality. By applying specific methods of tissue manipulations, obstructions in the channel's pathways can be removed, promoting and increasing both Qi and Blood circulation.

This therapy focuses on improving the structural alignment of the body and on healing soft tissue injuries. It also corrects any deviant functions of the internal organs, nerves, and joints. Chinese bodywork and tissue therapy are the foundational source for modern Swedish massage, myofascial trigger point therapy, reflexology and therapeutic neuromuscular therapy.

Chinese massage therapy is divided into five different schools of instruction: Jie Gu, Tui Na, Gua Sha, An Mo, and Jing Point therapy. Jie Cu, Tui Na, and Gua Sha employ external tissue manipulations. These three external manipulations are used to treat the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and also to treat fevers. An Mo and Jing Point therapy utilize soft-tissue manipulation. These treatment modalities are similar to those used in chiropractic, osteopathy, Western physical therapy, and massage therapy.

1. Jie Gu Therapy is used for bone setting and to adjust the patient's body alignment. The literal translation for Jie Gu is "knotted bone," which describes the art of manipulating the bones and ligaments to unravel the trapped junctions of Blood and Qi channels in the patient's joints.

2. Tui Na Therapy focuses on external tissue manipulation and adjustment of the muscles and tendons to adjust abnormal Qi circulation within the body's muscular system. The translation for Tui Na is to "push and grasp." It was developed primarily for correcting the misalignment of the body's bones and muscles due to traumatic physical injuries. Reflexology is historically rooted in the use of Tui-Na therapy in Chinese pediatric care.

3. Gua Sha Therapy is used to regulate febrile conditions, such as flu, cholera and malaria, and to treat musculoskeletal conditions. The translation for Gua is "to scrape or scratch" and Sha is defined as "cholera," or sand-like maculae (referring to the red discoloration that is raised on the skin by the application of scraping). This therapy focuses on external surface tissue scraping, usually around the, neck and thorax areas. It is cornmonly used for promoting Qi and Blood circulation, removing toxins, clearing Heat, cooling the Blood, removing stagnation, and dissolving masses. A jade scraper (coin, bowl or spoon) is used for purifying the Qi and transforming the Shen (Spirit). A water buffalo horn is commonly used for pulling Heat and toxins from the patient's body (occasionally ceramic is used, but never glass or plastic).

The two internal manipulations are used to treat the organs and nerves.

4. An Mo Therapy is used for internal organ regulation. An Mo focuses primarily on Qi extension and soft-tissue and internal organ manipulation (Figure 1.15). Although the literal translation means to "press and rub," this therapy focuses primarily on internal visceral regulation, concentrating directly on the treatment of specific Internal diseases.

5. Jing Point Therapy is employed for channel and internal organ regulation. Jing point therapy uses pressing, pinching, clapping, and tapping techniques on specific energetic points and energetic channels. These techniques are employed to promote Qi and Blood circulation, balance the body's Yin and Yang energy tonify weak organs, dredge the channels, and expel pathogenic factors



January 1-st, 2008

Sources:
Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy: A comprehensive Clinical Text, by Jerry Alan Johnson, Ph.D, D.T.C.M., D.M.Q. (China)

Photo: Yuri Arcurs - "Massage is wonderful"
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