The difference between acupuncture and massage to stimulate acupoints

The core difference between acupuncture and massage in stimulating acupoints is essentially the difference in depth of stimulation, path of action, and boundaries of application. There is no absolute advantage or disadvantage between the two, but they are each adapted to different scenarios and needs.

A while ago, I met two patients with stiff necks in the library, and I was particularly impressed. One was a programmer in his thirties. His neck was so painful that he could only tilt it to one side. He was first massaged on his Stiff Pillow Point and Jianjing Point for 5 minutes. It was so sore that he gasped, but his neck was still stuck and hurt when he turned it. Later, a licensed doctor gave him Houxi Tuhegu and after twisting it for less than ten seconds, he hissed on the spot and said that his neck could actually be turned. The other was a 16 or 17-year-old girl who was so afraid of needles that she cried when she saw them. She also had a stiff neck. She was given a massage on the Ashi point on her neck plus Sanli of her hands. The pressure was very gentle. After about ten minutes of rubbing, she was able to move normally.

Don't tell me, many people have asked me, it's all about stimulating acupuncture points, so why is the effect so different? In fact, the most intuitive difference is the different levels of stimulation. Massage stimulates the fascia layer most. You usually rub it for three miles by yourself. When it reaches the most sore state, the soreness only stays in the muscle layer, just like loosening the soil on the surface of a field. You can only rub away the lumps on the surface. Acupuncture directly penetrates the skin and accurately reaches the deep parts of the acupoints. Some acupuncture points even touch the periosteum. The soreness and swelling penetrate from the deep layers outward, which is equivalent to directly drilling a well to open up the deep blockages. I had sprained my ankle before, and the swelling still wouldn't go away after the acute stage. I had my ankles swelled as soon as the needles were inserted into Xiexi and Qiuxu. Most of the swelling disappeared that night. That kind of effect cannot be achieved no matter how long you rub it.

Interestingly, practitioners in different fields have different views on the logic of their functions. The meridian school of traditional Chinese medicine believes that acupuncture directly "regulates qi" and acts on the qi machines running in the meridians. It can directly relieve deep-seated congestion and qi stagnation, so deep-seated problems such as pain, facial paralysis, and post-herpetic pain are particularly effective. ； Massage is "shape adjustment". It first relaxes the tightness of the skin, muscles and veins, and then indirectly drives the circulation of Qi. It is more suitable for superficial muscle tension and daily health care. Researchers in the field of modern rehabilitation believe that the essence of both methods is to regulate neurofeedback through mechanical stimulation. However, acupuncture is deep enough and can trigger deeper proprioceptors. It has a more direct effect on deep muscle spasms and nerve compression, while massage stimulates surface pressure receptors and has a better effect in relieving tension.

Oh, by the way, someone also asked me if using more force during massage can replace acupuncture? It really doesn't work. Even if you rub the skin red and broken, it won't be able to penetrate the muscle barrier and reach the deep acupoints. Instead, it may cause soft tissue damage. Moreover, the applicable boundaries of the two are quite different. After all, acupuncture is an invasive procedure and must be performed by qualified medical practitioners. People with poor coagulation function, pregnant women, abdominal and lumbosacral regions, and skin infected areas should not be acupuncture. The risk is indeed higher than massage. But conversely, for many acute, severe and deep-seated problems, massage is basically ineffective. For example, in the acute stage of facial paralysis, it is difficult to have an effect just by pressing acupoints, and acupuncture intervention is required to recover faster.

For daily use, the fault tolerance rate of massage is much higher. Office workers have sore shoulders after sitting for a long time. They can feel comfortable after rubbing their shoulders for two minutes. ； If you have a headache after staying up late, press your temples and Shugu, and it will be relieved in about ten minutes. ； After eating a lot, rubbing the stomach for a while is faster than taking Jianweixiaoshi tablets. You can’t bring an acupuncturist with you in these scenarios, right? When I go out and encounter someone who suddenly has a stomachache, I always ask him to press Hegu and Zusanli first, which is enough for emergencies. It is also more friendly to children and people who are afraid of needles. Massage to stimulate acupuncture points is also more friendly. I have met many massage masters for children, and the intensity of pressing the acupoints is well controlled. Children's colds and food accumulation problems can be cured by just rubbing them a few times, without the need for needles at all.

Let me tell you, there is really no need to worry about which one is better. The two are not substitutes at all. In many cases, the effect is better when used together. For example, for patients with lumbar protrusion that I encountered before, acupuncture on deep acupoints was first used to relieve edema in the nerve roots, and then massage was used to relax the tense psoas muscles on the surface. The recovery speed was much faster than using one method alone. For daily health care and emergencies, choose massage. If you really need a deep-seated disease, go to a regular medical institution for acupuncture. The one that suits you is the best.