What is the difference between the effects of acupuncture and massage?

Judging from my clinical practice over the years, acupuncture has a deeper effect and a longer-lasting regulating effect on the viscera, qi and blood. Massage has a stronger sense of immediate relaxation and is more efficient in relieving superficial muscle strain. The difference in the logic of action and adaption scenarios between the two is actually quite obvious.

The programmer from an Internet company I received last week was particularly impressed. When he suffered from lumbar protrusion, he was in pain and was walking on the wall. I gave him a 20-minute waist relaxing massage. At that time, 70% of the soreness and pain were gone, and he could straighten his waist when walking. However, the next day he sat for an afternoon shift and was so painful that he couldn't sleep at night. Later, he was given acupuncture at Shenshu, Weizhong, and Yanglingquan. The needles were left in place for 20 minutes and weak-frequency electroacupuncture was added. This was done three times in a row. This week, he came for a follow-up visit and said that he needed to sit for three or four hours in a row, and his waist no longer hurt.

To give a simple metaphor, if our meridians are compared to the water supply pipes at home, massage is like rubbing the soft dirt on the outer wall of the water pipe. The blockage on the surface will be rubbed away, and the water flow will increase immediately. However, if the blockage is deep in the water pipe, just rubbing the outer wall will not be that effective.； Acupuncture is equivalent to directly extending the tube to the location of the blockage, breaking up the blood stasis and blockage from the inside. After the blockage is opened, it will naturally last longer.

Of course, not everyone in this industry agrees with this statement. I know a massage master who has been doing massage for more than 20 years. His hands are so accurate that he can touch the core of fascia nodules. Many people have lumbar pain that makes them unable to stand. He can walk on the spot after he massages the massage. The treatment time is not shorter than acupuncture. He always says that if you are afraid of needles, there is no need to suffer that pain.； But an old director of the acupuncture department also talked to me and said that for problems related to viscera and nerve regulation, such as facial paralysis, functional dysmenorrhea, and intractable insomnia, it is difficult for the penetration of massage to reach the corresponding level of regulation, and the probability of acupuncture being effective is indeed much higher.

Not long ago, a little girl came here who was taking the postgraduate entrance examination. She had to sit for more than ten hours every day to recite, and her neck and shoulders were as stiff as frozen slate. She was afraid of needles for the first time, so she only gave her a 15-minute shoulder and neck massage. This time she was finally willing to try acupuncture. She had her neck and shoulder wells pierced. While the needles were in place, I rubbed the hard knots in her trapezius muscles. After she got back, she sent me a message saying that she felt refreshed for three days and her neck didn’t feel tight even after sitting all afternoon reviewing.

It’s pointless to say which one is better. If you just feel tired after working overtime recently and want to relax, the warm feeling of massage on your body is much better than acupuncture.； If the pain persists for several weeks, or if you want to relieve internal problems such as dysmenorrhea or insomnia, you can really try acupuncture. It is a bit sore when the needle is inserted, and the results are often quite surprising.