Can acupuncture and massage be done together?

In most cases, acupuncture and massage can be used together. In many cases, the combined use can achieve a conditioning effect of 1+1>2. I have been doing physical therapy for almost 7 years, and I have encountered too many patients with strain injuries. It takes three or four times to relieve the problem by acupuncture or massage alone, but it is usually cured after two or three times combined.

I have talked about this with colleagues from different schools before, and it is true that some teachers do not recommend doing both at the same time. They feel that after acupuncture is used to gain qi, the qi and blood near the acupuncture points are in a state of readjustment. If you massage them immediately, it will easily disperse the newly gathered "qi", which will affect the effectiveness of the acupuncture, especially the head, face, and abdomen, where the needles are shallow. Many old-school acupuncturists will specifically advise patients not to rub and massage the needle locations casually on the day after the acupuncture.

But in my daily practice, I prefer to do targeted relaxing massage first and then acupuncture, just like loosening the hardened soil before planting, so that fertilizer can penetrate into the roots. The tense and spasmodic muscles are the hardened soil. Knead it first and then insert the acupuncture. Not only does the Qi come out faster, the acupuncture feels gentler, and there will be no soreness and pain for several days after the acupuncture. Last month, there was a girl who was doing design work. Her shoulders and neck were so stiff that it hurt to lift her arms, and she suffered from migraine headaches for almost a week. I first massaged her trapezius and levator scapulae muscles for 20 minutes to soften the muscles that were as hard as rocks, and then I pierced the Fengchi, Jianjing and Waiguan, when the needles were inserted, I pressed her temples and forehead. When the needles were removed, the girl directly said that her head no longer hurts, and there was no pulling sensation when she raised her arms. If the needles were inserted alone, it would take at least two times to achieve this effect.

Of course, not all situations are suitable for doing this together. If your blood coagulation function is not good and you will easily bruise after the injection, don't massage or apply pressure. It can easily aggravate subcutaneous bleeding.； If the skin is damaged, herpes, or the swelling is particularly obvious within 24 hours of an acute sprain, it is not recommended to operate both at the same time, as it may aggravate the symptoms. There are also some people who are particularly sensitive to pain. The acupuncture sensation is very strong and the soreness is unbearable when touched. There is no need to force it. If you wait a long time for the massage, the experience will be much better.

After all, there are no absolute taboos. As long as you are a practitioner from a formal institution, you should clearly explain your past medical history and current feelings before the operation. How to arrange it will be based on your situation. Don’t be too entangled in whether we can do it together.