Massage

Massage is a wonderful therapy, and combines well with acupuncture. It not only relaxes the muscles and improves circulation, but it gives me a more detailed feel for the body--how tight the muscles are, where the bones are, and where there are sore spots. The combination of massage and acupuncture works better for most painful conditions than either one alone.

My main training has been in Tui Na, which is Chinese medical massage. I also have some experience with Thai massage, Jin Shin Do, acupressure, Swedish massage, and other types of bodywork. I like being eclectic--having lots of tools in the toolbox!

When I interned in China, and was on rotation between various wards of the hospital, I quickly found out that the Tui Na Massage department was the one for me. They used acupuncture, spinal adjustments, massage, massage with tools, cupping, external herbs, and more. They seemed to mainly treat people who had severe pain and were headed towards surgery. They were very vigorous, to say the least, but they were effective. In the U.S., we generally think of massage as a gentle, relaxing sort of treatment. But in China, they use it as a last-ditch resort to avoid surgery or restore function after a disabling trauma.

A lot of people wonder what the difference is between acupressure and massage. Acupressure is static pressure on particular point, often a 'trigger point' or painful knot. The pressure doesn't have to be very strong. The patient should be able to relax into the discomfort. If the pressure is too strong, it will often cause even more muscle tightening. With the right kind of pressure, the tight muscle will often visibly relax, sometimes twitching (fasciculating) as it releases.

More general massage uses moving techniques, such as strokes, kneading, etc. It can stretch muscles, increase circulation, etc. Acupressure is really just another massage technique. It's deceptively simple, but often has great results where moving techniques fail to work. In my opinion, this is because sometimes the patieint is afraid that moving techniques will be too strong or cause pain, so they unconsciously defend themselves by tightening the very muscles that are being treated. With gentle, static acupressure, people are usually able to enter into deeper relaxation.

Doing a full-body massage is more demanding on time and energy than a full acupuncture treatment. I have to block out a full hour where I can do nothing else, so massages have to be scheduled separately than acupuncture treatments, and I charge more for them. Currently, a one-hour massage is $50, whereas acupuncture is between $35 and $40. See my consultations page for more info on fees and services.

In Taoist QiGong and Yoga, self-massage is one of the essential foundations for health and longevity. If one is doing much sitting meditation, it is essential to do stretching and self-massage to loosen tight muscles, lubricate joints, and increase circulation. A basic full self-massage routine is as follows:

1. Sit comfortably in an upright position with the spine straight, such as on the edge of a chair or bench, or cross-legged on a cushion. Taoist texts often say: "Loosen your hair and your clothing." Undo your belt and unsnap your pants to allow your lower abdomen complete freedom to expand and contract during deep breathing.

2. Rub your palms together until they are hot. It's OK if it reminds you of Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid!

3. Place your hot palms over your eyes. Circle your eyes three times clockwise and then three times counterclockwise. Press in with your palms around your eyes--eyebrow, cheek bone, and the sides of your nose.

4. Circle your palms out, rubbing your forehead (from the center out), temples, and then pull your hands down the side of your face to rub your jaw with your fingers.

5. Use your fingers to press points around your eyes--the inner corner, outer corner, under the eyebrows, directly below the eye.

6. Use your index fingers to massage firmly down the sides of your nose. Press in on the points by your nostrils where your smile line starts. Trace down your smile line (smoothing the wrinkles out of it) to the corners of your mouth.

7. Slide your index finger behind your ear while your other fingers are on your cheeks and temples. Massage your ear up and down like this a few times. Using your index finger inside your ear, trace around the contours. Insert your index finger into your ear canal a little ways, and pop it out.

8. Run your fingers back through your hair, combing your scalp and down the back of your neck a few times. Then rub your palms down the back of your neck to your shoulders 3 times.

9. Tilt your head back and rub with your fingertips down the sides of the front of your throat. Tap very lightly on your windpipe to activate the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are in your throat.

10. Cup your right hand and slap/tap your left shoulder, outer arm, forearm, and the back of your left hand. Go down and then back up. Try to reach over as far as possible to get the left trapezius and the top of the left shoulder blade (scapula). Turn your left palm up and then pat down the inside of your left arm. Grab your left hand with your right (left palm up, right thumb on top of the left palm) and massage the left palm with your thumb. Starting with the left pinky, massage and rub each finger, giving it a gentle pull or popping it. Turn the left palm back down and rub the tender point in the muscle between the thumb and first finger (LI-4, He Gu).

11. Repeat the arm/shoulder/hand massage on the right side using the left hand.

12. Use both palms to brush down the chest, breasts, and ribcage to the belly. Massage the breasts in circles a few times each direction. Use your palms or fingers made into a beak to tap along the borders of your lungs--under the clavicles, down the sternum (activating the thymus gland), and along the lower ribs (vibrating your liver, pancreas, spleen, etc.)

13. Raise your left arm and use your cupped right hand to slap the side of your trunk, from under the armpit down to the "love handles." Repeat this on the other side.

14. Make your hands into loose fists and tap your kidneys and low back with both hands at the same time. Use the flat surface made by the thumb and forefinger in a loose ring. If you cup your hands correctly, you'll eventually hear a sort of hollow sound from the striking of your hands on your back. Go up your back as far as you can, and then back down to your sacrum and hips.

15. Overlap your fingers and use them to massage your abdomen in circles, clockwise and then counterclockwise (as if you have a clock facing out from your belly with your belly button as the center). Take a deep breath, pushing out your lower abdomen, and lightly tap it with your palms.

16. Depending on how you're sitting, get access to your left leg. Massage the thigh with both hands, then make loose fists and tap them on the inner thigh, top of the thigh, and the lateral thigh. Grab your thigh with both hands, fingers curved around to the back of your thigh, and press in along the center line of the back of the thigh, from the back of the knee (popliteal fossa) then as far up as you can go towards where the thigh meets the buttocks.

17. Repeat the thigh massage on the right side.

18. Gain access to your left calf and lower leg. If you're sitting in a chair, cross the left leg over the right thigh. If you're cross legged, put the left leg on top (half-lotus) or put your left foot on the ground with your knee up. Use your thumbs to massage the inside and back of the calf. On the inner lower leg where the tibia ends and the muscle begins, there is a line which is generally tender upon deep pressing with the thumb. It's the spleen meridian, and a good one to massage regularly to help keep the circulation going in the legs (to prevent varicose and spider veins, etc.). Make your left hand into a loose fist and pound down the muscles on the outer side of the lower leg.

19. Rotate your ankle in both directions with your hands. Massage each toe individually, popping them if you do that sort of thing. Press in with your thumbs on the sole of your foot, not being shy of any tender points. Pinch the Achille's tendon on both sides of the ankle. Squeeze and tap on the top of the foot. Make a loose fist and pound the sole of your foot.

20. Repeat the lower leg and foot massage on the other side.

21. If there is an area of your body that is calling for more attention, spend a couple minutes massaging it. You can rub your hands together again to gather heat and place your hands over the diseased area/organ you're working on. Visualize healing light emanating from your hands into the area.

22. Finish by placing your hands, one over the other, over your belly button. Visualize your body's energy being compressed and stored into a pearl of light in your lower abdomen (the lower Dan Tien). This is charging your Qi battery, and is the traditional way to end any Qi Gong exercise or martial arts routine.