Chinese Massage
Although Chinese medicinal treatments most often involve behavioral modification, changes in diet and exercise, a variety of supplementary therapies may also be utilized, including acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, herbal medicine and massage. Of these therapies, massage is easily the most popular for the same reasons that has seen a surge in popularity in Western society: massage is deeply relaxing, and an easy and effective way of healing a variety of maladies and conditions.
Chinese massage emerged as early as 4,000 years ago. Some of the earliest Chinese medical textbooks included guidelines on the practice of massage. Like the therapies of gigon and acupuncture, Chinese massage was originally based on the understood importance of the flow of qi in the body.
There are a variety of benefits of Chinese massage. These include the following:
-The removal of scar tissue
-Improving the body's resistance to disease
-Relieving chronic pain
-Improving posture
-Increasing flexibility (especially in the joints)
-Treating digestive system problems
-Stimulating blood circulation
-Regulation of the nervous system
-Improving athletic performance
-Halting the progress of degenerative muscular diseases
-Stimulating the immune system
-Recovery from sports injuries
-Relaxation
-Revitalization of the mind and body
Types of Chinese massage:
-Tui Na: This is the most commonly used form of Chinese massage today. Tui Na is a deep and repetitive form of massage that focuses on specific areas (such as the joints or limbs) as opposed to the entire body. Tui Na is commonly used to treat sports injuries.
-An Mo: Like Tui Na, An Mo uses deep and repetitive motions, but it differs from Tui Na in that the treatment focuses on the full body.
-Dian Xue: This form of massage is also known as acupressure. Like acupuncture, it involves pressure points on the body, but instead of using needles, the pressure points are stimulated by pressure from the fingers.
