What are the differences and effects of acupuncture and massage?

Simply put, the core difference between the two is the invasiveness and level of action. Acupuncture relies on acupuncture points to deeply regulate qi and blood in the meridians, and is more prominent in improving deep-seated pain and organ dysfunction.； Massage relies on external force acting on soft tissues, and is better at relieving superficial muscle strain and daily qi and blood blockage. Both belong to the external treatment category of traditional Chinese medicine and are often used together, but the applicable scenarios are quite different.

Two girls who came to the clinic a while ago were very impressed. One of them had been sitting for three months while preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination. Her left leg was numb to her ankle. The X-ray showed that the lumbar protrusion was pressing on the nerve root. She asked her roommate to press it at home for almost a week. It was comfortable and she was still numb when she stood up and took two steps. Later, she was given punctures on the corresponding points in her waist, middle and feet. The needles were left in for 20 minutes. When she got up, she said that the numbness had subsided by half. After three times, she basically felt nothing at all. The other was an operator at an Internet company. After working on a project for five days, her shoulders and neck were as hard as slate, and it was difficult to turn her head. Even though there were several hard lumps on her trapezius muscles, her hands were not numb and she had no headache. I used a rolling method to loosen her shoulders and neck for 20 minutes, and the knots were loosened. When she stood up and turned her neck, she felt much more flexible. She even said, "I feel like there are no more stones on my head."

In fact, many people come to me and ask me whether they should choose acupuncture or massage. I usually let them touch the uncomfortable area first. If it is just muscle hardness and soreness, no numbness, no pain in other places, and no internal problems such as dysmenorrhea, rhinitis, or chronic stomach problems, massage is enough. Just like dust stained on the outside of clothes, it can be removed by patting it, and there is no need to rub it with detergent. If the problem has reached a deeper level, such as not only muscle pain, but also nerve numbness, or internal function problems, then the strength of the massage cannot penetrate that deep, and acupuncture is needed to "punch in" to clear it. It is like a water pipe that is blocked internally. Just knocking on the outer wall is useless. You have to penetrate it inside.

Nowadays, there are actually two extreme opinions on these two things. Some people claim that acupuncture is magical and can cure all kinds of diseases, while others say that acupuncture is just a placebo and it is all a psychological effect. The current academic consensus is that acupuncture’s ability to improve acute and chronic pain is clearly supported by evidence. However, for issues such as weight loss, endocrine regulation, and allergic rhinitis, the results of different studies vary greatly. Some people have very good results after a few courses of treatment, and some people have almost no reaction. There is no need to be deified, and there is no need to kill it with a stick. If it doesn’t work, just try other methods. Some people think that the heavier the massage, the better, and they feel it is useful only when they press each time and scream. This is not true, especially for older people and people with osteoporosis. Brutal force may cause bruises at light pressure, and fractures may occur at severe pressure. A good massage is when the force penetrates into the muscles, and it does not rely on brute force to make you hurt. I have seen many people with shoulder and neck swelling for three days after pressing, which means that the technique is wrong and the soft tissue is injured, which is not worth the gain.

Of course, the two are not completely separated. For example, if you have a stiff neck or muscle soreness after exercise, first massage to relax the superficial muscles, and then use a few needles to clear the deep blockages. It is much faster than using one method alone. How to choose depends on your actual situation.