Which one is more effective, acupuncture or massage?

In fact, there is absolutely no one who is more effective than the other. In the final analysis, it depends on what problem you are targeting, your own acceptance, and whether the person operating it is professional enough.

A little while ago, a young girl who had just graduated came to the clinic. She had a stiff neck that turned her neck into a small question mark. Even turning her head to drink water hurt. She has been afraid of needles since she was a child, and she trembled when she saw the needle. I didn't mention acupuncture. I massaged her shoulders and neck for twenty minutes, focusing on the trapezius muscles. At the trigger point, combined with slow traction and release, she was able to turn her head normally when walking that day. I then consolidated it again and it was fine. If I had to give her an acupuncture at that time, her whole body would be tight and the muscle tension would not be reduced. The effect might not be as good as a massage.

But if you want to say that massage is better than acupuncture, I don’t agree with it either. Lao Chen, who was treated last month, had a lumbar disc herniation that oppressed the sciatic nerve. His legs had been numb for almost half a year. When he had nothing to do, he would go to the massage shop downstairs to loosen his waist. After two hours of massage, he felt comfortable. In the afternoon, he was still numb. After I evaluated him, I inserted needles at Yaoyangguan, Weizhong, and Chengshan. , and also added electro-acupuncture stimulation, once every other day for three weeks. He said that now he has gone downstairs to buy groceries and walked for two stops, and his legs are not numb anymore. This is the advantage of acupuncture that can penetrate into the deep layers to loosen adhesions and stimulate the qi and blood of the meridians. It is difficult for ordinary massage to penetrate that deep.

Patients often argue with me, saying that massage is safer because it has no risks, or that acupuncture can remove the root and is definitely more effective than massage. Both of these arguments are too extreme. Just say that in the first 48 hours after an acute lumbar sprain occurs, the local edema is severe. If you dare to massage it blindly, the swelling will become worse the more you massage it, and the pain will be so painful that you can't even get out of bed. At this time, using acupuncture needles to prick a few analgesic points can quickly reduce the edema and relieve the pain, which is better than anything else. On the other hand, if you are trying to regulate the spleen and stomach of a three- or four-year-old child, and you insist on giving the child an acupuncture, the whole building can hear the child's crying, and it is impossible to persist. It is better to rub the child's belly and massage the spine every day.

To be honest, these are both external treatment methods passed down from our ancestors. Massage is like slowly smoothing out a knotted plastic pipe. It mainly works on the muscle layer, kneading away the tight nodules on the surface and middle layers. When the local qi and blood are cleared, you will naturally feel comfortable.； Acupuncture is more like directly pricking a few clear holes in a clogged water pipe. It can not only regulate the qi and blood throughout the body along the meridians, but also loosen and untie deep adhesions that cannot be touched by massage, allowing the energy to travel more thoroughly. Of course, there are many problems. We will all recommend combining acupuncture and massage. The effect is much better than doing it alone. If you are really confused about which one to choose, why not first talk about what makes you uncomfortable and whether you have any taboos. After all, the one that suits you will have the best effect.