TCM Acupuncture and Massage

Chapter 26 Health massage techniques for middle-aged and elderly people (1)
Outline
Self-care massage therapy is to use your own hands, according to your own health status and disease needs, and according to the systemic physiological functions of the human body, use different techniques to perform combined or single massage on the body, and use the stimulating energy (pressure, heat, etc.) It works on local or specific acupoints to generate stressful biological information, which is transmitted through the transmission system, and plays a role in opening up and suppressing the adjustment of body tissues and viscera functional systems.

This regulating effect is called regulating yin and yang in traditional Chinese medicine.In traditional Chinese medicine, the physiological and pathological changes of the human body are highly summarized by the theory of yin and yang. For example, viscera, meridians, qi and blood, exterior and interior, ascent and descent, etc. all belong to yin and yang. Physiological balance, manifested in different disorders.The cause of the disease is the imbalance of yin and yang in the internal system of the body.The balance of yin and yang, that is, the secret of yin and yang is a healthy body, and being good at adjusting yin and yang at ordinary times, so as not to make it partial victory or partial decline, is the way of health preservation.Keeping it for a long time can achieve the purpose of prolonging life.

Massage is the traditional name of TCM manipulation medicine. The term "massage" appeared in the Ming Dynasty, and the two co-existed and were commonly used thereafter.At present, the Chinese government officially names this subject with "massage".Manipulation, in addition to being synonymous with massage and massage, as a general term for manipulation medicine, generally refers to specific operating techniques in manipulation medicine.The so-called manipulative technique refers to the methodical movement technique in which the performer stimulates the human body with his hands (or hand substitutes) for the purpose of curing diseases or health care.Therefore, the technique in the broad sense represents a discipline, which is a science; the technique in the narrow sense refers to its operating techniques, which is a technology and art.

Manual medicine is the oldest form of medicine.Skin-to-skin contact is human nature.People long to be touched by their loved ones in their infancy, and the importance of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on the emotional health of infants has been recognized by the medical community today.Mutual human body touch can bring physical and mental pleasure to people, and it is also positive for people's health.Primitive people know how to use friction to keep warm when their limbs are cold; when they are in pain from trauma, they will instinctively touch or press the injured part; When understanding, a kind touch may be better than any language; when the body and emotions are overly tense, appropriate techniques may be better than any medicine.In this way, our ancestors summed up manual medicine from the personal experience of fighting against diseases generation after generation, from primitive, subconscious, and simple hand movements.As an ancient non-drug therapy, the history of manual medicine may be as long as the history of human civilization, and it must be earlier than other medical disciplines such as medicine and acupuncture that rely more on external material conditions.

Characteristics of Physiological and Pathological Changes in Middle-aged and Old Age

The important physiological changes in the middle-aged and old age are a process from weakness to aging.Aging is a phenomenon in which the overall function of organisms decreases under normal environmental conditions and gradually tends to die.The existence of life determines the natural law from the beginning to the end of life, which is independent of people's will.

The phenomenon of aging is not a sudden change, but a cumulative manifestation of irreversible changes in various organs and systems throughout a person's life, but the aging process is obviously prominent in the middle-aged and old age.Aging itself is a normal life phenomenon, not a disease, but disease can accelerate the aging process, which is also the main reason for the obvious and prominent aging in middle-aged and elderly people.

For the definition of old age, traditional Chinese medicine believes that "a person is old when he is over fifty" ("Lingshu · Wei Qi Disorder"), and believes that aging phenomena begin to appear at the age of 35 to 40. "Records in detail: women "five-seven (35 years old) Yangming pulse declines, face begins to burn, hair begins to fall"; men "fifty-eight (40 years old) kidney qi declines, hair falls and teeth become haggard".A woman "Qiqi (49 years old) has a deficiency of Renmai, Taichong pulse declines, Tiangui is exhausted, and the tunnel is blocked, so her shape is bad and childless; a man "Qiba (56 years old) has liver qi weakness, tendons cannot move, Tiangui exhaustion , low sperm count, kidney failure, and extremely poor physique..." began to enter old age.

现代老年医学界通常以45～59岁为老年前期，60～79岁为低龄老年期，80～89岁为高龄老年期，90～99岁为长寿期，100岁以上为寿星期。中华老年医学会的最新划分是：44岁以下为年轻人，45～59岁为老年前期，60～89岁为老年人，90岁以上为长寿老人。

[-]. Characteristics of Physiological Changes

([-]) Signs of aging

The signs of human aging can be clearly observed from the head, face and facial features, such as gray and brittle temple hair, scorched face, wrinkled face, drooping eyelids, brittle teeth, cloudy eyes, dry lips and less fluid, auricles Symptoms such as thin and large, shrunken earlobes, dripping tears, etc., as well as symptoms such as pale tongue, dim vision, dry nose and easy bleeding, deafness and deafness.

The head, face, and facial features are directly related to the five internal organs, such as "the tongue is the seedling of the heart", "the flower is on the face"; "the eyes are the liver orifices"; Wait.This is also the basis for observing the signs of aging from the "old from above".The above-mentioned signs on the head and face are not only the aging changes of the face, but also reflect the aging changes of the five internal organs.

For the aging changes of visceral system, traditional medicine has a vivid description.For example, "Lingshu Jing Tiannian" contains: "At the age of 50, the liver qi begins to decline, the leaves of the liver begin to thin, the bile begins to decrease, and the eyes begin to become unclear. At the age of 60, the heart qi begins to decline, suffering and sorrow, and the blood qi is lazy, so it is easy to lie down. At the age of 70, the spleen is weak and the skin is dry. At the age of 80, the lung qi is weak and the soul is separated, so the words are misleading. At the age of 90, the kidney qi is scorched, and the meridians of the four viscera are empty. And it’s over.” The decay of the five internal organs corresponds to the aging changes of the emotions.

([-]) Emotional changes

Emotions are dominated by the five internal organs, and the decay of the five internal organs leads to changes in the emotions. Generally, there are more isolated personalities, depression, resentment, irritability and irritability.Sun Simiao said: "The nature of the elderly is that they rely on their old age, have nothing to excuse, are too arrogant, do not follow the rules, and suddenly have good things, so they must be appreciated."As a result, they cannot be harmonious with those around them and their relatives.

([-]) Characteristics of the aging period
After entering old age, qi and blood gradually decline, Yuanyang is deficient, five internal organs are weakened, spleen and stomach are weak, spirit is floating, muscles and muscles are weak, interstitial is not solid 1, the body is in an extremely unstable weak state, all external evils, internal injuries, Improper diet, fatigue, and injuries to the atrioventricular room are all likely to cause diseases. All diseases are prone to the situation of "when evil gathers together, its qi must be deficient".

If the exogenous pathogenic wind-cold, damp-heat is felt, there will be new sensations which will trigger the old diseases, which will make the diseases lingering and difficult to heal, and accelerate the consumption of the body's essence, qi and spirit, and become chronic diseases.

Although the body is exhausted in old age, the heart is strong, and internal injuries caused by anger and resentment can lead to disharmony between the viscera and the internal organs, leading to serious troubles.

[-]. Characteristics of pathological changes

([-]) Disharmony of Qi and blood
The aging of the human body is nothing more than the loss of yang energy and yin essence. "Huangdi Neijing Tiaojing Lun" says: "Blood and qi are combined, disease is formed, and yin and yang are in phase." Qi and blood are in harmony, blood stasis stops internally, and symptoms of dizziness, chest tightness, or phlegm turbidity caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis appear. Evil is born inside, and various diseases follow, and the situation of "diseases form" is also an important reason for aging.

([-]) Visceral disorders

If the viscera are functioning normally, the body will be strong and vigorous, and the vitality will be glorious.If the viscera are deficient and dysfunctional, disharmony between the viscera and the viscera will occur, resulting in symptoms.For example: the heart fire cannot descend to the kidney water, and the kidney water cannot ascend to the heart fire, that is, if the heart and kidney do not communicate, there will be forgetfulness, insomnia, dreaminess, and dementia; Spleen-stomach disharmony affects digestion, leading to stagnation of diet and loss of appetite; the kidney stores essence, the liver stores blood, and the essence and blood metabolize each other, kidney yin deficiency, liver blood deficiency, that is, yin deficiency five upset fever, dizziness, dizziness, Blurred vision, dry throat and mouth, insomnia, etc.; disharmony between the liver and spleen, loss of control, can cause long-term disturbance of digestive function, chest and flank fullness, abdominal distension, anorexia, borborygmus, excessive gas, loose stools, etc. Deficiency of kidney water cannot nourish liver wood, deficiency of liver yin, yin does not subdue yang, hyperactivity of liver yang leads to dizziness, headache, flushed face, high blood pressure, etc.

In short, among the five internal organs and the six internal organs, damage and interference with the coordination of their internal connections due to the depletion and aging of the internal organs can cause related symptoms.

([-]) Emotional variation

Due to the weakness of the five viscera, there is a variation in the emotional aspect, and this variation is transformed into a factor that causes damage.Emotional agitation or depression can easily cause harm to middle-aged and elderly people who are in a period of physiological change.Emotional will is a disease, and the initial pathology is abnormal qi mechanism. If the internal organs are involved, the qi mechanism will be disordered and the function will be abnormal, resulting in the consumption of essence and blood, loss of form and spirit.When the spirit is hurt, the essence stored in the five internal organs loses its control, and it will not stop dissipating, and exhaust its life.This is also the inner essence advocated by health-preserving experts to express emotion and aspiration to preserve health and prolong life.

Principles of health care massage for middle-aged and elderly people
Health care massage for middle-aged and elderly people uses various techniques to apply specific parts and acupoints on the surface of the body to dredge the meridians from the surface to the inside, harmonize nutrition and health, and circulate Qi and blood to promote and maintain the balance of yin and yang in the body and viscera. Function coordination, so as to enhance the body's own disease resistance ability of middle-aged and elderly people, to achieve the purpose of strengthening the body and prolonging life.The theory of health care massage therapy is based on the theory of yin and yang, yingwei, qi and blood, meridians and viscera in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no better way to cure the disease than to cure it" ("Syndrome and Treatment Heart Biography General Outline of Syndrome and Treatment") and "To save its germination, it is too early to cure it; , instead of losing its shape due to illness, and listening to what you know and what you don't know. Therefore, there is a difference between working and working" ("Leijing · Acupuncture") medical awareness, based on the practical experience of medical massage, A non-pharmaceutical health care therapy developed by extension.

The physiological functions of the viscera, skin, muscles, bones, and limbs of the human body are all based on qi, blood, and body fluid, which are distributed to all parts of the body through the operation of meridians.The meridians belong to the internal organs, and the outer limbs are distributed throughout the body, regulating the movement of qi and blood, making the qi and blood flow through the upper and lower sides, connecting the human body into a complete and unified whole of life, so as to adapt to the changes in the external environment and survive .

The relative balance of yin and yang, yin and yang secret, unobstructed flow of qi and blood in the meridians and collaterals, harmony of internal organs and six internal organs, harmonious and unified functions of various tissues, harmonious mind and well-maintained skin, muscles, muscles and bones are the concrete manifestations of human health.At this time, even if you encounter external evils, you will not get sick, which is the so-called "righteousness exists inside, and evils cannot be done."

Health care massage for middle-aged and elderly people uses various methods to follow the meridians, rub the skin with gentle strength, press the acupoints, massage the meridians, apply physical mechanical stimulation to the body, and through the conduction of the meridians, To stimulate the transformation of contradictions among internal organs, regulate the functions of various internal organs, harmonize nutrition and health, flow qi and blood, and smooth joints, so that righteous qi can be supported, evil qi can be released, the body's yin and yang are balanced, and the functions of viscera can be harmonized and unified. Thereby enhancing the body's ability to resist diseases, achieving the purpose of strengthening the body, eliminating diseases and prolonging life.

Modern medical research believes that massage techniques can cause physical and biochemical reactions in the affected area. This reaction can prevent diseases and restore the body through the regulation of nerve reflexes and body fluid circulation.

Massage can improve the respiration and nutrition of the skin, facilitate the secretion of sweat glands and sebaceous glands, promote the expansion of capillaries, accelerate the circulation of blood and lymph, increase the local skin temperature, enhance metabolism, promote the luster and elasticity of the skin, and pass The peripheral nerve conducts to the central nervous system to adjust the functional state of the whole body.

Massage can cause the decomposition of cell protein, produce histamine and histamine-like substances; the physical force of the technique can be converted into heat energy, promote blood vessel dilation, enhance muscle metabolism energy and nutrient supply, repair damaged tissues, and enhance the elasticity of muscle tissue and vitality, promote the absorption of inflammatory exudate, eliminate muscle tissue swelling, spasm and fatigue.

Massage can adjust the excitement and inhibition process of the nervous system, relieve the tension and fatigue of the brain; it can affect the autonomic nerves, and adjust the activities and functions of internal organs, blood vessels, glands and other tissues.Giving massage stimulation to the corresponding spinal cord segments can cause changes in the segmental reflexes of the nerves and produce adjustment effects on related organs and tissues.

Massage can improve the blood active ingredients and their combination ratio, such as increasing the total number of red blood cells, white blood cells and the proportion of lymphocytes in the classification, and enhance the body's immune ability.Massage causes reflexive peripheral vasodilation, which can regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure, make blood pressure drop steadily, and maintain normal pressure difference; it can enhance blood and lymph flow, and promote body fluid circulation.

Massaging can directly act on the digestive system through the abdominal wall, enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis, and promote digestive function and absorption of nutrients.The function of rubbing is mainly to improve the function of the body. It can not only treat functional diseases, but also improve and recover organic diseases by regulating the functional state.

Principles of massage therapy for middle-aged and elderly people
[-]. Seek the root cause of the disease, and treat the root cause and target
Ben refers to the essence and origin of the disease; standard refers to the pathological changes and symptoms of the disease.

Middle-aged and elderly people are in the process of body aging and decay, and various symptoms will appear when diseases are caused by certain factors.Seeking the root of the disease is to find out the root cause of the disease among these intricate symptoms and give targeted treatment, that is, "according to the disease and addressing the disease" to solve the root cause of the disease, and the rest of the symptoms will be solved. It will disappear naturally without treatment.Don't be confused by the appearance of the disease, delay the treatment of the disease, and make the disease lingering.

For some diseases, the manifestation of pathological changes is the reason for the discomfort and pain that the patient feels, and it also affects the recovery of the disease.In this regard, we can't just seek the essence and ignore the standard.It is necessary to give symptomatic treatment to the standard pathological symptoms in the process of treating the root cause, so as to better exert the curative effect of health massage.

Second, strengthening the body and eliminating evil

Entering the middle-aged and old age, the body continues to age, which itself is a process of struggle between good and evil.Righteousness is the internal cause, and righteousness plays a decisive role. Therefore, when righteousness is strong, evil cannot invade, and the human body can maintain health and delay the aging process.This is the principle of "righteousness exists, and evil cannot be done" to maintain one's life.On the contrary, if the righteous qi is deficient, the evil qi will easily attack, causing the body to suffer from diseases and accelerate aging.Therefore, the fundamental principle of treatment is: strengthening the body and eliminating pathogenic factors.

Reinforcing the body is to strengthen diet and emotional care, combined with health-care massage techniques to support righteousness, enhance physical fitness, and improve the body's disease resistance and self-healing functions.

Expelling pathogenic factors is to use various methods to act on specific meridians and acupoints, "letting out the principles and guiding them", so as to achieve the effect of eliminating pathogenic factors and eliminating the cause of the disease.

[-]. Reconcile visceral qi and blood
The aging and decay of middle-aged and elderly people is due to the disharmony of qi and blood, and the weakness and imbalance of the five internal organs.According to the physiological and pathological characteristics of middle-aged and elderly people, the emphasis should be on dredging and regulating qi and blood. If qi and blood are unblocked, the five internal organs will be in harmony, and the limbs and bones will be nourished.The five internal organs are the source of Qi and blood biochemistry, the five internal organs are harmonized, the biochemistry of Qi and blood is continuous, and the blood is sufficient to make the human body function vigorously, reduce diseases, and delay aging.

In regulating the five internal organs, special attention should be paid to the regulation of the congenital kidney and the acquired spleen.The harmony of the spleen and kidney is beneficial to the harmony between the various viscera.Massaging the abdomen can directly act on the digestive system and regulate the spleen and stomach, which is also the advantage of health massage.

[-]. Adapt measures to time, place, and individual conditions

Middle-aged and elderly people, due to individual differences, including factors such as temperament, body, gender, age, living environment, and personal circumstances, will experience various changes in the aging and decay of different bodies.This is a situation that must be noticed in clinical health massage.

Three-factor measures means that correct and reasonable health massage measures must be formulated according to different seasons, regions and individual characteristics of people in clinical practice, so as to obtain the health care effect of massage.

The role of health massage for middle-aged and elderly people

Existing studies have found that acupoint manipulation can dredge the meridians, promote qi and blood circulation, remove blood stasis and relieve pain, regulate muscles and dissipate stagnation, Osteoarthritis, smooth joints, adjust viscera, enhance physical fitness, etc.

(End of this chapter)