Traditional Chinese Massage has been practiced for around two thousand years, it was known as An Mo, ‘An’ meaning Press and ‘Mo’ meaning Rub. An Mo was used as a term for both medical and relaxation massage. In 1949, the Chinese government officially recognised the medical benefits of the massage and endorsed Tui Na. It was officially incorporated into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a medical therapy to be used for problems where acupuncture and herbs were less effective. The term An Mo is still used today as a term for relaxation massage.
- Tui Na massage – Tui Na massage is one of the most popular forms of Chinese massage in the modern day world. It involves deep massage techniques that are applied over the whole body in many repetitions , especially the back. Tui Na massage is excellent for treating ailments such as chronic pains, musculoskeletal problems, sprains and strains, arthritis, problems of the digestive system, liver and the spleen.
- An Mo massage – An Mo massage also incorporates many Chinese massage techniques which are applied to the entire body. An Mo massage is used to balance, calm and relax the entire body by using yang techniques.
What are the benefits of Chinese Massage?
Chinese Massage therapy is a holistic approach to health care that not only provides relief from physical ailments, but also relaxes and revitalizes the body and mind. Chinese massage stimulates the circulatory system and the nervous system. It provides relief from chronic pain and improves the strength and flexibility of the various parts of the body. Regular Chinese massage can assist many degenerative muscular diseases.
Chinese massage stimulates the immune system and increases strength and resilience of the body, to treat injuries, bruises and facilitates the removal of scar tissue. Headaches, migraines, constipation, tennis elbow and sciatica can be effectively treated. Chinese massage can also relax and re-energize the mind and is an excellent way of assisting with day to day stress and anxiety.
Chinese massage is performed using compression, friction, joint manipulation, swing, pinching and grasping, percussion and vibration. These techniques help in removing blockages of QI, improve blood circulation and relieve muscular stiffness in various parts of the body. Therefore these massage techniques are helpful in treating abdominal, back, chest and limb problems. They also help in improving the flexibility of the spine and gastrointestinal functions.