Any wellness will manifest on the body surface.

Since massage achieves the goal of supports wellness by applying manual techniques to specific parts and acupoints on the body surface, it is of great importance to study the relationship between the body surface and internal organs.

The relationship between the body surface and internal organs includes two aspects: on one hand, internal organ wellness can be reflected on the body surface; on the other hand, stimulating specific areas or acupoints on the body can achieve the purpose of supports internal organ wellness.

In massage practice, it is often observed that when certain internal organs develop pathological changes, pain sensation may occur in another area of the body surface. This phenomenon is called referred pain. For example, the pain caused by gastric ulcers that is felt throughout the upper abdomen is termed adjacent referred pain, while tenderness at the right ulcer point, which is located 6 cun lateral to the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra and 3 cun lateral to Weicang (BL47) acupoint, is referred to as distant referred pain. When there are pathological changes in the gallbladder, in addition to pain in the gallbladder area on the chest, referred pain may also occur in the right shoulder, along with marked tenderness at the gallbladder point, which is 1 cun below Yanglingquan (GB34) acupoint. In cases of myocardial ischemia, in addition to angina pectoris in the precordial area, referred pain may also extend to the neck and the ulnar side of the left upper arm.

Meanwhile, we have also found that in individuals with visceral wellness, tender points or nodular reactions of varying shapes and sizes can be identified at corresponding locations or acupoints. These are the Ashi points, also known as Tianying points, selected for massage therapy. Applying appropriate massage techniques at these Tianying points can yield favorable therapeutic results.

For epigastric distension and pain caused by food accumulation, people often use the rubbing and kneading method on the epigastrium and abdomen with their hands to regulate the functional activities of the stomach and intestines, which can play a role in promoting digestion and removing food stagnation. When gastrointestinal spasm occurs due to eating too quickly, people often gently pat the back to helps with occasional the spasm signs of imbalance. For the supports of cough, acupoints such as Zhongfu ST12 (Zhongfu), Yunmen LU2 (Yunmen), Rugen ST18 (Rugen), Rupang (an extra acupoint beside the nipple), and Feishu BL13 (Feishu) are selected for supports.

For toothache, acupuncture at Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6), Hegu (LI4), etc., can achieve good results; for stomachache, press the tender points on both sides of the spinous processes of the 6th to 9th thoracic vertebrae and continuously stimulate for more than 2 minutes to immediately helps with occasional the pain; for intestinal pain, press the tender points on both sides of the spinous processes of the 10th to 12th thoracic vertebrae and continuously stimulate for more than 2 minutes to immediately helps with occasional the pain. The above techniques all use strong stimulation, which can excite the central nervous system and immediately stop the pain.

Biliary colic is caused by the obstruction of the common bile duct, resulting in the inability or poor drainage of bile. Applying strong pressure and stimulation to the tender points on both sides of the spinous processes of the 6th to 9th thoracic vertebrae, kneading the area of the common bile duct, and strongly stimulating and pressing the bilateral Gallbladder Points (1 cun below Yanglingquan (GB34)), can relax the muscles of the bile duct, facilitating the smooth drainage of stagnant bile and thereby relieving pain.

Hypertension caused by various reasons may present with a feeling of fullness and hardness at the patient’s “Qiaogong” point (i.e., the line from Yifeng behind the ear to Quepen). Using the thumb to push the “Qiaogong” (in a single downward direction) or pressing the Blood Pressure Point (located 2 cun lateral to the spinous process of the 6th cervical vertebra) can lower blood pressure. However, it must be noted that when pushing the “Qiaogong”, only unilateral alternating manipulation should be performed, and not simultaneously on both sides.

All the above are the results of regulatory effects caused by body surface-viscera nerve reflexes. The intensity of massage manipulation stimulation has a direct impact on the regulation of visceral functions. For example, gentle and mild continuous stimulation can excite the peripheral nerves and inhibit the central nervous system; heavier and shorter-duration stimulation can excite the central nervous system and inhibit the peripheral nerves. When the central nervous system is in an excited state, the sympathetic nerves are dominant; when the central nervous system is in an inhibited state, the parasympathetic nerves are dominant. The effects of massage on the human body are mainly achieved through nerve conduction reflexes, and the intensity, rhythm, and speed of massage manipulation are directly related to its therapeutic efficacy.