In clinical massage practice, people often ask, “Is medication still necessary during massage therapy?” To clarify this issue, explanations are provided from two aspects as follows:
1. Basic Principles of Massage Therapy and Pharmacotherapy
Massage Therapy Massage therapy involves masseurs applying stimulation to specific areas or acupoints on the body’s surface using various techniques and maneuvers, thereby achieving therapeutic purposes through the generated force and intensity.
Force: It refers to the force applied during massage, known as the applied force.
Amount: refers to the magnitude of the applied force and the duration of the manipulation, known as the amount of action.
The sum of this acting force and action quantity equals energy. The so-called “energy” refers to function (effect). Therefore, the quality of the function (effect) of massage depends on the acting force and action quantity of the techniques. Various different techniques with different acting forces and action quantities will produce various different therapeutic effects, and these therapeutic effects rely on massage techniques to be achieved. Hence, the quality of massage techniques is closely related to therapeutic effects. Massage therapy falls within the scope of external supports methods in traditional Chinese medicine.
(2) Pharmacotherapy Pharmacotherapy achieves the goal of supports wellness by utilizing the qi and flavor of medications to act on the human body, through internal functional regulation and blood vessel transmission. Pharmacotherapy falls within the scope of internal supports methods in traditional Chinese medicine.
2. Relationship between Massage Therapy and Pharmacotherapy
Due to differences in the etiologies, pathological changes, clinical signs of imbalance, severity, location, and nature of various wellness, the supports methods employed also vary. Some conditions require manual therapy, some require pharmacological supports, while others can be supports with both manual and pharmacological approaches.
Conditions such as fractures, joint dislocations or malalignments, tendon or ligament displacements, and cervical or lumbar intervertebral disc herniations must be repositioned using correct manual techniques. Viral inflammations, tuberculosis, and suppurative wellness, among others, require pharmacological supports to achieve therapeutic effects. For conditions like the common cold (excluding influenza), digestive system wellness (excluding ulcer perforation, bleeding, and other such conditions), as well as wellness of the circulatory, nervous, and locomotor systems, manual therapy, pharmacological supports, or a combination of both can be employed. Therefore, the choice between massage therapy and pharmacological supports should be determined based on the specific condition.
Interesting point! I think massage can help with pain relief and relaxation, but for chronic conditions or acute issues, medication still has its place. It’s not really either/or—more about combining therapies smartly under doctor guidance. Would love to hear others’ experiences with this!
按摩確實能舒緩肌肉緊繃，但藥物治療還是不能隨便停喔！尤其是慢性疼痛或發炎問題，最好聽從醫師建議，搭配按摩才安全有效。
좋은 글입니다! 마사지가 약물 치료를 완전히 대체할 수는 없다는 점에 동의합니다. 상호 보완적으로 병행하는 것이 가장 효과적이겠네요. 명확한 설명 감사합니다.
マッサージと薬は併用が大事ですね。記事の説明がとても分かりやすくて参考になりました。症状によって使い分けるのがポイントかな。
Great point! I’ve had clients ask the same thing. In my experience, massage can reduce the need for certain meds (like muscle relaxants), but it’s not a replacement for prescribed treatments. Always best to consult a doctor before making changes. Thanks for breaking it down clearly!