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Micro-massage
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In the first place micro-massage is a form of massage, because it is concerned with the massage of precise regions of the body. But it is miniaturized massage, for these 'regions' are cutaneous zones of very small area, less than a square centimeter - the dermotopes, improperly called' acupuncture points'.
The question arises of how an intervention of this kind, which is mechanically very feeble, can have results equal or even superior to those obtained with classical massage which 'works' the muscle or group of muscles or even the deeper layers of the organism? The fundamental difference between the two techniques - classical massage is a mechanical action, while micro-massage is an energizing action. In the same way that the electrologist stimulates the muscles by applying small electrodes to the 'motor points', the micro-masseur, like the acupuncturist, singles out venter points of the muscles, points of insertion, sensor or motor nerve points, ligamentary points, articular points and organic points.
In China, micro-massage is a technique which has been developed to perfection for a very long time. It is employed not only by specialists but also by the acupuncturists who, confronted by a child or squeamish patient who refuses the needles, will use it to treat the dermotopes indicated. Acupuncturists, in any case, have never thought of micro-massage as being inferior to the method with needles. The only difference is that about three sessions of micro-massage are needed to achieve the same result as is obtained from a single session of acupuncture. Finally, and in spite of the spectacular results so often obtained by it, Chinese micro-massage is completely harmless.
Starting with the principle that the organism is in harmony with its environment, Chinese entered on a painstaking study of the frontier which separates these two worlds - the skin. In fact, the skin possesses an internal microcosmic side and an external macrocosmic side, and must therefore, in the interests of the harmony mentioned, represent each element of the organism so as to put it in contact with the cosmos. Thus arose the idea of Tching, the ideogram of which indicates that it is something very thin, running longitudinally, which transports energy. There are twelve pairs of these lines disposed symmetrically on the human body, each pair corresponding to one of the twelve principal functions.
Every active organ, every organ which lives, produces energy, the chemical and electrical manifestations of which are known to us. The originality of the Chinese lay in showing that each function sends a part of its energy to the surface, channeled in its own pair of Tching. Thus the Tching seems to be a 'track of energy', a kind of invisible conductor, which follows a very precise pathway.
The internal pathways by which a function or an organ sends a portion of its energy to the surface have been minutely described by the Chinese and tally with central nervous or vegetative pathways, forming 'nodes' which correspond to the various plexi. So the energy of a function first follows an internal course, or cryptodrome, and then traverses the surface of the skin along the Tching or peridrome, which has the name of the particular function.
It is essential to have a good knowledge of the topography of the peridromes, because these lines pass through the dermotopes treated by acupuncturists and micro-masseurs. In keeping with what would logically be expected from the theory of Tao, this topography was soon confirmed by therapeutic experience.
Since Yang is that which is external and Yin is that which is internal, the back surface will be Yang and the front surface Yin. Indeed, embryology teaches us that foetal morphology implies an external (Yang) dorsal surface and an internal (Yin) ventral surface. Consequently, the Yang peridromes (relating to the Fou functions) will be posterior, while the Yin peridromes (relating to Tsang) will be anterior.
We are informed by Taoist teaching that the heavens, being intangible and in motion, are Yang, whereas the earth, being tangible and apparently immobile, is Yin. From this it is easy to conclude, with the Chinese, that whatever is above is Yang and whatever is below is Yin. The upper parts of the body (with the head and thorax, which contain the noble periodic Tsang functions) are more Yang than the lower parts (the abdomen and the organs of digestion and excretion) which are more Yin.
It is therefore only natural, from the point of view of Tao, that the proximal extremities of the peridromes, containing a noble energy, should be found at the top of the body. In addition to this, there are two parts to be distinguished within the top region: the head is more Yang (brain, mind) than the thorax (heart, lungs). Consequently, the proximal extremity of all Yang peridromes will be at the head, and that of all Yin peridromes will be at the thorax.
In locating the distal extremities of the twelve bilateral peridromes, the Yin-Yang hierarchy of functions comes into play. The peridromes associated with the most Yang of Tsang functions and with the most Yang of the Fou functions have their distal extremity in the hand and concern the upper limb (Yang); the peridromes associated with the most Yin of Tsang and Fou functions have their distal extremity in the foot and concern the lower limb (Yin).
Each peridrome has a definite direction, which determines which way the current of energy flowing through it will run, and decides the numbering of the dermotopes of which it is composed. It is possible, then, to distinguish four groups of three peridromes.
Having discarded rotary massage, which is of doubtful origin, and of contradictory techniques, we shall confine ourselves to that which is tested and true: action along the peridrome, applied from the point of the dermotope outwards and ceasing a few centimeters distant from it. However, the question is to know whether the massage should be centripetal or centrifugal, and this point is one of extreme importance, since the direction of the massage determines whether the effect is anatropic or catatropic.
In the peridromes of the thorax-hand group, the proportion of Yang to Yin varies from 1 per cent (in the thorax) to 50 per cent (in the hand). Since our action must follow the natural tendency of the variation in energy, anatropic massage will be centrifugal here (towards the hand), in the direction of an increasing Yang ratio, while catatropic massage will be centripetal (towards the shoulder), in the direction of a decreasing Yang ratio.
In the peridromes of the hand-head group, the proportion of Yang to Yin varies from 50 per cent (in the hand) to 99 per cent (in the head). The anatropic massage will therefore be centripetal here (towards the face), in the direction of an increasing Yang ratio, and the catatropic massage will be centrifugal (towards the hand), in the direction of a decreasing Yang ratio.
In the peridromes of the head-foot group, the proportion of Yang to Yin decreases from 99 per cent (in the head) to 50 per cent (in the feet). Hence, here the anatropic massage will be centripetal (towards the face), in the direction of an increasing Yang ratio, and the catatropic massage will be centrifugal (towards the feet), in the direction of a decreasing Yang ratio.
In the peridromes of the foot-thorax group, the proportion of Yang to Yin decreases from 50 per cent (in the foot) to 1 per cent (in the thorax). Thus the anatropic massage will be centrifugal here (towards the foot), in the direction of an increasing Yang ratio, and the catatropic massage will be centripetal (towards the thorax), in the direction of a decreasing Yang ratio.
The rule which specifies the direction of the massage of a dermotope is called Yin-Souei in Chinese -up-stream or down-stream.
The pad of the right thumb is pressed into the peridrome at the dermotope, moves in the direction indicated and is released after traversing one or two centimetres. At that moment, the left thumb is placed on the dermotope (the point of departure) and acts in its turn, to be followed by the right thumb again, and so on. Thus the dermotope experiences a continuous action imparted by the alternate operation of the two thumbs.
It will bear frequent repetition, so it can be repeated here, that an anatropic effect results from rapid, light massage (effleurage), while forceful, deep, slow massage produces a catatropic effect.
Perhaps the idea will be more easily conveyed by the statement that the aim of anatropic massage is to give warmth to a dermotope lacking in energy, while strong, slow pressure (which must not heat the skin) is used to drain excess energy, expelling it from the point of pressure in the direction of the decreasing proportion of Yang.
The genuine Chinese acupuncture needle is not that little pin of precious metal which is being imposed on the West, but a bimetallic instrument formed of a shaft of steel (iron) and a handle of copper. The essential bimetallism produces a thermo-electric couple which, according to the state of the Hsueh on which it acts, endows electrons (negative electricity) when there is excess energy (a positive electrical state) or, on the other hand, removes electrons when energy is deficient (a negative electrical state). But, in accordance with the principle exemplified by the amber rod when rubbed by a cloth or on the skin (it is from the Greek name for amber, elektron, that our word electricity is derived) -a principle on which numerous electrostatic machines are based -an insulator (dielectric) under the action of friction, donates electrons to or takes them away from the material with which it is rubbed.
A principle such as this would explain to a great extent the effects of Chinese micro-massage, given the electrical characteristics of the peridromes and dermotopes, the latter in fact being points of concentration of the peridromic potential.
Consequently, friction with a special instrument will be preferred to manual massage even when done with the nail. The instrument in question was initially a little ivory ball, which was later fitted with a handle to facilitate its manipulation. It is called Yuan Tchen -the blunt-tipped instrument.
The Yuan Tchen is especially adapted for cataropic treatments (slow and deep). It is equally possible to use it for light and rapid effleurages in anatropic treatments, but other methods and instruments are preferred to reinforce deficient energy in the dermotopes.