Is combining Massage & Acupuncture just what you need?
- Ben Elliot
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
In my York clinic, I'd estimate around 80% of people receive a combination of massage and acupuncture for their treatment. Massage and acupuncture complement each other beautifully, offering a synergistic approach to various health issues. For example, while this approach is suited to back pain, neck pain or any other painful or muscular issues, I also use it for other problems such as IBS, Migraine and Anxiety to name but a few. In this post, I'll discuss the benefits of using massage and acupuncture together and hopefully give you a good idea of how and why this combination could help you or your patients.
When to use Acupuncture or Massage
There's countless reasons I might choose to solely use either acupuncture or massage. The framework of acupuncture means it can tackle more internal issues more effectively than massage. For instance, the NHS recommends acupuncture for nausea, whatever the cause. Additionally, research has suggested that acupuncture alongside IVF increases chance of live birth rate by over a third. In these instances, acupuncture alone would be the recommended treatment. On the other hand, massage alone may be indicated if someone has a needle phobia, as the potential stress to a patient may outweigh the benefits of acupuncture to massage.
Why Massage & Acupuncture work well together
Many painful conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, knee pain, migraine and anxiety, are likely to respond to both massage and acupuncture, and while one method alone may be beneficial, the combination offers added benefits. One such benefit is that by using massage before acupuncture, it gives me an opportunity to broadly palpate or feel the wider area, meaning I can pick up on any less obvious areas that need acupuncture. Massage prior to acupuncture also desensitises the body, relaxes the nervous system and prepares areas for the more invasive acupuncture.
I've summarised the main benefits of acupuncture and massage below.
Enhanced Muscle Relaxation
Massage helps to physically release tension in the muscles, improving blood flow and flexibility.
Acupuncture also physically releases muscle tension but also works on a deeper level by stimulating the nervous system and releasing endorphins, helping to relax the muscles and reduce pain from within.
Pain Relief
Massage targets knots and tight areas, improving circulation and reducing inflammation in specific areas.
Acupuncture helps modulate pain signals in the brain and nervous system, providing relief from chronic and acute pain. You can read more about how acupuncture does this in my post - what happens to your brain when you have acupuncture?
Improved Circulation
Both treatments increase blood flow, but in different ways. Massage physically stimulates circulation, while acupuncture enhances it by stimulating our bodily systems and improving microcirculation.
Stress Reduction
Massage soothes the body through physical touch and calming movements.
Acupuncture helps regulate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress hormones and promoting a sense of calm and balance.
Holistic Healing
Massage addresses physical symptoms by working on the muscles and tissues.
Acupuncture takes a more holistic approach, addressing underlying imbalances in the body that may contribute to tension, pain, or other issues.
Support for Chronic Conditions
For conditions like migraines, anxiety, or musculoskeletal pain, the combination of acupuncture’s systemic effects and massage’s localised effects can provide long-lasting relief.
Increased Effectiveness
Massage prepares the body for acupuncture by relaxing muscles and improving blood flow, making it easier for acupuncture needles to stimulate the desired points effectively.
Similarly, acupuncture can enhance the effects of massage by reducing inflammation and pain, allowing deeper tissue work without discomfort.
In conclusion, massage and acupuncture combine to create a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of various health issues. The flexibility of each means a tailor-made treatment is available for all kinds of issues and individuals.
