Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68175
DAOIST PAIN MANAGEMENT MIRRORING FORMAT finger <--------> toe hand <--------> foot wrist <--------> ankle forearm <--------> lower leg elbow <--------> knee upper arm <--------> thigh shoulder <--------> hip head <--------> foot Usually, in the case of myofascial/ musculoskeletal pain, the contralateral side corresponding to the affected part will be more sensitive to palpation. Only in rare cases will there be a response by palpation on the same side as the pain. There is no explanation for this, according to Daoist bodywork. The therapist must palpate both sides for a response. In almost all cases, the mirroring format balances an upper limb with a lower limb and vice versa. The limb, in this context, includes all parts of the limb such as fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and hips. For example, if the injured area is the upper arm, the opposite hip is selected. If the pain is on the lateral side of the middle deltoid, then look at the area of the vastus lateralis or the iliotibial band. It is important to pinpoint the area of pain first on the shoulder, and then select the sorest corresponding point or points on the lateral side of the leg. Once you have located the sorest point, get the client to move the affected limb opposite to the area you are working. Keep on working that area without increasing the pressure. The movement of the affected limb pushes the stagnant qi through the affected meridians—the three-dimensional channels through which qi flows to all parts of the body—and therefore through the fascia and muscles. Again, there might be more than one sore point. There are rare cases where the ipsilateral side to the pain has to be chosen. That is why the therapist must palpate both sides and choose. BALANCING YIN AND YANG It's hard not to notice that the technique of balancing through opposite correspondences can also be visualized through the Tai Ji symbol. According to Daoists, the left of the body is yang and the right is yin. Yang represents the male aspects of the human being, which means the acupressure therapist should start on the left side of the male body. All emotional issues, like anger, fear, worry, sadness, and joy are functional aspects that involve an output of energy and are therefore described as yang. Yin represents the female aspects of the human being. Traditionally, women have mostly yin-related issues that have to do with blood, lymph, and all the fluids. These are structural issues. In this case, the therapist starts on the right side of the body. Also, the area above the navel is described as yang, while the area below is described as yin. The root of the pain can be in myofascial issues that stem from unresolved emotional issues causing stress. However, the therapist might find the location of the painful injury on the yin side of the body in a male client, simply because that side was weakest. The emotional stress of the pain can still be treated on the left, or yang, side of the body for purposes of balance. Also, because of the hectic and stressful pace of our modern lifestyle, women can also come to the therapist primarily with emotional issues. Thus when applying the rule of opposite correspondences, one is also helping to balance the yin and yang of the whole body. A HIGHER ORDER The Daoist system of correspondences is a structured, goal-oriented modality that achieves permanent pain relief and deep healing in a most economical manner. Not simply a technique, its roots lie deep in ancient philosophical principles. The massage therapist has to then realize that myofascial pain and musculoskeletal issues are symptomatic of a fundamental imbalance in the mind-body connection of the client, who has "violated" an ancient philosophical principle of order in the universe. Only when practicing the Daoist acupressure technique can the therapist also gain respect for the power of qi in its many manifestations and see himself or herself as part of a higher order of things. acupuncture physician and Diplomate in Homeopathy. After graduating from the Florida College of Natural Health in Miami, Luckmann attended the College of Acupuncture and Massage and graduated with distinction. He has brought 20 years of teaching experience to his numerous holistic continuing education courses. He teaches nationally to massage therapists, acupuncturists, and estheticians on subjects ranging from Indian head, foot, and face massage to addressing fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and depression with the East-West Synergistic Massage. For more information, contact Luckmann at wushebang@comcast.net. Wolfgang Luckmann, LMT, is an connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 77