🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Getting a neck rub, back tapping, or full-body relaxation during haircuts, saunas, or beauty treatments has become a common way for people to unwind, relax, or even treat and prevent illness. To meet this demand, many bathhouses, gyms, and beauty salons have hung signs advertising "health massage." However, investigations by reporters into some small beauty establishments and hair salons revealed that many massage therapists do not even know the location of points like Renzhong or Zusanli—how can they perform correct massage? Medical experts point out that while massage itself is an effective traditional therapy, allowing untrained individuals to perform random massages carries various risks: mild cases may damage skin and soft tissues, while severe cases may injure nerves and bones, leading to paralysis or even death. Consumers seeking therapeutic massage should choose reputable institutions.
Case 1: Paralysis Caused by Improper Massage
Zhao, a resident of Nanjing, was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation last year. He visited major hospitals in Nanjing and Shanghai, where doctors all recommended surgery. Afraid of surgery, he searched desperately for non-surgical remedies. Upon hearing that a local health massage center could cure his condition without surgery, Zhao began daily tuina and massage sessions. At first, he felt no more pain in his lower back, so he stopped visiting hospitals altogether. Three months later, he was unable to stand up from bed.
Dr. Zhang Jianming, Deputy Director and Chief of Orthopedics at Shanghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, stated that Zhao eventually underwent surgery in Shanghai but still suffered permanent lower limb paralysis and urinary incontinence. This was due to the "quack" doctor performing aggressive manipulations. Since Zhao’s intervertebral discs were already pathologically compromised, the forceful manipulation worsened the damage, causing the discs to rupture and protrude into the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord and cauda equina nerves, resulting in paralysis.
Case 2: Harm from Uncontrolled Back Stepping
Song, a consultant at a local talent agency, developed cervical spondylosis due to prolonged office work. During a slimming session at a private weight-loss center, staff recommended a health massage claimed to prevent cervical issues. After the massage, she felt much better in her neck. The masseuse then suggested that stepping on her back would enhance the effect.
Song lay half-prone on the massage table as a young girl wearing soft-soled sports shoes stepped on her back. Initially, she felt relaxed, but the pressure increased steadily. She endured the pain until returning home, where she experienced persistent stinging sensations in her spine for several days. A hospital checkup revealed that uneven force applied during the back-stepping had injured her spine.
The rehabilitation center at Shanghai Southeast Hospital pointed out that while tuina is commonly used to treat cervical spondylosis, it isn't suitable for every patient. For example, patients with spinal cord-type cervical spondylosis already suffer from narrowed spinal canals, reducing the cushioning space for the spinal cord. If improper massage techniques are used, the spinal cord may be impacted, worsening cervical injury.
Back stepping also applies force to bones, joints, and soft tissues, carrying higher risks of damaging nerves, bones, and soft tissues. Many staff at massage and back-stepping venues lack professional training; some only know basic常识. If someone wishes to use massage or back stepping to treat a specific condition, they should go to professional medical rehabilitation institutions and select service providers with proper certification and knowledge.
Issue: Some Massage Therapists Work Without Licenses
Currently, massage is divided into two types: medical massage (medical in nature), mainly conducted in hospitals for treatment, requiring practitioners to hold a certain level of medical education and pass licensing exams to obtain physician qualifications; and health massage provided by massage parlors, hotels, beauty salons, etc., which falls under social services.
An anonymous expert from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine noted that medical massage in formal hospitals is highly standardized, with most practitioners holding valid certification. However, the health massage market is far more complex. Ideally, a qualified health massage therapist should possess systematic knowledge, professional skills, and rehabilitation training, passing strict examinations before obtaining a license. Yet, many small hair salons and beauty shops employ staff who have received no specialized training, and some even work without licenses.
The expert further warned that unqualified personnel often use rough, improper techniques during massage, easily causing soft tissue injuries or joint dislocations in clients. When using alcohol-based liquids, tinctures, or medicated ointments as massage media, improper handling may lead to skin burns, bruises, or even ulcers. Additionally, massaging individuals with infectious diseases may result in cross-infection.
In a large residential area along Chaobao Road in Shanghai, over ten beauty and hair salons operate, nearly all offering health massage services. Journalists posing as customers visiting two of them found a young woman giving shoulder massage to a recently shorn client. Curiously asking about the location of "Renzhong," the woman looked puzzled, then replied, “I don’t deal with such research.” In another shop, fearing loss of business, the masseuse quickly called upon a beautician to intervene. Ironically, many non-medical people know the concept of “pinching Renzhong.”
Similarly, when asked about the location of Zusanli—the most important acupoint on the foot—another massage therapist at a foot spa could not give an accurate answer.
Solution: Mandatory “Four Certificates” for Massage Industry
Since last year, relevant departments including the Municipal Labor Security Bureau have introduced regulations to strengthen management of the massage industry. All personnel providing massage services in Shanghai must hold four certificates:
· A primary-level or higher (including primary) Health Massage Practitioner Qualification Certificate issued by the labor and social security department;
· A Shanghai Special Industry and Public Place Safety Training Certificate issued by the public security department;
· A health examination certificate with a stamp indicating successful completion of hygiene training;
· Personnel working in bathing (foot spa) facilities must obtain a job card (ID badge) from the Shanghai Bathing Industry Association by presenting their qualification certificate (labor and social security), safety training certificate (public security), and health certificate (health department).