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The Merriam Webster Dictionary
defines fatigue as “weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress”. The Mayo Clinic defines fatigues as “physical
and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress, medication, overwork,
or mental and physical illness or disease.
Western medicine recognizes that fatigue is not always related to an
underlying condition. Exertion, sleep deprivation, heavy workout, stress,
excess alcohol consumption, or boredom may also be causes. Western medicine treats fatigue with a
handful of pharmaceuticals. Some of these
are effective but possibly addictive, and some are not effective. Traditional Chinese Medicine views fatigue as
having a variety of causes. These all
include a deficiency: deficiency in
yang, deficiency in yin, deficiency in blood, or deficiency in qi.
Massage will help restore the
balance between yin and yang and therefore can be helpful in all cases of
fatigue regardless of cause. Depending
on the person, very light, almost energetic touch can be helpful relief. Some people prefer a more vigorous approach. Each therapist must gauge the approach to the
individual.
Very hot situations such as
chemotherapy-caused fatigue must be treated with a light touch. Lack of energy due to fibromyalgia or chronic
fatigue syndrome may benefit from a more vigorous massage to bring out the qi. Energetically stimulating the kidney qi can
help with generic fatigue.
Massage will restore the
balance between yang and yin. Returning
the body to balance will eliminate fatigue.
Fatigue can be overwhelming, but massage is one of the many tools that
can improve quality of life.
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/definition
https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/tcm-fatigue/
http://acupunctureinthepark.com/health-conditions/patterns-of-fatigue-in-chinese-medicine/
Oriental Healing
Arts Center, Anchorage AK
