Since the adoption of acupuncture in Western society there have been specific branches of acupuncture that have developed in Europe and North America independent of traditional narratives. The practices are often referred to as medical acupuncture or western medical acupuncture.

The available evidence suggests that the effects of massage cannot be explained by a single mechanism. Instead, it acts through a complex interplay of interconnected responses. This aligns with the concept of a "whole-person approach," which emphasizes the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to our overall health and well-being.

If you are a massage therapists I have put together a synthesis of noteworthy open access article sourced from peer-reviewed publications indexed on Pubmed, to make your life easier.