Massage is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with 'acupuncture and fire cupping. Massage is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist and martial arts principles in an effort to bring the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press, and rub the areas between each of the joints, known as the eight gates, to attempt to open the body's defensive (wei) chi and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles. Techniques may be gentle or quite firm. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, with the stimulation of acupressure points. These techniques are claimed to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are different schools which vary in their approach to the discipline. It is related also to massage.

In ancient China, medical therapy was often classified as either "external" or "internal" treatment. Massage was one of the external methods, thought to be especially suitable for use on the elderly population and on infants. Today, Massage is subdivided into specialized treatment for infants, adults, orthopedics, traumatology, cosmetology, rehabilitation, sports medicine, etc. In modern China, many hospitals include massage as a standard aspect of treatment. In the West, Massage is taught as a part of the curriculum at some acupuncture schools.