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Tom Bisio Book Signing (10/04)

Treatment of external injuries using Chinese medicine was discussed by Massage Therapy alumnus Tom Bisio ('85) at the school on October 29 as part of the Career Forums Lecture Series. Now a licensed acupuncturist with a busy clinic in Manhattan, Bisio spoke to a capacity audience of students, faculty and staff from both the massage and acupuncture programs. Bisio also signed copies of his book, Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth, released this month by Simon & Schuster.

"There is an axiom in Chinese medicine that when Qi (energy) and blood are moving there is no pain," Bisio explained. "If there is pain, the key strategy is to get the Qi and blood moving again. The quicker you can do that after an injury, the better the chance of avoiding chronic problems."

Treatment of Qi and blood at the surface of the body involves what Chinese medicine calls the sinews, a terrain that involves skin, muscle, cartilage, ligaments and the periosteum of the bone. Manipulation of this terrain is frequently done through the practice of Tuina, Chinese medical massage. Tuina is taught in the Acupuncture Program and an introduction to its techniques are included in the Massage Therapy Program. Bisio said that in his practice he finds an integration of massage, external and internal application of herbs, acupuncture, exercise, dietary modifications and attention to lifestyle issues, if necessary, seems to work best.

Some of the students in the massage therapy program were surprised by Bisio's description of the preferred treatment strategy in the acute stage of injury. "Although you want to reduce swelling in the initial stage, prolonged use of ice packs can be damaging, according to Chinese medicine principles. An excess of blood and fluids is already present at the site. Applying ice for too long (more than 10 minutes an hour) creates a stagnation of the fluids and energy in the area and can result in a loss of ability to remove dead cells. This creates the potential for long-term problems such as recurring pain or lack of mobility.

"An alternative in Chinese medicine is to use an application of herbs that have a cooling effect, mixed with other herbs that move energy and blood at the surface. This has the effect of reducing inflammation and swelling while avoiding potential stagnation." Recipes for different types of external applications are featured in Bisio's book.

After much discussion of muscles and blood, and a demonstration of massage techniques for the back, a student asked whether Tuina could also be used to address the Spirit. Bisio replied, "When you ask that, it implies that Spirit and the body are separate, which is the paradigm of Western medicine. However, in Chinese medicine they are one. For instance, if I relax contracted muscles on the right side of a patient's body, and his shoulder, hip and diaphragm release, won't his Liver function improve, which will result in greater mental ease, a happier outlook? Long-term change depends on looking at both the external and the internal aspects of the patient.

"In the Eastern perspective, whatever you do to the body affects the Spirit."

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