"The biggest problem drug addicts face is the temptation to relapse," he said. "I was eager to find a way to encourage voluntary withdrawal and achieve long-term recovery."

There were 2.34 million drug addicts recorded nationwide by 2015, about 54 percent of whom had relapsed after rehab.

Han said acupuncture had proven quite effective, but the placement of fine needles is not a skill everyone can easily master, so doctors began to explore more manageable self-practice.

More than 1,600 people have received such a therapy in the last 18 months, he said.

"Withdrawal symptoms abate as they proceed through rehabilitation programs," said Zhao Yaodong, a university professor specializing in traditional Chinese medicine.

"We have seen encouraging results from the massage therapy, which appears to make the detox process easier and more effective," Zhao said.

Clinical studies show the practice can speed up the release of toxins from the body, strengthen the immune system and reduce some of side effects of withdrawal such as anxiety and pain, Zhao said.

A study by the first hospital affiliated to Lanzhou University showed patients who attended the massage sessions had a better chance of recovery than those who did not.

"We will encourage more patients to use this therapy, helping them heal their body and mind, and heal the damage done by drug addiction," Han said.