Tui Na Massage
What is Tui Na?
Tui na, is a therapeutic form of Chinese massage that has been used in China for several thousand years. Defined as “the ancient healing art of fingers and strength,” tui na (pronounced “twee nah”) has been gaining attention for its safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions such as:
- neck and back pain
- musculoskeletal disorders
- premenstrual syndrome
- fatigue and insomnia
- carpal tunnel
- headaches
- arthritis
- osteoporosis
- stress
- digestive conditions
- respiratory conditions
Tui na aims to adjust the energy flow in the body to make sure it’s flowing properly. Unlike Western massages with tui na, the goal is to not only relax you, but also to correct physical issues.
How does it work?
While it may feel good, the actual purpose of tui na is to balance the patient’s energy, and help treat illness. Tui na consists of brushing, rolling, pressing, rubbing and kneading techniques that are performed between the joints. This is done to stimulate the energy in the body.
Unlike Western massage techniques, tui na goes beyond the muscles, bones, and joints to work with the body on a deeper, energetic level. Tui na massage is often used in concert with other TCM therapies including acupuncture, Chinese herbal remedies, moxibustion, and cupping.
A typical session of tui na massage may vary in time from fifteen minutes to an hour. The session's length depends on the patient’s needs and condition. Tui na methods can include soft tissue massage, manipulation, acupressure in conjunction with herbal compresses, ointments, liniments (pain relieving topical or lotion), and heat. The best part of the therapy is that it relaxes as well as energizes the person.
Who would benefit?
The main benefit of tui na massage is that it focuses on the specific problem, whether it is an acute (mild to sharp pain that comes on suddenly and can last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of months) or a chronic pain (ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months) associated with the joints, muscles or a skeletal system. This technique is very beneficial in reducing the pain of neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, thighs, legs and ankle disorders. It is a very effective therapy for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica and muscle spasms. It is also beneficial in boosting blood circulation, treating depression, alleviating stress related disorders (insomnia, constipation, headaches), as well as disorders related to digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. Tui na is also thought to improve cancer patients' quality of life by helping to manage symptoms and side effects related to the disease and its more conventional treatments.
The greatest advantage of tui na is that it focuses on maintaining overall balance with both physical and mental health. Anyone who wants to avoid the side effects of drugs (opioids) or a chemical based treatment can adopt this effective massage technique to alleviate their pain. Tui na massage therapy is now becoming a more common therapy method due to its focus on specific problems rather than providing a general treatment. Tui na massage therapy is used for giving special pain relieving treatments to people of all ages, from infancy to old age.