Tui Na - Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
The term tui na (pronounced “tweena”) refers to a wide range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapeutic massage and body work techniques.
Tui Na is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) bodywork that involves the manual manipulation of tissue between the joints.
The words tui and na refer to two techniques. Tui means “to push”. The practitioner places a finger or palm (or sometimes elbow or knee) on the treatment site and pushes it with consistent pressure from one defined point to another.
When applied with gentle pressure, this technique helps alleviate pain and discomfort. When heavier pressure is applied, it may help to unblock the meridians, dissipate blood pooling, regulate tendon and muscle tension, relieve spasms, and promote blood and lymphatic circulation.
Na means “to lift”. The practitioner uses one or both thumbs and his or her index and middle fingers, or thumb and other four fingers, rhythmically lifting and kneading with some pressure.
As tui na stimulates the acupoints and the meridians, it can also regulate the functions of the visceral, or autonomic, nervous system and ease tension in muscles and tendons.
History of Tui Na
Tui Na has roots dating back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China. It's unknown who exactly pioneered the practice, but Tui Na gradually became more popular as it spread throughout Asia and eventually the rest of the world. Today, Tui Na is even used in many Chinese hospitals as a standard form of treatment and rehabilitation. Here in the United States, it's often used in conjunction with acupuncture for even greater benefits.
Tui Na can be used in conjunction with many other types of TCM and practices, including moxibustion, fire cupping, herbalism, qigong and more. The practitioner will first identify the patient’s problem, at which point he or she will decide the best course of action regarding treatment. This may include a single session of Tui Na, or it may consist of a combination of Tui Na and other forms of TCM.
Tuina is frequently used for treating chronic pain, stress-related disorders and musculoskeletal problems. Tuina is not intended to be a relaxing type of massage. In fact, it can be quite vigorous and people may actually feel a little sore after the first session. However, that’s not to say it won’t be relaxing! Some Tuina sessions that involve gentle rocking, for example, are very relaxing. Since all of Chinese Medicine is customized to the patient and their unique symptoms, the experience of Tuiana can also vary from patient to patient.
Tui Na is used to treat and prevent a wide variety of adverse conditions, some of which include the following:
Muscle knots
Arthritis
Chronic pain
Ankle disorders
Sciatica
Muscle spasms
Stress
Insomnia
Constipation
Headaches
Digestive disorders
Respiratory problems
There are things to be taken into consideration when contemplating receiving a tuina massage. Specific contraindications would include things like fractures, infections, open wounds, lesions and phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis. In the presence of these conditions, tuina should not be utilized. But generally, tuina is a wonderful weapon in the arsenal of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and many people can benefit from it.
What to Expect
While the exact process may vary depending on the practitioner, the patient’s preference, and the condition being treated, a typical Tui Na session lasts between 30 to 60 minutes. During this time the practitioner will manually manipulate (brush, roll, press, hold, rub, knead, vibrate/shake, rock, stretch, etc.) the areas between the joints in an attempt to correct blockages of Qi while simultaneously stimulating the body's defensive mechanism (what we call Wei Qi in Chinese Medicine).
Is Tui Na the right practice for you?
Tens of thousands of people have reported success using this non-invasive practice to treat their adverse conditions. You can book this treatment on it’s own or as an addition to your acupuncture appointment.
For your info! See below for research on the effectiveness of Tuina:
Tuina for peripheral neuropathy - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36620462/
Tuina for tension headaches - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33735636/
Tuina for hypertension - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24906593/