Tui Na, the art of oriental massage
Listen to this articleMost Complimentary and Alternative (CAM) healing traditions have a form of massage, or laying on of hands, as part of their protocols, and traditional Chinese medicine is no exception. Shiatsu is one form of Oriental massage, yet there is another therapeutic Chinese massage technique you may not be as familiar with, called Tui Na.
Tui Na, which you may also see spelled as tuina, is an Oriental massage technique that has been used in China for over 2,000 years. Like acupuncture and all modalities in TCM, Tui Na is based on the flow of Qi through the meridians and is used to adjust Qi flow to the proper organs to treat specific conditions.
Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques, Tui Na can correct Qi stagnation, and bring Qi levels into proper balance to promote healing and wellness. Tui Na is very effective and encompasses various techniques. Tui Na hand technique is used in soft tissue massage to stimulate and relieve pressure in muscles, joints and tendons.
Body alignment techniques are also used similar to Chiropractic, and a variety of herbal liniments and oils are used for specific healing and therapeutic effect.
As with most TCM practices Tui Na is rarely used alone, but in combination with other modalities such as acupuncture and herbal medications, to bring about desired results.
There are basically three different techniques of Tui Na used to treat three distinctly different conditions. The first is a more traditional massage or rolling technique that is used to treat sports related injuries, or other ailments related to overexertion such as sprains and strains.
The second methodology is a one finger technique where the finger is used to stimulate specific acupressure points, for the treatment of Qi stagnation and specific internal diseases.
The third approach, known as Nei Gung, is a full body manipulation technique that is used in combination with other protocols such as Qi Gong to produce an overall increase in Qi and improve vitality.
Because it is so comprehensive in its approach, Tui Na has been shown to effectively treat many internal and external problems. Like many other massage techniques, Tui Na has been effective in the treatment of:
- Scoliosis
- Frozen shoulder syndrome
- Sprains & strains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Myofascial pain disorders
- Low Back Pain
- Muscle spasms & Adhesions
- Herniated disk syndromes
- Tennis elbow
- TMJ (Temporo-mandibular Joint disturbances)
Yet unlike other massage protocols that can only deal with such external or orthopedic conditions, Tui Na has also been effective in the treatment of:
- Angina
- Hypertension
- Asthma and other respiratory disorders
- Gastric disorders
- Sexual dysfunction and fertility issues
Tui Na is an ancient and proven natural healing technique that can be used to effectively treat many conditions without the use of invasive surgical techniques and/or powerful pharmaceuticals and their related side-effects.
Lauri Howell is a freelance writer located in Orange County, California. She works as a media consultant, and marketing and communications coordinator. Lauri writes widely about alternative medicine, architecture and design, food and wine as well as human-interest pieces highlighting local heroes.