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What is Tui-na?
The history and development of Chinese massage:
Tui-na is Chinese Bodywork Therapy (Chinese massage) that has been used in China for 2,000 years. Tui-Na uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic principle. Chinese Bodywork Therapy uses this principle to treat patients through the application of massage and manipulation techniques. Tui-na is a medical method using the arms, hands, fingers, elbows and knees as tools for treating diseases and illnesses. Tui-na is also used to protect health and build up the body’s immunity, so that disease can be stopped in its early stages. In this way Tui-nai acts as a preventative measure, without any side effects. Tui-na is sometimes be mistaken for acupressure, which is a different technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Tui-na uses techniques and manipulations to stimulate acupuncture points or other parts of the body surface so as to correct physiological imbalances of the body and achieve curative effects. The effect of Tui-na is to disperse and smooth obstructions in the body whilst checking and restraining hyperfunction of different parts of the body. Tui-na is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also encompasses acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition and exercise (Qi-gong) to treat the whole body, mind and spirit.
Tui-na includes the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi and manipulation techniques to realign the muscles bones and ligaments of the body. External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.
Tui-na Chinese massage techniques were imported to Japan and eventually gave rise to Japanese Shiatsu. Later still Peter Henrik Ling learned from Chinese masters before developing Swedish Massage which is the origin of Western bodywork. Tui-na was so successful, it spread around the globe. Tui-na is the basis upon which many modern complementary therapies are based, such as Acupressure, Baby Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage and Lymphatic Draining to name but a few. Chiropractic and physiotherapy manipulation techniques are also founded on Tui-na techniques.
Disorders or conditions treated by Tui-Na Chinese Bodywork Therapy:
Tui-na may be applied to treat many disorders from soft tissue injuries to many other kinds of ailments such as rheumatic pain, tiredness, lack of energy and any symptoms caused by stress or emotional problems. Tui-na is even used for cosmetic purposes such as weight loss and as an alternative to Botox! Tui-na is very helpful for adults and infants and is also used in sports medicine, general health care for the elderly, rehabilitation and orthopaedics. Within these specialities many other complementary therapies have evolved as “specialist” therapies- all originating from Tui-na.
Tui-na treats a wide range of conditions such as prolapsed discs, frozen shoulder, sciatica, diarrhoea, high blood pressure, migraine, knee problems, tendonitis, tennis / golf elbow, sun stroke, neck pain, stress, diabetes, low energy, back pain, rheumatism, arthritis, joint or moving pain, ankle or wrist pain, sports injuries, menstrual problems, fatigue or insomnia. Symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, enuresis, convulsions, common cold, asthma, fever, whooping cough can also be treated. Even infantile short sightedness is treated through Tui-na massage.
Contraindications for Tui-na Chinese massage include conditions involving fractures, phlebitis, infectious conditions, open wounds, and lesions.
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