Tui-Na Massage

Tui na or tuina is a form of Chinesische manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, Chinese herbalism, t’ai chi, and qigong. Tui na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist principles in an effort to bring the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll, press, and rub the areas between each of the joints, known as the eight gates, to attempt to open the body’s defensive chi (Wei Qi) and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles. Techniques may be gentle or quite firm. The name comes from two of the actions: tui means “to push” and na means “to lift and squeeze.” Other strokes include shaking and tapotement. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, with the stimulation of acupressure points. These techniques are claimed to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic musuloskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions.As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are different schools which vary in their approach to the discipline.