Tui Na Therapy

An old Chinese saying suggests, “relaxation is who you truly are, tension is who you think you ought to be.” Traditional Chinese Therapy has been using massage since the inception of time, aging at almost 3,000 years old. Traditional Chinese Therapy aims at keeping the qi or energy balanced in your body. The qi travels through the meridians. When the movement is static, dis-ease occurs. When the qi is too low or too high, dis-ease strikes. The most common form of Traditional Chinese therapy bodywork practiced today is Known as Tui Na massage.

Tui Na directly means “pressing and rubbing” in English. The Tui Na bodyworker uses pressing and rubbing skills on the fascia in the body to get to move the energy through the meridians. So how can this very old method of bodywork assist with curing, and what can it heal? Tui Na massage is often combined with herbal cures and acupuncture. Tui Na massage can aid to heal ailments triggered by an accumulation from stress in your body and specific regions of tension and pain.

Are Tui Na Massages Similar to those of Western massages?

Tui Na massage periods usually span been thirty minutes and one hour and often take place on a massage table. Tui Na is aimed to be both invigorating and relaxing. Some techniques and skills used in Tui Na are much like those utilized in a soothing Swedish massage, like gliding, friction, rocking, kneading, pulling, and rolling.

How do these Tui Na Massages Differ from Western Massages?

Because it is centered on Chinese medicine, Tui Na is also different from Western massage therapy. Unlike the Western massage methods, Tui Na goes far beyond the bones, muscles, and joints to work with your body on a deeper and energetic level. Tui Na professionals intend to sense the qi of the client just with their hands and affect the circulation and distribution of energy during the session. This massage is often used in show with other TCM treatments like Chinese herbal treatments, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

Technique

During a therapy session, a practitioner uses oscillating and pressure methods that differ in speed and force. Tuina massage can be carried out as a stronger deep-tissue massage or even as a more gentle and energetic treatment.

Some methods are more yin, which is more passive, gentle, and meditative. The yang approach is more dynamic, active, and physical, which creates more intense sensations by rousing deep knots and blockages.

The professional massages the muscles and tendons and uses manipulation methods to realign the body. Passive joint actions are used to restore function to joints and muscles.

Depending on your medical practitioner as well as your specific requirements, various methods will be used in a session. To fully enhance the effects of the Therapy, herbal compresses or poultices, lotions, and salves are often used.

Tuina massage also uses massage techniques like myofascial release, acupressure, and reflexology. Sometimes, methods that are common to chiropractic and osteopathy, such as joint mobilizations and stretching, are also used.

Eight basic techniques used in tuina massage are:

1. Palpating (mo)
2. Rejoining (Jie)
3. Opposing (duan)
4. Lifting (ti)
5. Pressing (an)
6. Kneading (mo)
7. Pushing (tui)
8. Holding (na)

Other methods include:

Rolling: Used for injuries like sprains and strains.

One-finger technique: This is a-finger stimulation of the acupressure points.

Nei gung: This is a whole-body manipulation method.

Health Benefits of Tui Na

When stress builds in the body, it can foster dis-ease. With certain sicknesses in view, stress can make the condition even worse or get in during the healing process. Therefore, it is highly important to carve out time to de-stress and relax. Tui Na massage may help ease stress and help many of the following ailments:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Tui na shows assurance in the treatment of serious fatigue syndrome, as per a published Chinese Acupuncture study & moxibustion in 2010. In the study, 90 patients with serious fatigue syndrome were spat basically into three groups: a group underwent tui na, a group used tai chi, and another group got Fluoxetine (an antidepressant drug sometimes used in the remedy of chronic fatigue syndrome).

• Good for Chronic Neck Pain

A study shows that Tui Na is a welcome relief for folks with some chronic neck pains. Study folks who received Tui Na therapy for neck pain had significant relief from their discomfort and pain.

• It Relieves a Variety of Disorders

Tui Na massage can soothe a wide range of issues, including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, headaches, migraines, premenstrual syndrome, and emotional issues. It can also cure disorders linked to respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. Many folks seek Therapy for stiff neck, shoulder distension, sciatica, and sore back. Tui Na can also be used to face both internal and external injuries.

• Cervical Spondylosis

Tui na may not be helpful in the treatment of cervical spondylosis (a disorder triggered by chronic cervical spine wear), according to a 2008 published report in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. In their analysis of 7 previous studies on the use of tui na to cure symptoms linked with cervical spondylosis, the study’s authors found no evidence claiming tuina can help boost symptoms like vertigo and headache.

• Insomnia

We have all had some stressful nights where we turn and toss trying to get some zzz’s in, possibly before a big day. Insomnia can be triggered by stress and also cause stress to the body. Healthy beings need to get enough sleep every night. Tui Na massage may help you unwind and get a good night’s sleep. Tui Na massage also works with the qi in the body. Therefore, if your qi needs to be sedated, the professional can press on acupressure points that will help your active energy settle down. Bodywork in the broad sense has been known to aid with insomnia due to the high ability to initiate the parasympathetic nervous system and switch off the sympathetic nervous system. Also, it activates the region of your brain that tells the body to rest and digest and off another part that says flight or fight.

• Complete System of Medicine

Tui Na is among the three major components of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). It is believed to be the oldest form of bodywork that is still in practice today! As mentioned earlier, it can cure specific injuries and issues, or just the overall qi flow of the body.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This syndrome can be irritated by stress and trigger physical symptoms of diarrhea or constipation. Tui Na massage, together with acupuncture and herbal treatments, can be extremely beneficial for folks working with IBS. The cause of IBS is yet unknown. However, as Traditional Chinese Medicine helps with ailments more energetically and holistically, it is a wonderful option for IBS. By mounting pressure on the point related to the colon, it aids in balancing the essential life force in that organ. Therefore, for the issue where there is excess qi and diarrhea, the professional will aim to lower the abundant energy. Also, in the condition where qi is lacking, with constipation, the professional will aim to boost the deficient energy. In connection, it is believed that IBS might be linked to stress. Tui Na massage aids in reducing stress, thus making it an overall choice for folks who suffer from IBS. This will assist the client in getting balance in their colon and also help them find more balance health and well-being.

• Headaches

Sometimes headaches can be triggered by nervous tension and stress in the body. As known already, Tui Na massage aid to relax the stress and tension in the body and also in mind. Also, one can get a headache from the qi being stuck in your head, causing an inequity and dis-ease. The beauty of Tui Na is that it moves this energy.

• Tui Na Massage Can Help Fibromyalgia

A combination of both yoga and tuina may benefit folks with fibromyalgia, suggests and this suggests a 2007 small published study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. For about eight weeks, 40 women living with fibromyalgia took part in weekly sessions with either yoga or a combination of both tuina and yoga. In their findings, researchers found that folks of the yoga-and-tuina group had greater improvements in pain.