Chinese Tui Na Massage Therapy

Chinese Tui Na is a type of Chinese manipulative therapy frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi, and qigong. The words Tui Na translate into "push-grasp" or "poke-pinch" in Chinese. This massage technique is more than 5,000 years old and is based on the use of pressure at certain points of the body. The ‘pressure’ is applied using fingers, knuckles, and the palms as well as certain devices, including acupuncture needles which are a modality of Chinese medicine whose purpose is to bring the body into balance.

Tui na's massage-like techniques range from light stroking to deep-tissue work which may be considered too vigorous or too painful for a recreational or relaxing massage. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints to open the body's defensive chi and get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles. The technique of ‘kneading’ the patient’s muscular-skeletal system is said to be very effective in removing blockages in the circulatory system to promote more effective healing. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points and to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. Because the treatment does not involve the use of drugs of chemicals, it has very few side effects.