Acuhelp Advice & Insights
Introduction to Tui Na Massage
I discovered Tui Na during my quest for therapy to relieve stubborn pain in the muscles of my back. As a child I used to be very active, doing a lot of sports activity, starting at the age of 5 with ballet, then sport gymnastic, continuing with athletics and ending up as an instructor of aerobic workout whilst being an undergraduate student. When started working in a pharmacy I had to spend most of the time on my feet, standing or walking. As I had less time to exercise regularly, I started to suffer back pain, particularly low back pain and between scapulas. I tried many therapies but without success. Western medicine could only offer me painkillers and frequent physiotherapy. I never had heard of Tui Na. When I decided to study Chinese medicine, I attend a preparatory course TuiNa/Cupping therapy. All students learned massage techniques by practising on each other. I was given treatments every day and Tui Na had an extraordinary effect on me. When started to study a degree in Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture I continued to learn Tui Na techniques and tuition that I needed and that opened a wonderful new chapter in my life.
What is Tui Na Massage?
Tui Na (‘twee-nah’) ‘push & grasp’ massage is one of the ancient healing arts of Traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture and herbal medicine. In China, Tui Na has been practice for more than 2300 years as the first writings are in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. And is available today in hospitals and clinics throughout the country, but in the West, it is only now becoming known.
As practised in China, it treats conditions that in the West would require an osteopath, chiropractor, physiotherapist, or sports therapist.
It is more effective than any of these since it works not only on the muscles and joints but also on a deeper level.
Tui Na works holistically to balance the flow of vital energy throughout the body, mind, and spirit.
In Chinese medicine, life energy, Qi (‘chee’) is an activating force for all life. In the body, Qi flows in channels, called meridians, and supplies the vital energy to all organs and body tissues, and mind.
Techniques of Tui Na apply pressure to the meridians and specific energy points, called acupoints, on them, affecting the flow of Qi so that it moves freely and evenly throughout the body. That has a profound effect on all aspects of well-being – the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual as well as the physical.
Chinese medicine has a saying – bu tong ze tong, “when there is no movement there is a pain.” Pain is the result of stagnation in the pathways of the body – the meridians so the stimulation by applying pressure will result in releasing pain.
Factors affecting qi-flow
You may ask what can be a cause of stagnated Qi in the meridians causing disharmony and pain?
Western medicine tends to look for an agent causing an ailment, such as a virus or bacteria. Where the cause of a disease is unclear, it concentrates on treating the symptoms. It is rooted in the science of anatomy and physiology, which study the body as separate from the mind. In contrast, in Chinese medical theory body, mind and spirit are seen as undivided and interdependent; thus, a physical ailment is viewed as a reflection of disharmony in the whole being. To cure the ailment a practitioner must cure the root of the cause of this disharmony.
So, the disharmony of the Qi-flow in meridians is the cause of pain.
According to Chinese medicine, disharmony can be caused by external and/or internal factors.
The external causes of disharmony are due to climatic factors: cold, wind, dampness, summer-heat, dryness. Particularly cold weather, windy weather, rainy weather can easily affect the flow of Qi by penetrating meridians, causing obstructions to the Qi-flow and making muscles and sinews stiff, painful and feeling heaviness. (Also, artificial cold from air-conditioning can cause as the same symptoms as cold/wind from outdoor.)
The internal causes of disharmony in the Chinese medicine view are very strong emotions. Joy, fear, anger, sadness, or anxiety all affect the harmonious flow of Qi in the body. Whilst it is healthy to experience emotion, too much excitement can over-stimulate the flow of Qi, very often leading to stiffness in the muscles and sinews.
Tui Na is a powerful and valuable method of restoring Qi balance when emotional and external factors are out of balance.
Tui Na in Practice
Lower back pain is a very common complaint, which many Western doctors will diagnose as sciatica, ‘wear and tear’, or a slipped disc. Treatment is often with anti-inflammatory drugs and bed rest, often with surgery as a final solution.
The Chinese medicine practitioner diagnosis the underlying energy imbalance causing the back pain. The Tui Na treatment would be a massage on the Bladder and Gallbladder meridians of the back, and on specific points on these meridians, together with joint manipulation of the lower back and hips. It would not be recommended bed rest but a gentle exercise and stretching.
Tui Na Treatment or what to expect
Tui Na works holistically to balance Qi-flow throughout the body, mind, and spirit. It is a very safe therapy. A trained practitioner will ask questions about a patient’s health and lifestyle, and make careful observations, to discover where Qi is imbalanced. This will indicate the meridians that need to be treated to restore balance and the specific points on those meridians where treatment will be effective.
The massage is given through clothing and the techniques do not use oils. The patient should wear comfortable, loose clothing to allow for easy movement. During the massage the receiver either sits on an upright chair or lies on the couch, depending on which part of the body is being treated. The active communication between the practitioner and receiver is a fundamental part of Tui Na. During the massage, feedback from the patient on what feels good or painful guides the practitioner to the points to treat and the amount of pressure to use.
The patient may find some of the Tui Na techniques uncomfortable initially, but after a vigorous kneading and pushing the tissues and muscles will feel both pleasantly relaxed and invigorated.
Tui Na Techniques
Techniques used in Tui Na massage are specific and all these techniques stimulate the flow of Qi in different ways and also allow the exchange of Qi between the giver and receiver.
The ‘soft tissue’ techniques, such as rubbing, squeezing, kneading, rolling and pressing, work on the muscles and underlying tissues, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels. These techniques have specific effects on underlying tissues such as muscle relaxation, stimulation of blood flow, or lymph drainage. Percussion and hand cupping are the techniques used as a finale on flat, well-muscled areas of back, thighs or buttocks.
Joint manipulation techniques are safe to use to treat tired and aching joints. These are shaking, extension and flexion, rotation, pushing and pulling, and stretching.
When Tui Na is not suitable
Although Tui Na is a very safe therapy and can boost vitality and wellbeing, it is not suitable for those:
- with serious heart disease or cancer, especially of the skin or lymphatic system
- with osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- on artificial joints
- with inflamed or broken skin, or a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or shingles
- a certain precaution in pregnancy has to be kept
The Promise of Tui Na
Tui Na provides complete stimulation of the body’s entire musculoskeletal system as well as all the internal organs.
It is particularly effective in treating the pain of the muscles and joints resulting from a sports injury, wear and tear, chronic stress, or any other cause. It is also excellent for treating stress-related disorders, such as a headache. Since it rebalances Qi-flow, the mind and the emotions will also be affected. In most cases, a Tui Na treatment leaves the recipient feeling enlivened, sparkling with energy and happiness.