TuiNa Massage
All hospitals in China that are devoted to Traditional Chinese Medicine include a massage clinic along with acupuncture and herbal medicine. Chinese massage was developed over 2,000 years ago and was popular in the Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Chinese call this therapeutic bodywork TUI NA, which literally means push and pull.
TuiNa works with the energy system in the body (Chi), which flows through channels called meridians. By stimulating or subduing the energy in the body, practitioners help bring the patient’s body back into balance. To determine what meridians need work, TuiNa practitioners feel the patient’s wrist pulse. Because it is based on the same meridian points as acupuncture, TuiNa is often called acupuncture without needles.
Two popular styles of TuiNa practiced today are the rolling and one-finger methods.
Rolling Method
This style is used for joint and soft tissue problems, as well as insomnia, migraines, and high blood pressure.
One-Finger Method
This style is similar to shiatsu, practitioners push points along the meridians with the tip of the thumb or finger. This method is often used for chronic and internal problems, paediatrics and gynaecological problems. The Chinese believe that TuiNa regulates the nervous system so that Chi flows properly, boosts the immunological Chi of the body, and flushes metabolic waste out of the body. It is a popular part of the practice of TCM in China because it is both comfortable and effective.
