Blackheath Complementary Health Centre
Therapies: Tui Na
Tui na Chinese massage therapy
)What is Tui na?
Tui na is one of four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine; its sister therapies are, acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qi Gong.
Tui na is a physical therapy and a form of energetic medicine. It uses manual manipulations to stimulate the energy channels of the web-like meridian system, which run throughout the body, the points along these channels and the soft tissues, sinews and organs.
How does Tui na differ from other forms of massage?
Tui na differs from other forms of massage in that it is used to treat specific illnesses of an internal nature as well as musculoskeletal ailments. The Tui na practitioner must have a thorough understanding of the rationale and philosophy of Oriental Medicine in order to make a diagnosis according to its principles and formulate a plan of treatment suitable for the patient.
What does treatment consist of and feel like?
Treatment is applied either over loose clothing or directly onto the skin if an external herbal media is to be applied. Tui na feels deep, warming, rhythmic and penetrating. The treatment itself involves the use of a wide range of specific manual techniques all of which have particular therapeutic effects. Generally treatment moves through three levels:
1. The adaptive level consisting of relatively gentle superficial techniques to begin to open the meridians and allow the patient to relax.
2. The analgesic level consists of deeper rhythmic and more penetrating techniques and point stimulation. This is the heart of the treatment and patients often fall asleep at this stage
3. The dissipative level this often involves brisk percussive sweeping and scrubbing techniques to dissipate any stagnant energy that has been stirred up at the analgesic stage. Also passive movements of joints and stretches can be incorporated at this stage.
Treatment of babies and children
Infantile Tui na is a specialist subject and is well documented in the classics of Chinese medicine. It differs greatly from adult tui na as the meridian system in infants is not developed. Much of the treatment is applied to the infant’s hands, forearms and abdomen. It is simple to apply, so once the treatment has been formulated it can be taught to parents who can apply the treatment once a day in between seeing the practitioner. Infantile Tui na is suitable for babies and young children up to the age of 5 or 6.
What is tui na treatment most useful for?
Adults
Muscular/skeletal conditions- arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, sciatica, soft tissue injuries, muscular and joint pain, stiffness and restricted mobility.
Gynaecological/Menstrual problems
Fertility issues
Digestive problems- constipation, IBS, bloating, abdominal, epigastric and flank pain, nausea.
Asthma, cough, sinusitis, common cold, flu
Headaches/migraine
Insomnia
Dizziness
Numbness, hemiplegia
Post stroke symptoms of weakness, numbness, tingling and paralysis of the limbs.
Anxiety/depression
Babies and young children
Poor digestion- colic, poor appetite, constipation, diarrhoea
Frequent coughs and colds
Asthma
Eczema
Enuresis- bed-wetting
Poor sleep
Infantile convulsions
The best selling book by Centre Director and practitioner Chinese Massage Manual has been republished.
Everyone interested in Chinese Medicine, massage or the healing arts will enjoy this.
Originally written for anyone who wants to find out simple ways of treating common ailments through Tui na (Chinese massage) it became a recommended text book on the reading list of colleges in the USA, Australia and the UK.
It has been out of print for three years. We have signed copies for sale at £24.99 (RRP £29.99