Erris Eye publication - Topic - Tui Na

Posted on: Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Last week I spoke about the different aspects of chinese medicine and said a bit about qi gong. This week I will give some information about the massage technique Tui Na. Tuina or tui-na (pronounced twee-nah) massage originated in ancient China and is believed to be the oldest system of bodywork. It’s one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, qi gong, and Chinese herbal medicine.

It’s similar to acupuncture in the way it targets specific acupoints, but practitioners use fingers instead of needles to apply pressure to stimulate these points. Tuina massage is often used in combination with acupuncture.

During a session, practitioners use oscillating and pressure techniques that differ in force and speed. Tuina massage can be done as a stronger deep-tissue massage or a more gentle, energetic treatment.

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

The practitioner massages the muscles and tendons and uses manipulation techniques to realign the body. Passive joint movements are used to restore function to muscles and joints.

As with many healing modalities, tuina massage works well when combined with other natural treatments and a healthy lifestyle. Your practitioner may encourage you to do self-massage, stretches, and exercises on your own to increase the benefits of each treatment.

Karena McNamara is an acupuncturist with The Mayo Acupuncture Clinic, Ballina and Castlebar. Visit www.mayoacupuncture.ie or call 0879918514 for appointments or enquiries.