Tui Na – A Massage Therapy That Uses Traditional Chinese Medicine

Tui na is a massage therapy that is classed within the system of traditional Chinese medicine as an external method.
It is particularly appropriate for elderly persons and infants.
It has been used in China for more than 2,000 years. Notably, tui na has fewer side effects than many drug- and chemical-based treatments.
In the traditional Chinese medicine philosophy, the belief is that pain and disease are the result of an imbalance in the flow and/or amount of Qi, and that tui na will bring everything back into balance.
The tui na practitioner will brush, knead, roll, press and/or rub the areas between each of the joints, also known as the eight gates, to open the defensive chi of the patient and get the energy moving.
In addition, tui na has at its disposal the techniques of traction and massage, along with the stimulation of acupressure points. Interestingly, this can be used to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, and non-musculoskeletal conditions.
There are many East Asian martial traditions that use a form of tui na to either manage or alleviate injury and pain due to training or training related injuries. That is understandable, given that an unmanaged injury in a martial career could lead to life and death consequences.
If you are interested in experiencing Tui na, you should look for a skilled practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.