Tui Na (pronounced twee nah) massage is an effective and holistic way to help your body manage pain, emotional stress and various women’s health issues. It’s one of the five pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with the others being:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Dietary Therapy
- Qi Gong
In conjunction with acupuncture and herbal medicine, Tui Na can help dislodge stagnant Qi (the body’s energy) and promote better circulation to improve and support a number of common conditions that cause discomfort or pain.
But how exactly does it work and what can it help with? Here’s everything you need to know.
How Does Tui Na Massage Work?
At the core of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the principle of treating the person as a whole, not just the symptom or pain. This can include looking at lifestyle, diet and climate. Health and happiness can be achieved when every aspect of a person’s body is in balance and Yin and Yang are harmonised.
Tui Na works by removing blockages in the body’s Qi to promote healthy blood flow which balances the Yin and Yang. By stimulating certain acupoints along the body’s meridians (energy pathways) Tui Na removes stagnant energy that could cause blockages.
Depending on your pain, illness or condition, your TCM practitioner may use techniques such as kneading, tapping, gliding, rolling, pressing or pulling to stimulate the positive energy and reduce stagnant energy causing pain.
Having time to relax, as well as your TCM practitioner concentrating on you as a whole, creates balance and harmony, allowing your body to heal.
What Can Tui Na Help With?
Chinese Tui Na massage can be used to treat a number of health concerns or pain in specific areas of the body.
Some conditions Tui Na can support include:
- Musculoskeletal or nerve injuries
- Headaches
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Digestive problems such as constipation
- Back and neck pain
- Respiratory conditions
- Stress
- Low mood
At The Which Doctor, we have a special interest in women’s health and how TCM can support various women’s health conditions. Tui Na can therefore be used in conjunction with other TCM practices such as acupuncture to help with:
- Menstrual conditions (including premenstrual syndrome)
- Problems conceiving
- Promoting healthy lactation
- Digestive problems caused by pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Bone and muscle pain during pregnancy
Traditional Chinese Medicine at The Which Doctor
At The Which Doctor in South Yarra, we take our time to understand you, your body and any symptoms you’re experiencing. We’ll explore your sleep routine, diet, how much you’re exercising and possibly do a tongue diagnosis too.
Whilst we don’t currently offer Tui Na massage, we do offer acupuncture and cupping which can help to effectively move stagnant Qi energy around the body. This helps you to relax, heal and promote overall health whilst reducing pain and discomfort.
This can also be combined with herbal medicine which may be in the form of tablets, raw, powdered, an alcohol tincture or a cream. Your experienced TCM practitioner will be able to advise on the best treatment for you, your symptoms and your overall well-being.
If you’d like to know how TCM can support your health, get in contact with the team at The Which Doctor today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have and book you in for an initial consultation.