What Is Tui Na?
Tui Na originates in Taiwan, and it's sometimes called"Taiwanese acupuncture". The expression Tui Na is used widely throughout the world, and its meaning is largely confused by Westerners. In traditional Chinese Medicine, tui na describes the four meridians along which a individual's energy flows. Tui Na isn't typically used as a pleasurable pastime, but instead for the cure of particular disorders, such as stress or pain.
According to the traditional teachings of TCM, tui na therapy seeks to promote stability in yang energies by restoring chi to the qi through subtle, slow strokes with palms and needles, using acupuncture needles, and stimulating specific points along meridians. It originated in China and was later brought to Japan and other parts of Asia. Many practitioners of TCM feel that acupuncture and tai chi are the same thing, although both rely on different approaches. While TCM does not directly use the conditions, TCM-based therapies often use the term Tui Na when referring to the therapy.
Many TCM schools now use a simplified version of tui na. In actuality, many schools prefer simplified versions of traditional Chinese medicine because they do not have to deal with the potentially confusing aspects of TCM terminology. Because of this, simplified versions of acupuncture, herbs, and other forms of therapeutic massage commonly referred to as Tui Na is used extensively in TCM practices. However, some TCM practitioners still prefer traditional Chinese medicine, arguing that some medical conditions are better treated with a holistic approach that Tui Na can not provide.
When performing a Tui Na massage, the therapist typically begins by placing pressure on specific meridian points along the patient's body, then working from the outside to the interior of all the identified meridians. Each session can last for half an hour to one hour, depending upon the needs of the individual. The therapist will often start with gentle stimulation of the human body's vital energy points, followed by more targeted stimulation of specific acupoints. Each session usually ends with a client standing upright, having the typical post-treatment feeling of pain relief, and maybe some slight flushing of the face.
Because TCM uses the concept of tui na (the sound of flowing water) to signify the flow of qi through the body, and the idea of linking meridians into the heart chakra by way of symbolically drawing blood to the heart via acupoints located there, both the therapist and their patient learn how to interpret the flowing water. The two types of massage treatment are separated only by the location of the acupoints on the body. Therefore, a tui na massage to the facial region of the face can be done on the hands and feet as well, while a Shiatsu Qigong massage on the abdomen can be achieved on either the feet or the palms.
TCM practitioners also learn to identify various signs that will indicate when it's time to perform a particular treatment. In addition, they also learn to read patterns in the movements of the individual during the massage. While it's not necessary to perform this procedure using acupuncture points, many TCM practitioners believe it provides better results and a deeper understanding of qi flow. They use both the hands and feet, or both, in performing the therapy.
Tuina is among the Chinese massage techniques that are most closely connected with TCM. Tuina is the contraction of the meridians and channels that run along the body, connecting all parts of the nervous system and providing a unification of the different functions of the organs, tissues and systems. These channels or meridians are jointly known as the meridians. The term'tuina' literally means'all knowledge' and refers to the whole body of knowledge that exists within the body. This knowledge is the source of the body's energy and is thought to be the fundamental foundation for the proper functioning of the human body.
Many TCM specialists believe that acupuncture and Tui Na are interrelated and that they derive from the same root or foundation. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat an assortment of ailments in both East and West. From the TCM world, the healing energy that's released during a session can stimulate the flow of qi through meridians and channels. When the flow of energy is unrestricted, it may foster the restoration of the body to its pre-diagnosis and original state of health. As the energy is restored, the individual experiences improvements in his/her health, together with the alleviation of many ailments and the absence of others.