''Tui na'' (; ) is a form of
alternative medicine
Alternative medicine refers to practices that aim to achieve the healing effects of conventional medicine, but that typically lack biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or supporting evidence of effectiveness. Such practices are ...
similar to
shiatsu.
As a branch of
traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...
, it is often used in conjunction with
acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body. Acupuncture is a pseudoscience; the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientif ...
,
moxibustion
Moxibustion () is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort ('' moxa'') on particular points on the body. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and ...
,
fire cupping, Chinese
herbalism
Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many herbal treatments ...
,
tai chi
is a Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, for most practitioners it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. As an exercise, tai chi is performed as gentle, low-impact movement in which practitioners ...
or other Chinese internal martial arts, and
qigong
Qigong ()) is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese medicine, Chin ...
.
Background
''Tui na'' is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese
Daoist
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
principles in an effort to bring the
eight principles of
traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...
into balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll, press, and rub the areas between each of the joints, known as the eight gates, to attempt to open the body's defensive ''
qi'' (''wei qi'') and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles.
Techniques may be gentle or quite firm. The name comes from two of the actions: ''tui'' means "to push" and ''na'' means "to lift and squeeze." Other strokes include shaking and
tapotement.
The practitioner can then use a range of motion, traction, and the stimulation of
acupressure points. These techniques are claimed to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions.
As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, different schools vary in their approach to the discipline. In
traditional Korean medicine it is known as ''chu na'' (), and it is related also to Japanese
massage
Massage is the rubbing or kneading of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pa ...
or ''
anma'' and its derivatives ''
shiatsu'' and ''
sekkotsu
or Judo therapy is the traditional Japanese art of Bonesetter, bone-setting. It has been used in many Japanese martial arts and has developed alongside judo into a licensed medical practice somewhat resembling chiropractic in Japan today.
A ' is ...
. ''In the West, tui na is taught as a part of the curriculum at some acupuncture schools.
Efficacy
A collaborative study between researchers in China and Germany concluded that the use of Tui na techniques can be a safe, low-cost method to reduce back and neck pain.
See also
*
Chin na
Qin Na () is the set of joint lock techniques used in the Chinese martial arts to control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so they cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability. ''Qin Na Shu'' ( meaning "techniq ...
*
Dit Da
*
Gua Sha
*
Naprapathy
*
Pushing hands
*
Dim Mak
The touch of death (or death-point striking) is any martial arts technique reputed to kill using seemingly less than lethal force targeted at specific areas of the body.
The concept known as ''dim mak'' (), alternatively () traces its history ...
*
Varma Kalai
*
Acupressure
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tui Na
Traditional Chinese medicine
Manual therapy
Massage therapy