Tuina Manual Therapy
The goal of tui na, a traditional Chinese manipulative therapy, is to release the body's protective chi, or Wei Qi, so that energy can flow through the meridians and into the muscles. Na means "to lift and squeeze," while tui means "to push." To address both acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues, practitioners use methods include rubbing, pushing, rolling, kneading, brushing, shaking, and tapotement between joints. Combining tui na with western methods like traction, range of motion, and other manual therapies, or with traditional Chinese treatments like acupuncture, t'ai chi, qigong, herbalism, and cupping, is common. This very old method of care is still being utilized to treat conditions like headaches, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, sleeplessness, psychological disorders, vascular compliance, and premenstrual syndrome.