Tui Na (pronounced ‘twee-nah’) is a form of traditional Chinese massage. It is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a relatively new therapy in the West, but its roots in China are ancient and date back to around 2700 BC.

It is a hands-on treatment which aims to bring the body into balance through the physical massage of  soft tissue and joints using many techniques which are unique to tui na massage. 

The tissues and structures of the body are viewed through the framework of the meridian or channel system of Qi flow which is central to East Asian traditional medicine. Consequently, in addition to utilising a comprehensive range of physical techniques, tui na  massage also uses the same theory and stimulates the same acu-points that are used in acupuncture therapy. 

Depending on what is required, the  treatment can be either quite dynamic or extremely gentle and nourishing leaving the patient in either a highly energized or a deeply relaxed state. 

Tui Na is usually given through loose clothing with a cotton sheet placed over the body. Additional techniques including: cupping, guasha, moxibustion or the use of herbal massage lotions and oils are applied directly to the skin.

Conditions that respond well to tui na massage include:

• Headaches/migraines
• Stress, depression and anxiety
• Cervical spondylosis
• Lumbar strain
• Prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Arthritis, rheumatic conditions
• Hypertension
• Joint problems, e.g. frozen shoulder
• Digestive disorders, e.g. IBS
• Asthma
• Common cold
• Tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
• RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Period pain/ PMT