Tui na Massages
Tui na massages are popular in the Chinese culture and are offered at most day spas. In this Tui na massage review, Best Day Spa Reviews will give you some history of Tui na massages and what makes up a Tui na massage.
As an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine, Tui na massage is a hands-on technique used to alleviate stress, balance the body’s energy, and treat certain medical conditions. “Tui na” literally translates to “push pull.” A variety of passive and active stretching is used for this form of treatment, which incorporates a combination of therapeutic techniques, including principles from acupuncture, shiatsu, chiropractic, osteopathic, and western physical therapy. However, not only does Tui na work the muscles, bones, and joints, it works with the body’s energy on a deeper lever. This form of Asian body work is strongly based on the 8 principles of Chinese medicine and balancing qi.
The 8 principles of Chinese medicine pertain to the concepts of balancing energy and looking at basic patterns of disharmony to diagnose illness. Four pairs of opposites are compared to identify any imbalances that may pinpoint the exact cause of a disease. These pairs consist of Yin and Yang, interior and exterior, cold and heat, and full and empty. An assessment of any weaknesses in these areas is suggestive of a problem that may be curable by balancing qi, a form of pervasive energy that is the animating force behind all forms of life. Tui na massage is a type of treatment that works to channel the flow of qi in an efficient manner, for therapeutic results.
Tui na can be performed with the patient on a chair, table, or floor mat. Treatments generally last for an hour to an hour and a half and cost an average of $80 to $120 per session. Many of the techniques used for tui na incorporate the stimulation of pressure points, or energy pathways, by holding and pressing certain areas of sensitivity Similar to traditional western massage, gliding, kneading, percussion, rocking, pulling, rotation, friction, and vibration can be used during this hands-on therapy, with a strong focus on problem areas that may be causing pain or discomfort.
In addition to restoring energy balance, relieving stress, and improving overall health and immune function, Tui na is associated with preventing and correcting a number of negative health problems. Some specific conditions that tui na is used to treat include migraine headaches, chronic pain in the joints or muscles, muscle spasms, arthritis, sciatica, back, neck, and shoulder pain, insomnia, and constipation. In addition, this ancient form of massage is believed to improve one’s mental and emotional well being.
On the other hand, there are a few disadvantages to using Tui na for therapeutic treatment. Tui na can be painful for those who are sensitive to pressure or who have sustained an injury. Plus, the healing claims of Tui na are not readily accepted by many health care professionals. Contraindications for Tui na include patients with open wounds, enlarges subcutaneous nodules, or spinal cord inflammation. In addition, those who are pregnant, at high risk for heart attack, or very weak, should not use Tui na massage treatment.
However, Tui na is a specialized art of Asian massage that has been used for more than 100 years for its benefits. Overall, this masterful technique offers a comprehensive system of therapeutic massage by incorporating multiple aspects of body work and traditional Chinese medicine.