Tuina Massage
Chinese Tuina Massage at The Which Doctor
Tui Na (pronounced twee nah) massage is an effective and holistic way to help your body manage pain, emotional stress and various women’s health issues.
From our South Yarra Clinic, our practitioner, Dr. Michelle Kasbach, will stimulate your body’s Qi (the vital life force or energy) to remove blockages that could be causing pain, low mood, illness or even problems with conceiving.
Contact The Which Doctor today to arrange a consultation and to see how Chinese Tui Na massage can help to improve your health and well-being.
What Is Tui Na Massage?
Tui Na is one of the five main pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other pillars are:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Dietary Therapy
- Qi Gong
Similar to acupuncture, it works by stimulating certain acupoints along the body’s meridians (energy pathways) to increase the flow of Qi which can stagnate and cause blockages or pain.
In order to balance the body’s Qi, Tui Na practitioners will use their fingers to apply pressure to these acupoints and gently massage them to release tensions and improve the flow of energy and blood. This creates balance and harmony to support your body to heal.
How Does Tuina Work?
At the core of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the principle of treating the person as a whole, not just the symptom or pain. This can include looking at lifestyle, diet and climate. Health and happiness can be achieved when every aspect of a person’s body is in balance and Yin and Yang are harmonised.
Tui Na works by removing blockages in the body’s Qi to promote healthy blood flow which balances the Yin and Yang. Depending on your pain, illness or condition, your TCM practitioner may use techniques such as kneading, tapping, gliding, rolling, pressing or pulling to stimulate the positive energy and reduce stagnant energy which could be causing pain.
What to Expect During Your Tui Na Appointment
The first step is always to assess your overall health and discuss how Tui Na treatment could help. Dr. Michelle Kasbach will use a range of TCM principles including getting to know your daily lifestyle, medical history, a pulse diagnosis and tongue examination.
A typical Tui Na session will last around an hour. During this time, your TCM practitioner will apply pressure to various acupoints depending on your specific pain or concern. It’s common for acupuncture and Tui Na to be combined for enhanced results but your practitioner will discuss this with you prior to treatment.
For your comfort, you’ll stay clothed during your Tui Na massage – so it’s important you wear loose-fitting clothes that can easily be pushed to the side in case your practitioner thinks you could benefit from acupuncture too.
Our friendly practitioner at our South Yarra clinic will do everything they can to make you feel at ease before, during and after your session. Our treatment rooms are quiet and comfortable and we encourage you to ask any questions you may have about Tui Na.
Does Tuina Massage Hurt?
Whilst Tui Na isn’t a spa treatment, when carried out by an trained practitioner it shouldn’t be painful either. Some Yang techniques (more dynamic and active) may be a little uncomfortable for a short time. Your practitioner will check in with you throughout the treatment to ensure it isn’t too uncomfortable and recommend any at-home aftercare.
What Can Tui Na Help With?
Chinese Tui Na massage can be used to treat a number of health concerns or pain in specific areas of the body.
Some conditions Tui Na can support with include:
- Musculoskeletal or nerve injuries
- Headaches
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Digestive problems such as constipation
- Back and neck pain
- Respiratory conditions
- Stress
- Low mood
At The Which Doctor, we have a special interest in women’s health and how TCM can support various women’s health conditions. Tui Na can therefore be used in conjunction with other TCM practices to help with:
- Menstrual conditions (including premenstrual syndrome)
- Problems conceiving
- Promoting healthy lactation
- Digestive problems caused by pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Bone and muscle pain during pregnancy
Why Choose The Which Doctor for Tuina Massage?
At The Which Doctor, we really care about your overall health and well-being and take our time to carry out a full assessment of your body to determine where any conditions or pain may be coming from. Our practitioners can combine Tui Na massage with other Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments such as acupuncture, Herbal Medicine or lifestyle changes to create a holistic approach that’s as unique as your body.
Are you ready to find out how Tui Na can support you?
