What Is Tui Na Massage?

Tui na massage is a form of massage used in traditional Chinese medicine and is regularly used alongside modern medical techniques to treat a range of conditions, from diarrhea to short-sightedness. The use of the technique dates back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

The term tui na, which is pronounced “twee naw,” translates literally to  “pinch and pull.” Unlike other forms of massage, tui na is not used for relaxation, but rather to redirect disharmonious patterns of qi, or “chi,” in the body, as defined by traditional Chinese medicine.

In a manner similar to acupuncture, tui na is used to harmonize yin and yang in the body by manipulating qi within the acupuncture channels. In fact, tui na often includes a method known as “acupressure,” in which practitioners use finger pressure instead of needles to stimulate acupuncture points.

When Is Tui Na Used?

Tui na is used as a complementary therapy used in the treatment of superficial trauma and injury and a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems. It is also used in pediatric care, where more aggressive forms of massage could result in injury and acupuncture is inappropriate, leading to it sometimes being referred to as “Chinese pediatric massage therapy.”

Chinese Medical Reforms

While tui na remains a recognized form of medical treatment offered by many Chinese hospitals, there have been calls for reform of the practice because of how easily one can obtain a tui na qualification.

Some courses offer a two-week training period that qualifies the participant as a “senior child massage therapist” without any medical or pediatric qualifications.

These calls for a reform of the qualification system have intensified in recent months after the death of a child from multiple organ failure who was being given tui na for a simple upper respiratory tract infection.

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