Massage has many benefits for the body and the mind. Getting a routine massage can help with stress and relaxation but if you have injuries or other health concerns, you may need more than the basic techniques.

Tui na massage is a different technique that specializes in removing the obstructions to the flow of energy or qi in the body. This is not different from the basis of most massage. With tui na, the emphasis is on patients who have back pain, sports injuries, trauma to different areas of the body and scar tissue of some kind in their body. Problems with muscles, joints and internal organs are their specialty.

What types of issues are treated with tui na massage? Problems with sore muscles, constipation, low energy levels, headaches, neck pain, sciatica and shoulder problems are among the conditions that have found relief with this technique.

Tui na can be combined with acupuncture if the patient needs a more detailed therapy along the meridian lines. But it is most often used alone. Those who experience it find relief of their pain, more mobile joints and an overall wellbeing as their body is put back into alignment and areas of blocked or stagnant blood are released. Scar tissue between muscles and fascia or bone are manipulated and broken up so that blood flow can be restored.

Preparing for a session

Your massage therapist will ask you for a detailed history of your medical condition. This is needed to help them concentrate on the right areas of your body for maximum results. The actual massage can last anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour per session, depending on your circumstances.

You have the option of wearing loose clothing or removing clothing. The concentration is on the back and neck usually unless you specifically have a problem elsewhere. For bare skin, aromatherapy oils are used to relax your muscles and create a calming mood during the massage.

You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the procedure. There may be pressure or even a feeling of restored flow as the areas that were once blocked are allowed to channel energy again. Because toxins are being released anew, people may need to spend more time in the bathroom.

Tui na is not like any other massage. It has given rise to more manipulative forms like shiatsu, but it takes a practiced hand to recognize areas of pain and scarring that need to be released.

Like other massage, the point is not to treat the illness but to help the body to heal itself by identifying the point of the problem and releasing energy. If you suffer from trauma in the body, tui na massage may be what you need for restored health.