Tuina or tui-na (pronounced twee-nah) massage originated in ancient China and is believed to be the oldest system of
bodywork. It s one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, qi gong, and
Chinese herbal medicine.
It s similar to acupuncture in the way it targets specific acupoints, but practitioners use fingers instead of needles to
apply pressure to stimulate these points. Tuina massage is often used in combination with acupuncture.
The philosophy and principles of tuina massage are based on traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on
emotional and physical components of a persons well-being, as well as aspects such as climate, relationships, and
diet.
The goal of tuina massage is to create harmony in the yin and yang of the body by getting rid of blockages and
disturbances that manifest as illness, disease, and emotional issues.
Similar to acupuncture, tuina massage uses the same energetic meridians and acupoints to balance the qi and blood in
your body, leading to better health. Qi that s flowing incorrectly can cause blockages, such as poor blood circulation in
the affected area.
The main therapeutic goal of tuina massage is to remove the energetic blocks that are causing qi stagnation.