Tui Na

 
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Hans-Thomas received training in Zheng Gu Tui Na founded by Tom Bisio and Frank Butler. The term Tui Na (pronounced "tway-naw") refers to a wide range of therapeutic massage and body work in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

A Tui na massage is generally done with the patient’s clothes on and is not generally used for pleasure and relaxation, but rather as a treatment to address specific patterns of disharmony. As such, practitioners use it for many of the same reasons and according to the same principles as acupuncture. Like acupuncture, TCM uses Tui Na to harmonize Yin and Yang in the body by manipulating the Qi in the bodies’ meridian channels.

 

When is Tui Na used?

Tui Na is one of the most popular TCM treatment modalities and is frequently used in the treatment of superficial trauma and injury and a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems but also extends to internal medical problems. Tui na is also often used when acupuncture is inappropriate, such as with children.

The combination of Tui Na and Acupuncture offers a powerful way of healing acute injuries but also the most stubborn chronic conditions eg. “frozen shoulder”. In addition the TCM practitioner will use internal and external Chinese Herbs and encourage and instruct patients to do self massage and certain Qi gong exercises at home. This speeds up the healing process and solidifies and expands the benefits created during treatment sessions.

Special techniques are used specifically designed to address joints above and below the problematic area and offer an integrated way of treating anatomy trains: connective tissue planes, fascial planes, or myofascial connections of muscle, tendon, sinues and bones. A treatement of the spine is most always included since the channels and meridians are integrately linked to the governing channel that passes through the spine. The treatment then specifically focusses on the areas of complaint.

 

CUPPING

Cupping is used in addition to Acupuncture. It refers to an ancient Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European therapy designed to stimulate the flow of Qi and blood within the superficial muscle layers. It is such wonderful feelings to experience tight and tense muscles relax, as an acupuncturist uses the gliding cup technique which is similar to certain massage techniques.

What is cupping used for?

It is primarily used for the function of warming, stimulating and promoting the free flow of energy, lymph and blood in the meridians of the body, as well as dispelling cold dampness, toxicity, diminishing swellings and pains. In clinics, the cupping method is mainly used to treat:

  • Arthritis caused by wind dampness, such as pain of the low back, shoulders and leg.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, dysentery, stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Lung diseases, colds, flu's, coughs, immune disorders, bronchitis and asthma.
  • Muscle I Skeletal, soft tissue injury, frozen shoulder, paralysis, stiffness, spasms and pain.
  • Gynecological disorders, infertility, menstrual irregularities, uterine cramps and leukorrhea.
  • Refractory headaches, migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Pediatric discomforts, bronchitis, asthma, dysentery, stomach aches and indigestion
  • Acne
  • Uticaria
  • Acute trigeminal neuralgia

How does cupping work?

During this therapy, a glass, plastic or silicon cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced creating a vacuum by using heat, herbs or by suctioning out air, so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn and held into the cup. The cups are either left in place over the affected area or in some cases, the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active, causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle, this technique is called glide cupping. 

Source: www.veronikavoss.com/