History of Tui Na (Chinese, 推拿）:
Our clinic derived its name from the first official massage therapy research institute in the world, the Royal Institute of Massage of Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) in China. After extensive research by generations of the royal medical doctors, Tui Na has been developed and served exclusively the royal members of the Dynasty. After collapse of the dynasty, Tui Na started serving the general public, and became one of the mainstream medical treatments in big hospitals in China, with specialties for infants, adults, orthopedics, traumatology (injury or accident), cosmetology, rehabilitation and sports medicine.
Diseases Routinely Treated by Tui Na
A broad range of muscle related diseases can be treated by Tui Na, including both external diseases and internal diseases. The sample list of external diseases treated by Tui Na includes acquired torticollis (stiff neck), rotator cuff syndrome, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic facet joint disorder, lumbar muscle strain, low back pain, sacroilliac joint dysfunction, sciatic pain, leg and knee pain, arthritis, myofascial pain syndrome and hemiplegia etc. In addition, some internal diseases, such as migraine, insomnia, digestive disorders, hypertension, diabetes, painful periods (dysmenorrhea) and asthma can be treated by Tui Na too.
Scientific Evidence of Tui Na
Tui Na is a special medical massage therapy primarily based on meridian system, which is one of the cores of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, it has integrated anatomy and physiology of Western Medicine (WM) nowadays. The practitioner of Tui Na is medical doctors who are trained in both TCM and WM, which is the major difference between Tui Na and SPA massage, include Swedish massage and An Mo in China. Besides using the strokes such as brush, knead, roll, press, rub, shaking and tapotement, the practitioners also use range of motion and traction, together with the stimulation of acupoints. These techniques are claimed to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions (The World Tui Na Association, 2012).
Research has been conducted to compare the Meridian system with the trigger point model first proposed by Dr. Janet Travel in 1942. The results showed that more than 80% of the acupoints, the basic elements of the Meridian system, are consistent with the trigger points, which confirms scientific basis of Meridian system even though it have been practiced for thousands of years and barely understood over a long period of time.
Tui Na has been regarded as one of the treasures of TCM and China has the only PhD program in massage in the world. Research on the benefits of Tui Na has attracted lots of attention and it has been very active in China. Innovative research is being conducted to explore its effects in treating or preventing chronic diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension and endocrine related diseases in China. However, very few similar studies are being conducted in the US.
Given the effectiveness of Tui Na in treating many diseases, it is gaining popularity around the World. For instance, in United Kingdom, many medical practitioners are promoting it. In the US, very few medical professionals are doing this. However, our clinic is committed to be the pioneer to promote Tui Na in the United States.