Tuina Massage is hands on manipulation that incorporates Acupressure. Instead of working through muscle systems, Tuina massage works through the meridian system and acupuncture points. Tuina massage is closely related to Shiatsu with its treatment style, function, and results. It can be just as deep as a deep tissue massage and have incredibly good outcomes, especially when combined with other therapies such as acupuncture. Since it works with acupuncture points, Tuina’s scope of treatment can rather large, and treatments are given on a case by case basis.
One thing to keep in mind is that every practitioner does things slightly differently, so while I can give you a basic outline of Tuina, the intensity, style, function, and results will vary from practitioner to practitioner. There are two main ways in which I use Tuina: for regulating the body and for releasing adhesions in muscles.
To regulate the body, the back is usually massaged and this is because of a specific meridian that runs along the back called the Urinary Bladder Meridian, which actually does not have all that much to do with the Urinary Bladder. But along the back, this meridian has an acupuncture point for every organ and just about every function or substance in the body, from regulation of breathing, sleeping, and digesting, to movement of the blood and diaphragm, to influencing the bones. Not only that, but the Urinary Bladder Meridian is the longest and largest meridian in the body, starting by the eyes, traveling up and over the top of the head, down the back in two lines, down the backs of the legs and to the baby toe. The length and breadth of this meridian makes it perfect for treating the whole body just by massaging the back. And… that is where most people hold their tension. Applying Tuina massage on other parts of the body such as the legs or arms is usually done on an as-needed basis to release muscle adhesions.
| Vertebrae | Point | Chinese Name | English Name | Function |
| T1 | UB 11 | Da Shu | Great Shuttle | Bones |
| T2 | UB 12 | Feng Men | Wind Gate | Wind |
| UB 41 | Fu Fen | Attached Branch | Shoulder | |
| T3 | UB 13 | Fei Shu | Lung | Lungs |
| UB 42 | Po Hu | Po Door | Emotional aspects of Lungs | |
| T4 | UB 14 | Jue Yin Shu | Pericardium | Pericardium |
| UB 43 | Gao Huang Shu | Vital Region | Lung, Spleen, Heart & Kidneys | |
| T5 | UB 15 | Xin Shu | Heart | Heart |
| UB 44 | Shen Tang | Spirit Hall | Emotional aspects of Heart | |
| T6 | UB 16 | Du Shu | Governing | Regulates chest (Triple Burner) |
| UB 45 | Yi Xi | Yi Xi | Breathing | |
| T7 | UB 17 | Ge Shu | Diaphragm | Diaphragm |
| UB 46 | Ge Guan | Diaphragm Pass | Diaphragm | |
| T8 | ||||
| T9 | UB 18 | Gan Shu | Liver | Liver |
| UB 47 | Hun Men | Hun Gate | Emotional aspects of Liver | |
| T10 | UB 19 | Dan Shu | Gallbladder | Gallbladder |
| UB 48 | Yang Gang | Yang Headrope | Gallbladder dampness | |
| T11 | UB 20 | Pi Shu | Spleen | Spleen |
| UB 49 | Yi She | Intelligent Resident | Emotional aspects of Spleen | |
| T12 | UB 21 | Wei Shu | Stomach | Stomach |
| UB 50 | Wei Cang | Stomach Granary | Digestion | |
| L1 | UB 22 | San Jiao Shu | Triple Burner | Triple Burner |
| UB 51 | Huang Men | Huang Gate | Digestion, abdominal masses | |
| L2 | UB 23 | Shen Shu | Kidneys | Kidneys |
| UB 52 | Zhi Shi | Will Chamber | Emotional aspects of Kidneys | |
| L3 | UB 24 | Qi Hai Shu | Sea of Qi | Kidneys, reproductive system |
| L4 | UB 25 | Da Chang Shu | Large Intestine | Large Intestine |
| L5 | UB 26 | Guan Yuan Shu | Origin Pass | Lower burner, Kidneys |
| S1 | UB 27 | Xiao Chang Shu | Small Intestine | Small Intestine |
| UB 31 | Shang Liao | Upper Bone Hole | Lower burner, back pain | |
| S2 | UB 28 | Pang Guang Shu | Bladder | Bladder |
| UB 32 | Ci Liao | Second Bone Hole | Lower burner, back pain | |
| UB 53 | Bao Huang | Bladder Huang | Bladder | |
| S3 | UB 29 | Zhong Lu Shu | Central Back Bone | Lumbar spine, warms Yang |
| UB 33 | Zhong Liao | Central Bone Hole | Lower burner, back pain | |
| S4 | UB 30 | Bai Huan Shu | White Ring | Lower burner, warms Yang |
| UB 34 | Xia Liao | Lower Bone Hole | Lower burner, back pain | |
| UB 54 | Zhi Bian | Sequential Limit | Lumbar spine | |
Manipulations
To work with acupuncture points, the manipulations need to be different than those that a massage therapist uses. Some of the manipulations used are: pressing, grasping, pinching, kneading, rubbing, rolling, wiping, lift and grasp, press and knead, drumming, patting, shaking, rotating, pulling, extending, etc. These are also applied as-needed depending on the conditions that are treated.
Tuina is a great way to relieve pain, relax, and find balance.