Tui Na

What Is Tui Na?

Tui Na has been used as a therapy in China for more than 5,000 years. It involves the systematic manual palpation, pushing, pulling and stroking of acupoints, soft tissues and muscles using the fingers, hands, elbows, or knees of the therapist.

It is not a relaxation massage. It is a complete therapeutic system, a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine developed alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine and qigong. Tui Na is a non-invasive therapy based on the theory of the viscera and meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine, involving distinct and skillful manipulation.

Where Western massage primarily addresses muscles and soft tissue, Tui Na works at a deeper level with the flow of Qi (vital energy) through the meridian channels that connect every organ, tissue and system in the body. When Qi flows freely, the body heals itself. When it stagnates through stress, injury, emotion or lifestyle, pain, tension and illness follow.

What the Research Shows

The evidence base for Tui Na has been growing steadily and is now documented across hundreds of peer-reviewed clinical trials worldwide.

Chronic Pain & Physical Function

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomised controlled trials involving 1,390 patients found that Tui Na demonstrated a significant effect on both pain reduction and physical function compared to control groups.

Neck & Cervical Pain

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that Tui Na alone showed significant pain-reducing effects for cervical radiculopathy compared to conventional cervical traction, across 448 patients in five clinical trials.

Joint & Musculoskeletal Conditions

A meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials involving 984 patients found that Tui Na effectively alleviated joint pain and enhanced range of motion and function with a significantly higher clinical effective rate compared to non-Tui Na approaches.

Growing International Recognition

The use of Tui Na for the treatment of chronic pain has been gaining increasing recognition internationally, with research output growing steadily across the United States, China and Europe. Current research focuses on low back pain, skeletal and spinal diseases, stroke recovery and chronic conditions.

What a Session Addresses

• Blocked or stagnant Qi in the meridian channels
• Chronic musculoskeletal pain: back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees
• Joint restriction and reduced range of motion
• Postural imbalances and spinal tension
• Sports injuries and recovery
• Headaches and migraines
• Digestive and organ-related discomfort
• Nervous system dysregulation and fatigue
• Emotional work

The Session

Every Tui Na session begins with a short diagnosis to understand your body's current state and what it needs. I then work along the meridian channels and musculoskeletal system using a combination of techniques (pressing, rolling, kneading, stretching and directed pressure) applied with full attention to what the body is communicating in real time.

This is not a formulaic treatment. It is a responsive, intelligent conversation between practitioner and body, drawing on 15 years of clinical experience and a deep training at the Broshim School of Integrative Medicine at Tel Aviv University.