This week, Roisin Armstrong investigates Tui Na, a complex and highly therapeutic massage that's one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine
THERE are a lot of new therapies coming out all the time, but I was really pleased to find a local therapist who has set up a clinic in one of the most ancient practises of Tui Na. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is divided into three components, acupuncture, herbs and Tui Na, to make it a very comprehensive health-care system which has been practised for over 2000 years.
The most well-known segment of the three is acupuncture, which is now largely mainstream. Another element is the use of Chinese herbs, which of late has undergone some rigorous rulings from EU legislation to tighten regulations on the range of herbs deemed safe for use.
The third aspect - and one which I have never experienced, despite being a TCM practitioner (I know the theory but had never had a treatment) - is Tui Na.
Described as a complex and highly therapeutic massage, it encompasses a normal Swedish-type massage and includes the application of very detailed finger pressure onto specific acupuncture points depending on the condition being treated.
Additionally, the therapist uses a lot of joint rotation, mobilising and light traction. You are definitely not just lying there, wallowing - it is interactive.
The therapist I saw, Connie Mercer a very pleasant Texan lady, who has lived in this country long enough to raise a family, is extremely knowledgeable and well trained in her discipline. She is an acupuncturist and a Master Tui Na Practitioner.
A treatment from her works not just with the physical pain you are dealing with - in my case, a shoulder issue - but also with any underlying cause which may be triggering the problem.
It was a really interesting treatment for me as Connie explained all the acupuncture points she was stimulating along the way, which meant I could track in my head what I was doing to cause the pain in my shoulder.
There are about 100 acupuncture points that we would standardly use in regular practise, each one of those points has very specific effects on the body.
For example, two of the main shoulder points are on small intestine and large intestine meridians, so shoulder pain can have a link to a digestive problem. The emotions associated are usually connected to worry and not letting go of issues; I could see why my shoulder was sore.
That is one of the great benefits of complementary health - looking at the person as a physical, chemical and emotional being. Tui Na makes use of various hand techniques in combination with acupuncture and other manipulation techniques. Many of the techniques used resemble that of a western massage like gliding, kneading, vibration, tapping, friction, pulling, rolling, pressing and shaking.
In Tui Na, the muscles and tendons are massaged with the help of hands, and an acupressure technique is applied to directly affect the flow of Qi at different acupressure points of the body, thus facilitating the healing process. It removes the blockages and keeps the energy moving through the meridians as well as the muscles.
A typical session of Tui Na massage may vary from 30 minutes to an hour. The session timings depend on the patient's needs and condition.
The best part of the therapy is that it relaxes as well as energises the person.
Tui Na was designed by the Chinese to focus on a specific problem, whether it is an acute or a chronic pain associated with the joints, muscles or a skeletal system, including reducing the pain in neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, highs, legs and ankle disorders.
It is believed to be very effective therapy for arthritis, pain, sciatica and muscle spasms and is said to alleviate stress related disorders like insomnia, constipation, headaches and other disorders related to digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems.
The greatest advantage of Tui Na is that it focuses on maintaining overall balance with both physical and mental health. Anyone who wants to avoid the side effects of drugs or a chemical-based treatment can adopt this effective massage technique to alleviate their pain.
Connie often inserts needles into the patient as well as using the hands-on therapies to provide a very comprehensive and deep treatment tailored to the person's individual requirements.
I must say, my shoulder feels good - and I slept like a baby last night.
Connie is based in Bangor and is one of the few acupuncturists around that I'm aware of who also specialises in Tui Na.
For further information, check out Acupunctureconniemercerni.com, email connie.mercer@btinternet.com or call 07813 190 384 for an appointment.
r.armstrong@irishnews.com