Not relaxation — transformation. Therapeutic bodywork guided by the same diagnostic intelligence that drives all of Chinese medicine.
Tui Na (pronounced "tway na") translates literally as "push-grasp" — the two fundamental hand movements that define this ancient form of Chinese therapeutic bodywork. Developed alongside acupuncture and herbal medicine within the broader framework of traditional Chinese medicine, Tui Na is one of the oldest systematised manual therapies in the world, with textual references dating back over two thousand years to the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine).
Critically, Tui Na is not relaxation massage. It is not performed to create a pleasant spa experience — though its effects can certainly feel profoundly relieving. Tui Na is a clinical intervention, directed by TCM diagnosis, targeting specific meridian pathways, acupuncture points, and anatomical structures with therapeutic intention. Before a single technique is applied, Dr Christine Shen will have assessed your tongue, pulse, symptom pattern, and constitutional type — and the bodywork that follows is a direct expression of that diagnosis.
In Chinese medicine hospital outpatient departments, Tui Na practitioners work alongside acupuncturists and herbal medicine doctors as equivalent clinicians. Conditions that in Western medicine might be referred to physiotherapy, osteopathy, or sports medicine are routinely treated with Tui Na — often with outcomes that integrate the physical, energetic, and emotional dimensions of the presenting problem in a way that single-modality approaches cannot match.
Linear pushing strokes along meridian pathways using the thumb or palm heel. Moves Qi and Blood through the channel, clears obstruction, and activates specific acupoints.
Rhythmic grasping of muscle bellies between thumb and fingers. Excellent for releasing muscle spasm, dispersing stagnation, and stimulating deep tissue circulation.
The back of the hand rolls rhythmically across large muscle groups. Versatile and deeply effective for musculoskeletal conditions, generating both mechanical and thermal effects.
Sustained thumb or palm pressure applied to acupuncture points or areas of stagnation. Equivalent to acupressure — stimulating specific points without needles.
Circular kneading over specific points or areas. Regulates Qi, disperses stagnation, and is particularly useful for abdominal work and paediatric treatments.
Rapid oscillation of a limb after grasping the distal end. Relaxes joint capsules, releases meridian tension, and prepares joints for mobilisation work.
Acute and chronic lumbar pain, disc-related sciatica, and sacroiliac dysfunction respond well to the combination of meridian work, deep tissue manipulation, and gentle joint mobilisation that Tui Na offers. Treatment addresses both the local obstruction and the constitutional pattern underlying it.
Adhesive capsulitis and cervical tension are classical Tui Na indications. Joint mobilisation techniques, combined with meridian release and targeted acupoint stimulation, can restore shoulder range of motion that has been lost for months or years.
Abdominal Tui Na — specifically targeting the Stomach, Spleen, and Intestinal meridians through the abdomen — supports IBS, constipation, bloating, and digestive sluggishness. The combination of physical peristaltic stimulation and meridian regulation produces results that conventional massage cannot replicate.
Cervicogenic and tension headaches often respond dramatically to Tui Na on the neck, scalp, and shoulder-trapezius region, combined with acupoint stimulation at GB-20, BL-10, and Du-20. Even vascular migraines with a Liver Wind pattern can be addressed constitutionally through this approach.
Heart Shen disturbance and Liver Qi stagnation manifest as insomnia, restlessness, and an inability to switch off. Gentle Tui Na on the head, neck, and upper back, combined with stimulation of calming points, can shift the nervous system from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance.
Paediatric Tui Na is a specialised branch of the tradition — gentle techniques applied to children's hands, feet, and abdomen for conditions including colic, constipation, poor appetite, recurrent colds, and sleep disturbance. It is drug-free, safe, and children often respond rapidly.
See also: Acupuncture | Sports Injury Recovery
In clinical practice at Rainbow Medicine, Tui Na and acupuncture are frequently combined within a single session — the order depending on the presentation and the practitioner's judgement. For acute musculoskeletal conditions, Tui Na may be applied first to relax the tissue and improve local circulation before needles are placed; the acupuncture then works in softened, more receptive tissue. For constitutional or internal medicine conditions, acupuncture may come first, establishing the energetic framework that Tui Na then reinforces through physical manipulation.
This integration reflects the way Tui Na has historically been practised in Chinese medicine — not as a separate discipline but as one technique in a practitioner's full repertoire, drawn upon as the clinical picture demands. The result is a treatment that is simultaneously structural and energetic, physical and constitutional, immediate in its mechanical effects and enduring in its systemic impact.
Sessions are typically 60–90 minutes for combined Tui Na and acupuncture appointments. Wear comfortable, loose clothing as most Tui Na is performed clothed. Some oil work may be incorporated on exposed areas such as the neck and upper back, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Dr Christine Shen will discuss your preferences and any concerns at the outset of your appointment.
Tui Na at Rainbow Medicine brings together thousands of years of therapeutic bodywork wisdom with a modern integrative clinical approach. Whether your body needs structural release, energetic clearing, or gentle constitutional support — Dr Christine Shen sees patients at Lane Cove and Freshwater.
Book a ConsultationInitial $150 / 90 min | Follow-up $110 / 60 min | 0410 699 065
