In recent years, Chinese medicine has become more and more prominent in the US. As the problems with medication addictions, overuse, and side effects come to light, people look for alternative treatment options for their ailments. This is where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comes in. Practiced for over 2000 years, research continues to show that it has a fantastic place in Western medicine as a safe, non-invasive, and natural treatment option.
Our expert physician, Chisie Kinglesmith, provides her patients with different types of TCM. With the versatility of results obtained from a variety of different procedures, AcuHealth is able to help patients with chronic pain, migraines, skin problems, healing, blood disorders, overall wellbeing and much more.
Tui Na and Gua Sha are minimally invasive procedures commonly opted for at our practice. However, those who are not familiar with TCM tend to not know about them. So, let us explain to you what each of these entails and what benefits they can bring you.
Tui Na
Tui Na is a therapeutic massage, which involves acupressure. This means the physician applies pressure with her fingers, instead of needles, to specific areas of the body to stimulate acupoints. This treatment is used for the same reason as acupuncture, and according to the same principles – to harmonize the patient’s Qi and promote healing.
Qi, the body’s vital life force or energy, that flows incorrectly throughout the body is associated with blockages, such as poor blood circulation. Therefore, the main therapeutic goal of Tui Na, at our office in Melbourne, FL, is to remove these energy blockages.
Tui Na can relieve the symptoms of many musculoskeletal and emotional problems, such as insomnia, headaches, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and premenstrual syndrome. This treatment is usually prescribed to patients for whom acupuncture is inappropriate, such as children, however, it is safe to be used alongside acupuncture to magnify the results.
Techniques
Tui Na is a massage therapy that is customized to the patient’s needs. The idea of yin and yang (balance) is prominent throughout TCM, and it is also seen in Tui Na’s techniques. Some techniques are more yin, which is more gentle, passive and meditative. While the yang approach is more dynamic, active and physical.
The Acupuncture and Massage College explains that there are eight basic techniques used in tuina massage:
- palpating (mo)
- rejoining (jie)
- opposing (duan)
- lifting (ti)
- pressing (an)
- kneading (mo)
- pushing (tui)
- holding (na)
Other techniques include:
- Rolling – used for injuries such as sprains and strains
- One-finger technique – a one-finger stimulation of acupressure points
- Nei gung – full-body manipulation technique
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a natural therapy, which involves gently scraping your skin with a smooth massage tool, such as jade, or quartz. This holds the promise of improving circulation into the massaged area, and thus promoting healing. Gua Sha follows a simple procedure. First, our practitioner will apply massage oil to your skin, then use the smooth-edged tool to repeatedly massage your skin in a downward motion, and in slow long strokes.
This technique addresses stagnant energy (Qi) in the body, which is responsible for inflammation. Since inflammation is the underlying cause of many conditions causing chronic pain, breaking up the stagnant Qi reduces inflammation and promotes healing.
Generally, this treatment is performed on a patient’s back, buttocks, neck, arms, legs, or face. It is a safe, and painless practice.
Benefits of Gua Sha
Reducing inflammation and promoting healing can help improve the state of many ailments and conditions, including those that cause chronic pain – arthritis, muscle or joint pain. Due to these properties, Gua Sha has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of the following conditions. Although, more research is needed.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection, which causes liver inflammation, damage, and scarring. A case study published by the NCBI found that the investigated patient showed a decrease of the liver enzyme (ALT and AST) 48 hours after receiving Gua Sha. These results conclude that Gua Sha reduces the inflammatory markers of liver injury.
Tourettes Syndrome
Tourettes syndrome refers to involuntary movements, throat clearing, and vocal outbursts. A 2017 case study showed that a Gua Sha treatment along with other TCM techniques improved the patient’s symptoms by 70% after 35 weekly sessions.
Perimenopausal Syndrome
Perimenopause defines the period when women start getting closer to hitting menopause. During that time, women tend to suffer from insomnia, irregular periods, anxiety, fatigue, and hot flashes.
An investigation of the effects of Gua Sha studied 80 women with perimenopausal symptoms. It showed that the women who had the Gua Sha procedure experienced a greater reduction in symptoms compared to the control group, which received conventional therapy.
More about AcuHealth’s Tui Na and Gua Sha in Melbourne, FL
At AcuHealth we want to give you a pain-free life without a life-long prescription to potentially harmful medication. We believe that good healthcare focuses on reversing all aspects of the damage – physical, mental, and spiritual. Acu Health offers a wide range of services, including acupuncture, alternative pain management, Chinese medicine and more. You can be sure that our treatment options at AcuHealth are therapy you can rely on. Our physician will give you effective education and the treatment required for sustaining long-term well-being.
Ready to take your first step towards a healthier lifestyle and pain-free life? Contact us today!
- Visit us at Acuhealth Integrative Medicine (Inside the Health For Life Wellness Center), 402 N. Babcock, Suite 101, Melbourne, FL 32935
- Call us today: 321-422-2240
- Or, send us an email: info@acuhealthmedicine.com
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
