MassageTherapy.ie

The practice of Chinese Medical Acupressure Massage or Tuina as it is called uses a series of manual clinical techniques which are used to prevent and treat illness and are based on the principles of Chinese Traditional Medicine. These same principles govern the practices of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbalism and Qi Gong Therapy.
When attending for Chinese Medical Acupressure, the Therapist is careful to take time with the client and conducts a detailed and specific consultation. This consultation will point the Therapist towards a diagnosis and from there a specific individualised treatment will be administered.
The treatment takes the form of massage techniques and the use of pressure from thumbs, fingers or elbows on specific Acu-points, those same points used in Acupuncture. The manipulation of these points enables the body to come closer to what we call homeostasis or balance.
The philosophy of Chinese Traditional Medicine is a truly fascinating one which seems so complex yet so simple at the same time. Once you understand the principles of Chinese Traditional Medicine, it all suddenly makes sense. Chinese Traditional Medicine Practitioners work from the belief that everything including the human being is made up of “Qi” or energy as we know it. This Qi flows though the body along channels called meridians and gives power to the body; it is the energy source that keeps us alive. Disease and illness comes about due to this Qi or energy slowing down or blocking within the meridians of the body. Chinese Medical Acupressure Massage works to balance the flow of Qi through the body and to unblock any stagnant or blocked Qi.
The Yin and Yang Theory is also applied to Chinese Medical Acupressure Massage. The Yin and Yang Theory is part of that complex yet so simple philosophy I mentioned. To keep it brief and not to complicate things, I will give you a quick synopsis of what Yin and Yang Theory is all about.
1.Yin and Yang are opposites, e.g. Yin is cold and Yang is hot, Yin is wet and Yang is dry.
2.Yin and Yang are interdependent, there cannot be one without the other, e.g. there cannot be cold without heat, wet would not exist if there was no dry.
3.Yin and Yang share mutual consumption, one can consume the other and weaken it, e.g. something can be so cold it takes over and the heat diminishes. One can weaken and so the other one prevails, e.g. the cold gets less cold and so the hot is stronger.
4. Yin and yang are inter-transferable, Yin can transform into Yang and vice versa, e.g. if water is Yin, when it is boiled, it is Yang or if water is Yin when you relate it to steam it is Yang.

Chinese Medical Acupressure incorporates this theory into their belief system, giving elements of the being Yin or Yang status. For a person to be wholly healthy, Yin and Yang must be equal within the body, there must be equal cold and heat, equal moisture and dryness. When one is out of sync from either Yin or Yang becoming too strong or too weak, illness and disease takes place.

Chinese Medical Acupressure Massage or “Tuina” strives towards keeping the Qi running smoothly through the meridians of the body and ensuring that everything is in equal proportion to each other, there is equal Yin and Yang. When this happens, balance is restored.

There are so many other elements involved with Chinese Medical Acupressure, too much to include here, but if you have an interest there are many books out there and the website
http://www.active-health.org/
is a wonderfully informative one for anyone wishing to learn more.

Chinese Medical Acupressure Massage is used for balance of energy and emotions, for pain relief and muscle tension and for the treatment of many common conditions. Some of the conditions treated are Fatigue, Insomnia, PMS, Menopausal problems, Stress, Depression, Kidney infections, Respiratory disorders, Sinusitis, Headaches, Anxiety and Digestive disorders.
For treatment of certain conditions a series of treatments is usually preferred as it takes time for the body to come back to where it should be, to become balanced again. However Chinese Medical Acupressure can be used for relaxation and can actually be a marvellous treat if received only once.

If you have any questions regarding this wonderful Therapy please email me on
niamh@holos.ie

Hope you enjoyed the read,
Niamh Hogan
Holistic and Relaxation Therapist
Holos health and wellbeing
First floor, The Plaza, Pearse St. Gorey, Co. Wexford
053 948 9591/086 318 3369
www.holos.ie (soon to be up and running)
www.holoshealth.ning.com (this is a Holos networking site which anyone who wishes to embrace a positive world can join)