Tuina, a form of Chinese medical massage, has been in practice for a very long time. Historians have identified its having been practiced as far back as 3,000 years ago. There have been oracle bones found at an archeological dig site that made reference to Bi, a female shaman, who was using massage to heal people of various infirmities. Around 600 B.C. Tuina was added to the Imperial Medical College. It was decided that it should be set up as its own department for further development and to teach it to medical providers.

Today Tuina is still taught in medical schools around China as well as at various clinics and other places throughout the country. Even though some of the more minor details may change from one place to another the basics that are taught continue to be the same. Most schools of Tuina teach the many different manipulations and how they are used; they also teach the various pressure points and effects may be achieved through their manipulation, and the theory of Yin and Yang as well as the five elements and channeling theory.

Tuina is an encompassing system of massage that is very useful for both passive and active joint restoration. When attending a school specializing in Tuina there will be several different schools of massage taught. These may be in any number of combinations depending on the school itself. The schools of massage being taught include reflexology, tendon manipulation, deep tissue manipulation, moxibustion, and acupressure as well as many others.

Another aspect of learning Tuina in China includes learning various non-massage methods of treatment including the use of liniments, salves, poultices and compresses that are meant to work alongside the use of the Tuina massage techniques. Traveling to China to learn Tuina can be a very rewarding experience for anyone interested in massage.top bar.