Acupressure and Massage Techniques (Tui-na)
In addition to acupuncture, acupressure and massage techniques are often used to enhance the treatment process. In China, such techniques are called tui-na (too – e- na).
The technical difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that acupuncture involves breaking the surface of the skin with needles while acupressure involves applying pressure to points with the fingers.
In practice, the main difference between acupuncture and acupressure/massage techniques is that acupuncture tends to have a delayed effect but last longer than acupressure/massage. People often feel better right after acupressure/massage but the effect tends to be temporary and stubborn problems often return. Combining these two techniques offers the best of both worlds – the immediate but temporary relief of acupressure/massage and the delayed but deeper help of acupuncture.
For those who do not want acupuncture used on them, we can treat most problems successfully with acupressure/massage alone. Children under 13 years of age are usually treated with acupressure/massage instead of acupuncture although acupuncture can be used even in infants.