About Chinese Therapeutic Massage

At Redbird Nest Acupuncture, we incorporate these manual therapies into your acupuncture session as needed based on your condition and time-permitting; and at no additional fee.

Tui Na: a therapeutic massage modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses techniques of pushing, kneading, rolling, shaking, and stretching to promote circulation of the body’s energy (Qi) and blood, to alleviate pain and restore function of muscles, joints, and tendons.

Cupping:  a therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses traditionally bamboo or glass cups and a fire element to create suction on the skin and underlying muscles and promote circulation of the body’s innate energy (Qi) and blood; often used to loosen muscles and connective tissues and promote healing of musculoskeletal conditions.

Gua Sha: a therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses a smooth edged tool (traditionally jade or quartz; sometimes a ceramic spoon) to scrape areas of the body to promote Qi and blood circulation for loosening tight muscles, decreasing inflammation and providing pain relief. It may also be used on facial muscles to tone the skin, often with cosmetic acupuncture.

PAIN CONDITIONS WE COMMONLY TREAT (with Acupuncture & Chinese Manual Therapeutics):

  • headaches
  • migraines
  • neck pain
  • shoulder pain
  • low back pain
  • knee pain
  • foot pain
  • sprained ankle
  • tennis elbow
  • sports injuries
  • TMJ pain
  • carpal tunnel pain
  • stomach pain
  • abdominal pain
  • osteoarthritis 
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • fibromyalgia
  • sciatica

NOTE: Redbird Nest Acupuncture provides “Bodywork-Only” sessions for those patients who would like to experience the benefits of these therapeutic bodywork modalities without acupuncture. You can book a CTG (Cupping-Tui Na-Gua Sha) session and select length of time desired. 

Tui Na/Chinese Massage

Focuses on specific areas of pain or tension to alleviate pain, promote circulation, and increase mobility; often combined with stretches to improve range of motion to joints.

Fire Cupping

Traditional Fire Cupping can be stationary (left on specific areas) or moved in a gliding motion, easily adjusting to your comfort. Often used to treat neck, upper back, midback, lumbar and sciatica.

Gua Sha

The gua sha tools are used generally on the neck, upperback, and sometimes facial muscles, targeted to your areas of tension or pain and adjusted to your comfort level. Often used for TMJ, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel, and chronic neck or back pain. 

schedule your session