Acupressure, Shiatsu and Tui Na are Asian forms of massage therapy. These treatments may be incorporated into treatments with acupuncture, cupping, e-stim and moxibustion.

Acupressure is a general term for the use of physical pressure by hand, elbow, or with the aid of various devices on different acupuncture points on the surface of the body.

Shiatsu, or “finger pressure,” is a style of massage therapy that originated in Japan in the early 1900’s. Its roots go back much further however, and shiatsu uses meridian systems in a similar way to acupuncture and acupressure. One fundamental principle of shiatsu is “diagnosis and treatment together” meaning that the practitioner uses information obtained from the body through his or her hands to detect imbalances and therefore treat these imbalances. Shiatsu has been shown to benefit the immune system, nervous system, circulatory system, bones and muscles.

Tui Na, also called “anmo” or Chinese massage has roots which date to 1700 BC. Tui na is a specialized branch of Chinese medicine, which uses a hands-on approach to access acupuncture and acupressure points. Various techniques are used to stimulate the movement of energy in both the meridians and muscles. It is an excellent modality to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.