Besides medicinal therapy, acupuncture, dietetics, and qi gong, tui na therapy is one of the five basic treatment modalities in TCM. Tui na an mo refers to traditional manual therapy. The term originated from a figurative description of the main treatment techniques:

• tui = push
  
• na = grasp
  
• an = press
  
• mo = stroke

In China, either tui na or an mo or both terms are used, depending on the region. In most Western countries, the term tui na has taken hold.

Tui na therapy includes massage of the musculature, chiropractic manipulation, active and passive joint mobilization, as well as acupressure along the channels and their points.

Acupuncture and tui na belong to the area of wai ke (external medicine), in contrast to medicinal therapy, which belongs to nei ke (internal medicine). Applications for tui na therapy are certainly to be found in orthopedics and traumatology. In this context, we speak of wai tui na (external tui na). But to a certain extent, tui na, just like acupuncture, can also be applied in internal disorders, in which case it is called nei tui na (internal tui na).

Fertility treatment falls into the area of nei tui na. After making a classical diagnosis, the therapist formulates a treatment principle accordingly and chooses an appropriate prescription. In certain disease cases, treatment should also include Chinese medicinals or moxibustion. Acupuncture can be combined with tui na therapy as well for good results.

Tui na therapy has a range of effects that can be useful in fertility treatment:

• Moving. Tui na is an active manual therapy. Constant work on the patient can achieve a good moving result. This is effective in qi and blood stagnation, but also in phlegm conditions. Wherever the flow of qi and blood is impaired, it can mobilize. Movement brings about:
  
  
  
  • mobilization of qi and blood
    
  • removal of swellings and blood stagnations.
  
  
• Warming. A warming effect can be achieved by means of various rubbing and kneading techniques. This is used in all cases of attack by external pathogens. In addition, it has a favorable influence on complaints like “cold stagnating in the lower body” or “kidney yang vacuity.” Warmth brings about:
  
  
  
  • expulsion of external pathogenic energies
    
  • influence on the viscera and bowels.
  
  
• Harmonizing. Stroking and massaging techniques in particular have a harmonizing effect on the organism as a whole. Mental imbalances can be evened out. Likewise, patients with “liver qi stagnation” can experience relaxation and grounding from the massage. Harmonization brings about:
  
  
  
  • equilibration of the organism.
  
  
• Supplementing. Gentle stimulation can have an arousing effect. Here, we should especially consider syndromes with qi and blood vacuity. Techniques that concentrate energetically can be applied locally or to specific regions. Supplementing brings about:
  
  
  
  • influence on the viscera and bowels
    
  • mobilization of qi and blood.

Good concepts for treating the constitution are also at the disposal of tui na therapy. In the following paragraphs, we introduce three procedures that can be deployed in the treatment of infertility.

They concern:

• kidney yang vacuity
  
• spleen qi and blood vacuity
  
• liver qi stagnation

• back problems
  
• knee problems
  
• weak legs and lower back
  
• cold kidney region
  
• cold legs
  
• cold feet
  
• weak erections
  
• aversion to sex
  
• weak muscles and tendons in the lumbar area
  
• soft stool
  
• light-colored urine
  
• pale tongue
  
• deep slow pulse

Warm yang and strengthen the kidneys.

• CV-4, CV-6, KI-3, KI-7
  
• BL-23, BL-52, GV-4, ba liao

• paleness
  
• palpitations
  
• insomnia
  
• listlessness
  
• no desire to talk
  
• shortness of breath
  
• need to lie down
  
• feeling of weakness
  
• fatigue and weariness
  
• poor appetite
  
• scant menstrual period
  
• pale lips and tongue
  
• weak thin pulse

Supplement qi and nourish blood.

• CV-12, ST-36, SP-3, SP-6
  
• BL-13, BL-15, BL-43, BL-20, BL-21, BL-23, GV-4

Symptoms

• increased eye pressure
  
• grinding the teeth
  
• tense chewing muscles
  
• neck and shoulder tension
  
• upper abdominal pain
  
• heart palpitations
  
• stomach stress
  
• digestive disorders
  
• menstrual complaints
  
• general tension
  
• irascibility
  
• quickly getting annoyed
  
• tense pulses

Harmonize liver qi.

GB-34, LR-3, LR-13, LR-14, TB-6, PC-6, BL-18, GB-21, GB-30

• Place hands on the patient’s back, calm the patient, make contact.