2 Year Diploma in Tui Na

Introduction

When studying Tui Na from scratch you will need to come in for two days per week for about three weeks out of four to complete all of the core modules on the first two years of the acupuncture course alongside the acupuncture students. Unless you have deep understanding of the TCM diagnostic process you will be unable to treat people successfully with Tui Na.

In the second year you will be able to add on an extra day each week to take the Tui Na Techniques and Tui Na Clinical modules.

CM – Chinese Medicine (CM)

These modules introduce the historical background and modern interpretations of the theoretical building blocks of Chinese Medicine – Yin yang, the Three Treasures, the Four Levels, the Five Elements, the Six Division Jing luo acupuncture channels, the Seven Emotions, the Eight Principles and the Zang fu Organ Network. You also spend a significant amount of time developing practical skills such as tongue and pulse diagnosis.

AES – Anatomical and Energetic Structures

These modules introduce you to the anatomical structures that make up the body and the pathways of Qi that animate them. Palpable surface anatomy (what you can feel when you touch the body) is taught in small groups under close supervision. Once you can identify anatomical landmarks, you will be guided in locating the acupuncture points. These are activity-based classes where you also develop your skills in needling and cupping from an early stage.

PPD – Personal and Practitioner Development

These modules focus on the relationship between the therapist and the patient. Time spent observing in the teaching clinic is interspersed with activity-based classes examining the therapeutic relationship. You also do practical work looking at how your personal Qi is cultivated and used through the medium of supervised exercises and bodywork. Developing and practicing an understanding of ‘Elemental rapport’ will give you the tools to be able to work with your patients at a much deeper level.

CMP – Chinese Medicine Practice

Building on the theoretical building blocks established in year one, CMP introduces the differentiation of TCM patterns of disharmony in relation to the disease categories of conventional medicine. Every lesson contains a guided clinical section where you practice how to treat the conditions you are studying.

APS – Acupoints and Practical Skills

This module develops the practical anatomy and point location started in year one. Whole afternoons in this module are given over to practical skills so that you are confident in performing a wide range of ancillary techniques before you progress to the clinic.

WMS – Western Medical Sciences

These modules look at conventional Western medicine both in terms of how the body works when it is healthy (physiology) and in sickness (pathology). An appropriate under-standing of Western medicine is necessary as this ensures safe practice and the ability to converse with a conventional medical practitioners and insurance companies.

PRP – Professional and Reflective Practice

This module encourages professional maturity by consolidating the understanding of the therapeutic relationship. You will be asked to explore your motivations more deeply through reflective practice. You also start taking real case histories and performing treatments on your classmates under close clinical supervision.

TNT – Tui Na Techniques

This unit will teach you the Tui Na manipulations and massage techniques, area routines, and practical skills such as cupping, Gua Sha and Moxibustion. Orthopaedic tests and external herbal formulae are also taught. This unit develops your physical strength, stamina, and sensitivity to internal Qi through the study and practice of Shaolin Neigong, as well as various other types of Qi Gong (focused breathing) including the Six Healing Sounds, which can be incorporated into therapeutic Tui Na practices.

TCL – Tui Na Clinic

This unit puts theory and practice together creatively to use a range of Tui Na techniques to look at complex disease patterns in Chinese medicine. It applies existing theoretical knowledge, reflective practice and practical skills acquired throughout the program in the context of supervised clinical practice with patients.