Tuinalogy is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the study of a Chinese technique that helps to prevent and treat diseases manually, utilizing the hands of the physician. The word Tui means " pushing" and Na means "holding". During ancient times, it was found that by palpating, pressing or patting affected body parts, one could effectively relieve pain and alleviate symptoms. Tuina helps to restore the body to a state of harmony and balance. It helps to lubricate joints, restore and treat injured soft tissue, increase energy and circulation and in traditional chinese medicine terms, restore the balance between yin and yang. It includes such techniques as pushing, pulling, rubbing, and kneading. Tuina can be done as a separate treatment component or is frequently combined with acupuncture and other traditional chinese medical therapies to enhance their effectiveness.