Qiological Podcast 451 Zang Fu Tuina and the Microbiome • Henry Tarazona
Mar 10, 2026
Henry Tarazona, a Chinese medicine practitioner and tuina teacher who studied and researched in China, shares his path into tuina and abdominal work. He discusses abdominal pressing techniques that target circulation and the vagus nerve. He explores gut–brain connections, microbiome-friendly diet advice, and traditional training methods focused on memory and repetition.
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Sciatica Cure Sparked a Tuina Career
- Henry developed severe sciatica in his fourth year and three Tuina sessions at his school's Tuina department eliminated the pain when injections had failed.
- That recovery convinced him to specialize in Tuina and orthopedics because hands-on treatment produced durable results.
Abdominal Tuina Targets Aorta And Vagus
- Tianjin abdominal Tuina presses the abdomen over the aorta and vagus nerve to modulate circulation and gut–brain signaling.
- Pressing increases blood movement and moves gut-produced chemicals to the brain while stimulating vagal pathways.
Chong Mai Maps To Aorta And Vagus In Gut–Brain Frame
- Henry maps TCM concepts to anatomy: the Chong Mai aligns with the abdominal aorta while liver overacting on spleen links to vagal-mediated gut–brain dysregulation.
- This framing lets TCM abdominal work be understood as modulating circulation and vagal tone.
