Abstract: Tuina is a traditional Chinese treatment for sensory disturbances caused by peripheral nerve injury and related diseases. Our previous studies showed that tuina regulates relevant regions and indices of the spinal dorsal horn using the Dian, Bo, and Rou method in Yinmen (BL37), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Weizhong (BL40). Treatment prevents muscle atrophy, protects spinal cord neurons, and promotes sciatic nerve repair. Te mechanisms of action of tuina for treating peripheral nerve injury remain poorly understood. Tis study established rat models of sciatic nerve injury using the crushing method. Rats received Chinese tuina in accordance with the principle of “Tree Methods and Tree Points,” once daily for 20 days. Tuina intervention reduced paw withdrawal latency and improved wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle, as well as promoting morphological recovery of sciatic nerve fbers, Schwann cells, and axons. Te protein expression levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β also decreased. Tese fndings indicate that “Tree Methods and Tree Points” promoted morphological recovery and improved behavior of rats with peripheral nerve injury

Key words: nerve regeneration, tuina, Tree Methods and Tree Points, phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, sciatic nerve injury, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, dorsal horn of the spinal cord, neural regeneration