Traditional Chinese & Japanese Medicine is an ancient medical system that takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns of nature and applies them to the human body. It is not “New Age,” nor is it a patchwork of different healing modalities. Traditional Chinese & Japanese Medicine is a complete medical system that has been practiced for more than two thousand years.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, Guasha, fire cupping, hot stone therapy, auricular medicine, reflexology, massage (Tui Na), exercise (Qi Gong), and dietary therapy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that an ailment occurs when there is an imbalance in the “Qi”, or universal energy that flows through the body. This energy is said to flow through the body along twelve energy lines or “meridians”. By stimulating the acupressure points along these meridians, an imbalance in this energy field can be corrected, thereby leading to a restoration of good health.
At the heart of TCM is the belief that the root cause of illnesses, not their symptoms, must be treated. In modern-day terms, TCM is holistic in its approach; it views every aspect of a person’s body, mind, spirit, and emotions as part of one complete circle rather than loosely connected pieces to be treated individually.
TCM’s view of the body places little emphasis on anatomical structures, but is mainly concerned with the identification of functional entities (which regulate digestion, breathing, aging etc.). While health is perceived as harmonious interaction of these entities and the outside world, disease is interpreted as a disharmony in interaction. TCM diagnosis consists in tracing symptoms to an underlying disharmony pattern, mainly by palpating the pulse and inspecting the tongue.
Traditional Japanese Medicine
Japanese Acupuncture, in its classical form, is a characteristic component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Like its Chinese counterparts, Japanese acupuncture has the ability to open energy channels within the body relieving tension and curing aliments as well as restoring and maintaining overall health.
Historically in Japan, acupuncture was a profession for the blind. Even today, a significant percentage of acupuncturists in Japan are blind. While in China acupuncture is closely aligned with herbal medicine, acupuncture in Japan rely more on the use of touch. Japanese acupuncturists palpate the area of the body before needling as they have the awareness and palpation ability to accurately locate the exact “acupoint”. Acupuncturists of the Japanese school put a great deal of weight upon finding these precise locations which explains their ability to produce effective results without using deep needling or strong stimulation. The best use of acupuncture points only become possible when knowledge of the points is matched by experience and sensitivity in the fingertips.
Acupuncture needling techniques in Japan generally involve thinner needles, shallower needle insertion and less strong stimulation and is often gentler, subtler and less painful than other techniques used in China. Often one is not even aware the needles have been inserted.
At the heart of traditional medicine it is believed that disease is interpreted as a “disharmony” and that the root cause of illness, not their symptoms, must be treated. It views every aspect of a person’s body mind, spirit and emotions as part of one complete circle rather than loosely connecting pieces to be treated individually. Hence treating the whole body instead of its parts.
When physical or emotional stress occurs internally it also manifests itself externally. Acupuncture and shiatsu affects the body’s internal condition. Alternative medicine uses acupuncture to affect the body’s internal condition by the manipulation of the needles.
Acupuncture and shaitsu stimulates the body to produce its own pain-relieving chemicals called “endorphins”. The autonomic nervous systems is responsible for coordinating and conducting all of the body’s involuntary functions. Acupuncture and shaitsu “turn on” the conserving, healing function of the autonomic nervous system while overriding the fight-or-flight function which , when overactive, puts a great deal of stress on the body and mind.
Some of the conditions that can be treated through Japanese Acupuncture are things such as stress, fatigue, sleep disorders, depression, headaches, body aches, pain, sprains and strains, gastric issues, gynecological issues including infertility…. and the list goes on.
