Many people think all acupuncture is the same but actually, Japanese style is quite different from Chinese or Korean styles. In particular, perhaps the defining characteristic of Japanese style acupuncture lies in the art of needling.

There are many styles of needling, even within the framework of Japanese acupuncture. In general, Japanese style refers to thinner needles and lighter stimulation. Over the centuries, Japanese practitioners have learned that a very responsive level of Qi energy lies on, or just beneath the skin surface. As a result, we believe that it’s not necessary to needle deeply or to generate strong stimulation in order to achieve results. And, moreover, strong stimulation can be draining and contra-indicated for many patients.

My acupuncture teacher, Dr. Shudo Denmei, developed a particular needling technique which he calls “super-superficial insertion”, or SSI for short. I consider SSI needling a major breakthrough in the art of acupuncture. It is so effective, quick and completely painless, I don’t feel I’m exaggerating when I say that it’s revolutionary.

In SSI needling, the needle is set just on the skin surface. The needle is rotated very fast in ¼ turns…perhaps as many as 400 rotations per minute. Within a few seconds of applying this technique, the practitioner will feel a definite Qi sensation in the fingers. This sensation is what the classical acupuncture texts refer to as “the arrival of Qi” and indicates that the body’s Qi energy has arrived and accumulated at the point. Once the Qi has arrived, the practitioner can move on to the next. In this way, 10 or more points can be effectively needled in about10 minutes.

SSI needling technique is excellent for chronic pain, fatigue, depression, digestive disorders and for local pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints. This style of treatment is also effective for a wide range of emotional and psychological disorders. People who are sensitive, elderly or small children can all benefit from this style of needling since it is painless and not draining.

If you’ve had acupuncture but didn’t like the needle sensation, you should try acupuncture from a Japanese practitioner who uses this style of needling.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805

As an acupuncture and shiatsu practitioner in Portland, one question I am frequently asked is, “How does Japanese acupuncture differ from Chinese style?” The short answer is that they both share the same theoretical basis but they differ in their technique and application. The long answer could fill several volumes. But here are a few of the more basic differences.

In Japanese style acupuncture, we believe that the body’s most responsive “Qi” lies on, or just beneath, the skin surface. From this perspective, it is unnecessary to needle deeply or to produce a strong needle sensation. Also, in Japanese acupuncture thinner needles and fewer needles are used in a typical treatment. In short, Japanese style follows the premise that “less is more”. It is only necessary to offer a gentle reminder and the body’s own healing abilities will do the rest.

Another difference between Japanese and Chinese acupuncture involves the use of several other modalities such as moxibustion, shiatsu (acupressure massage), cupping, intradermal needles and ear seeds. While traditional Chinese acupuncture may include these modalities, they typically do not hold the same importance in day-to-day practice as they do in Japanese style treatment. In Japan, for instance, it’s commonly held that moxibustion and shiatsu share a synergistic relationship with acupuncture. Typically, one or both are included, along with acupuncture, in almost every treatment.

Another unique feature of Japanese style is the tradition of treating both the front and the back side of the body in the same treatment. In Japan, it is widely considered that both the yin and the yang sides of the body should be addressed in a complete treatment.

In Japanese style acupuncture, we apply “direct” moxibustion, by means of small “rice grain” size cones of mugwart (Artemisia Vulgaris). Traditionally, these small cones are burned directly on the skin and the heat is controlled with a bamboo tube. In Chinese style acupuncture, moxibustion is not as common and when it is used, it is applied as “indirect” moxibustion, by means of a moxa stick which is lit and held close to the skin.

Another modality which is very popular in Japanese style is the use of intradermal needles. These are small (almost microscopic) sterile needles which are inserted horozontally about 0.5mm – 1.0mm beneath the skin. A piece of tape is then placed over the needle and it is worn continuously for 2 or 3 days. Likewise, ear seeds are small grains, about 0.5mm in diameter, which are taped on specific acupuncture points in the ear in order to gently stimulate the points for a day or two.

These are just a few of the more basic differences between Chinese and Japanese acupuncture. If you are seeking a therapy in order to stimulate the body’s own healing potential, without harmful side effects, both styles are excellent. To learn more about Japanese style acupuncture and shiatsu in Portland, please visit my main web site, Japanese Acupuncture and Shiatsu.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805

In Japan, it’s generally accepted that acupuncture and shiatsu share a synergistic relationship and the two are often combined in the same treatment. But in the west, shiatsu is relatively unknown and most people associate it with massage. Actually, shiatsu is a complete system of bodywork, based on the ancient principles of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Sometime around 1000 A.D., the Chinese visited Japan and brought their medicine, including the practice of acupuncture. At that time, the traditional Japanese Anma massage was already well established as a safe and effective method of bodywork. Over the course of time, it was natural that these two systems would evolve together into a completely new form of therapy. The result of this meeting was shiatsu, which literally means, “finger pressure”.

Shiatsu consists of rhythmic, single point pressure applied with the hands and fingers, along the traditional “Qi” energy meridians of the body. Shiatsu is simple, safe, non-invasive and at the same time, very helpful in the treatment of many common disorders of our modern society.

Based on research in Japan, it has been documented that shiatsu helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system and improve the function of the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymph nodes, endocrine glands and internal organs. In addition, it has been shown that shiatsu assists the body in eliminating toxins and metabolic waste.

Our nervous system is designed to shift back and forth between sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, several times a day. Problems arise when we become stuck in one function for too long. In our modern society, the overwhelming tendency is to become stuck in the sympathetic function. Over time, this chronic over stimulation of the sympathetic nerves can lead to problems such as insomnia, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, muscular pain and stiffness, nausea, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastro-intestinal disorders. Because of its profound calming effect on the sympathetic nerves, shiatsu is particularly helpful in treating these kinds of disorders.

Shiatsu also has a profound cleansing effect, helping to flush toxins from the body. The deep pressure, applied along the trunk and limbs helps to loosen accumulated toxins and move them into the proper channels to be neutralized and eliminated.

In most of Asia, it’s widely recognized that the body, much like a car, needs routine maintenance for optimum health and longevity. The effects of daily wear, accumulated toxins and especially stress, weaken all the systems of the body and accelerate the aging process. Shiatsu helps to reverse this process by relaxing the peripheral nerves and muscles and helping the body release stress and accumulated toxins. After a treatment, we feel lightness in the limbs, renewed energy, and an overall sense of well-being. In addition, most people experience improved digestion and deeper sleep. This is why I recommend that my clients receive shiatsu on a regular basis.

Because the strong Japanese influence in Portland, we have access to authentic shiatsu combined with Japanese style acupuncture. And there are some excellent practitioners who offer shiatsu on a stand alone basis. If you like bodywork but have never experienced authentic shiatsu, you are in for a treat.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805

Acupuncture in Portland offers a wide range of treatment applications. Japanese acupuncture to curb physical cravings is just one of many applications that are commonly used in my clinic.

While acupuncture itself is over 2,000 years old, the use of acupuncture to reduce physical cravings is a fairly recent development. In the early 1970′s, Dr. H. L. Wen, a neurosurgeon in Hong Kong, was studying the effects of acupuncture on post surgical pain. Coincidentally, he found that stimulation of certain points on the ear dramatically relieved withdrawal symptoms in one of his patients who was a long-term heroin user.

After learning about Dr. Wen’s discovery, the Lincoln Center in the South Bronx and the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic in San Francisco began using acupuncture as part of their standard treatment for addiction. Following the success of these two treatment facilities, the technique was further developed and eventually became known as the “5 Needle Protocol”, referring to the 5 main points used in the ear. In 1985, Michael O. Smith, M.D. founded the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) in order to promoted the use of this protocol as a cost effective treatment for drug and alcohol users.

More recently, acupuncturists in clinical settings have been using the same protocol to treat a wider variety of addictive behaviors. Whether the addiction is of a physical or so called psychological nature, there are certain common behavioral and biological mechanisms at work. For patients who are otherwise healthy but want to stop smoking or lose weight, the 5 Needle Protocol works equally well to stop the cravings and reduce the symptoms of withdrawal.

Exactly how acupuncture works to reduce cravings is still under study. But it appears that stimulation of certain points in the ear has a direct influence on the brain to calm the nervous system and break the neuro-biological connections between the substance and the behavior. The result is like pushing the re-start button on a computer. The person gets a break from the constant craving and experiences greater freedom to reestablish a new behavior pattern.

In the 5 Needle Protocol, the 5 basic points are used with other key points to direct the emphasis of the treatment. For example, for appetite control or food cravings, there is a special point that dramatically stops the craving for oral sensation, which helps to make the treatment more profound and longer lasting. Likewise, for smoking cessation, there is a special point that reduces craving for sensation in the lungs and nasal cavity.

In clinical practice, I have seen the 5 Needle Protocol work on hundreds of patients. From my experience, the key to dealing with an addiction, or any negative habit pattern, is to use two or three supporting therapies simultaneously. To stop smoking, I suggest a gradual reduction method combined with acupuncture and licorice root, both of which help reduce the cravings. Likewise, most weight loss cases respond very well to a course of acupuncture combined with appropriate exercise and a proven, gradual weight loss program such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.

Acupuncture for addiction, is not a magic bullet. Several follow up treatments may be required during the withdrawal period. And it is not a substitute for the desire and focus needed to change a well-established habit pattern. Nevertheless, over the course of several months, acupuncture can provide the extra support people often need to make important and life saving changes in their lives. If you have a serious addiction or simply want to curb your appetite or stop smoking, acupuncture can reduce the cravings and provide an important support to your new goals.

Precautionary Note
Licorice root can cause fluid retention and elevated blood pressure. The deglycyrrhizinated form of licorice will usually not cause these problems. In case of edema or high blood pressure or where estrogen is contraindicated, you should consult with your health care provider before using licorice.

Please visit my main site Japanese Acupuncture and Shiatsu for more information about acupuncture and shiatsu in Portland, Oregon.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have questions about acupuncture and shiatsu, or if you have a specific health concern, please contact me at:

Bart Walton, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Portland, Oregon
503/939-5805