The Healing Art of Shiatsu
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
Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncture Portland, bodywork, Chinese medicine, Japanese acupuncture, portland, Qi, Shiatsu, Sympathetic nerves