Most people who come to my acupuncture clinic in Portland, are expecting to be treated with needles. Most people don’t realize that there are several non-needle techniques, which are frequently used in Japanese acupuncture. In fact, a Japanese style acupuncturist will sometimes do a complete treatment without using a single needle.

One of the most common of these “non-needle” techniques is moxibustion, a form of heat therapy in which the dried herb Mugwort (artemisia vulgaris), is burned on, or near, the skin in order to stimulate and warm specific points and to trigger a number of healing reactions. Moxibustion is at least as old as acupuncture, with records of the practice dating back many centuries B.C. Although it may sound painful, moxibustion actually feels very comfortable for most patients and the therapeutic effects are significant.

Japanese scientists have found that stimulation from moxibustion, at specific points, can dramatically boost the body’s immunity and trigger other profound healing effects. In clinical practice, we find that moxibustion is effective for painful or stiff muscles and joints, arthritis and certain auto-immune disorders. In addition, I have found that moxibustion lifts the spirits and is very effective for many types of depression or fatigue.

Another important tool of the acupuncturist is cupping: the application of suction or vacuum cups to the surface of the body. Like moxibustion, cupping goes back thousands of years.  Cups are small glass bowls (1″ to 3″ in diameter) which are applied to the body with vacuum suction.  The vacuum is created either by means of heating the air inside the cup or by mechanical pump.  The suction from the cup causes the blood to gather at a particular site near the surface of the body, thus affecting circulation.

Nothing helps to relax stiff and tight muscles faster and more deeply than cupping. Also, cupping influences the function of the internal organs and is indicated for a wide array of digestive or gynecological problems which are caused by blood stagnation. For example, if a patient is suffering from congestion in the lungs or abdominal cramps, cupping will bring almost immediate relief.

Finally, shiatsu is perhaps the most common non-needle technique used my acupuncturists. Many people think shiatsu is a form of massage, but actually it’s quite different. 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.

So, for readers who might be attracted to acupuncture but are nervous about needles, moxibustion and cupping are some of the alternative methods that an acupuncturist might use. And who knows?  After you experience some of the benefits of these ancient techniques, you may want to try the needles.

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 a Japanese acupuncture and shiatsu practitioner in Portland, people often ask if acupuncture and shiatsu will help with this or that particular problem. The answer is usually “yes…but”. The “but” is that while acupuncture and shiatsu are excellent treatments for a wide range of specific health issues, they are also extremely beneficial for overall health maintenance.

Medical studies in Japan have shown that acupuncture and shiatsu help to balance the autonomic nervous system because they specifically calm the sympathetic nerves.  During acupuncture and shiatsu, the entire autonomic system relaxes, allowing the peripheral blood vessels to expand and nourish the body on a deep cellular level. At the same time, toxins are released and flushed from the cells throughout the body. This effect alone allows the body to release stress and make hundreds of corrections on a chemical and cellular level.

In this country, people understand the benefits of having their car serviced on a routine basis, even if there are no particular problems. It’s called routine maintenance. But what most people don’t understand is that the body too needs routine maintenance in order to reduce stress, eliminate toxins and correct imbalances in the circulation of qi energy and blood. And these benefits are cumulative with regular treatment.

So, yes, acupuncture and shiatsu are very effective for specific disorders such as headache, anxiety, depression, acute or chronic pain, insomnia, stomach or intestinal problems, fatigue and fibromyalgia, just to name a few. But in my opinion, the most important benefit of acupuncture and shiatsu is the overall relaxation and balancing of the autonomic nervous system. This is why I recommend regular acupuncture and shiatsu as part of everyone’s routine health care program.

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 is rapidly becoming a common alternative therapy for various physical disorders. But most people may not realize is that acupuncture has been used for centuries as a method to calm the spirit, balance the emotions.

According to one ancient Chinese medical text, there are three classes of acupuncture. The first and most basic class of pertains to earth and deals with the removal of painful symptoms. The second class pertains to humankind and deals with balancing the patient’s constitution and preventing future disease. The third and highest class pertains to heaven and deals with nourishing the individual’s destiny in order to prolong life in alignment with Divine Will.

The basic premise of Japanese acupuncture is that we are all born with a specific set of constitutional tendencies which include certain inherent weaknesses and strengths that manifest in all areas of life – the body, mind and personality. As physicians, our first job is to examine the patient and try to make a determination of his or her inherent weakness. We call this weakness the “sho” or the inherent pattern of imbalance. It may seem somewhat negative to just look for the weakness and ignore the strengths, but actually this makes perfect sense. In order to make a chain strong and lasting, we need to find and strengthen the weakest links. We don’t need to worry about the strong ones. Likewise, in dealing with the health of the person, if we can identify and strengthen the person’s weakest energy meridian, a whole array of symptoms will automatically be resolved and many future diseases will be avoided.

We find the “sho”, or pattern of imbalance, not so much by listening to the complaints of the patient but by listening to the body. Our tools for listening are our senses. We touch the abdomen, listen to the quality of the voice, feel the texture, moisture and temperature of the skin, look at the colors of the skin, nails and hair, palpate the pulses and even smell the skin. From these examinations, we can determine the underlying imbalance and proceed to treat it.

Often, the pattern of imbalance is hidden or complicated by overlying imbalances which obscure the core issue. This is where the experienced physician can look through all the confusing signs and symptoms and zero in on the underlying pattern of imbalance. And then, it is a simple procedure to strengthen the particular meridian that is weak and disperse the excess energy in any meridian that might be too strong. This is called the root treatment. A skilled physician will make the diagnosis and perform the root treatment in about 10 minutes.

After balancing the meridians, we are then ready to listen more closely to the patient’s complaints. This is the second phase of the treatment in which we address the branch of the imbalance, or the patient’s symptoms. If the patient is experiencing fatigue, depression, insomnia, or any other symptoms of spiritual imbalance, there are specific techniques to remove the symptoms quickly. Sometimes, several treatments are needed. But for the most part, these methods will give the patient some relief until the root treatments can begin to take effect. Both the root and the branch treatment are important in order to maximize the overall effect of the treatment.

Having strengthened the person at his or her foundation, the body and mind will respond, the spirit will again shine and destiny will be fulfilled.

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 acupuncturist in Portland, I am often asked what kinds of disorders respond well to Japanese acupuncture and shiatsu. I am usually forced to answer this question in a few words, which leaves many important points unaddressed. So I’d like to take this opportunity to answer this question more thoroughly and explain some of the finer points of the benefits of acupuncture.

As in most cities, there are many styles of acupuncture in Portland. I practice Japanese acupuncture and shiatsu. (More information about this particular style of acupuncture is discussed on other articles on this blog.)All styles of acupuncture are based on the classical Chinese theory that the body and spirit are made up of different forms of Life-energy, or “qi”, combined with the five elements. This “qi” energy nourishes the body and maintains proper health through a complex network of channels or meridians. In addition, we know from empirical observation that “qi” energy follows the blood. If the “qi” energy becomes stagnant, the blood will become stagnant and vice versa. When the “qi” energy and blood circulate freely through the meridians, we enjoy good health and a positive attitude. Disease occurs when the circulation of “qi” and blood are impaired due to stress, negative emotions, improper diet, insufficient rest, environmental toxins or seasonal changes.

Acupuncture evolved over the course of many centuries as a method to stimulate and regulate the circulation of “qi” and blood in the body. From this standpoint, it can be argued that acupuncture will help the body to resolve any imbalance or disorder. If we can improve the circulation of “qi” and blood, it stands to reason that the body will respond favorably. I have been continuously amazed to see how well people respond to acupuncture for a wide range of disorders from pain syndromes to infertility to digestive disorders.

From another perspective, it has been documented that acupuncture is effective in calming the sympathetic nervous system and improving the function of the endocrine glands and internal organs.

The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic functions. These two systems are designed to work together like two sides of a balance. The sympathetic system helps the body to function in states of stress or excitation. When the sympathetic system is dominant, the body’s attention is focused on the peripheral muscles and nerves in order to react appropriately in a “fight or flight” situation. When the parasympathetic system is dominant, the body’s attention shifts to the internal organs and in general, the body prepares to relax and replenish its energy. At any given point in time, either the sympathetic or parasympathetic mode is dominant. Our nervous systems are designed to shift back and forth between these two modes of functioning, several times a day.

Problems arise when we become stuck in one mode for too long. And in the stress of our modern society, the overwhelming tendency is to become stuck in the “fight or flight” or sympathetic mode. Over time, this chronic over stimulation of the sympathetic nerves can lead to problems such as hypertension, headaches, dizziness, irritable bowel syndrome, muscular or skeletal pain, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal disorders. Because of its profound calming effect on the sympathetic nerves, acupuncture is particularly effective in treating these kinds of disorders.

Finally, there are a few disorders that respond particularly well and very quickly to acupuncture. In this category, I would list liver/gallbladder imbalances, headaches, digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, stress, mild to moderate anxiety or depression and food or substance cravings.

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 a practitioner of Japanese acupuncture in Portland, I am seeing a renewed interest in one of the most ancient are of cupping; the application of suction cups to the body.  We really don’t know where cupping originated. Some say the practice began in China where archaeologists have found evidence of cupping dating back to 1000 B.C.  However, the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, describes the systematic use of cupping by the early Egyptians, as far back as 1550 B.C.  In both of these ancient societies, cupping was highly respected as a treatment for disease and as a method of routine health maintenance.

In the early days, cups were made of animal horns or bamboo.  Later, they began to be made out of pottery and today, cups are usually made of glass or plastic.  Typically, cups are round vessels, 1″ to 3″ in diameter, and are applied to the body with vacuum suction.  The vacuum is created either by means of heating the air inside the cup or by a mechanical pump.  The result is that the cup sticks to the body and creates a local area of low pressure, which causes the blood to gather under the cup near the surface of the body.

From a western scientific perspective, cupping creates pressure in the local tissues by drawing blood to the surface from areas underneath.  Through this process, fresh blood moves into the areas below the surface.  The result is an immediate improvement of circulation in the affected area.  It has been found that cupping affects the circulation 4 inches below the surface of the skin where the cups are applied.  As a result, cupping can directly influence the health of the underlying tissues and internal organs.

The general benefits of cupping are improved circulation, purification of blood, regulation of the autonomic nervous system and an overall cooling effect.  In addition, cupping reduces pain and swelling and speeds the natural healing process in the specific areas of application.  Cupping therapy is effective in the treatment of painful joints and muscles, digestive disorders, headaches, respiratory disorders, some skin conditions such as boils, eczema, etc., facial paralysis, weakness of the muscles, high blood pressure and common colds.

One of the side benefits of cupping is that it feels great.  The mild pulling sensation helps to release the muscles and calm the sympathetic nervous system, thus allowing a deep relaxation to move through the whole body.  It is not unusual for a patient to fall asleep while the cups are on, waking up afterward feeling relaxed and refreshed.  Cupping therapy is available from most acupuncturists as well as some massage and shiatsu practitioners.

Precautionary Note: Cupping therapy should be preformed by a trained practitioner. Cupping should not be performed on the abdomen or low back during pregnancy or near surgical incisions within one year of surgery.  Cupping is contraindicated in cases of allergic skin disorders, burns, severe edema, extreme fatigue, low blood pressure or bleeding disorders of any kind.  Also, cancer patients with an active tumor or patients who are taking blood thinning medication should avoid cupping therapy.

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