Point massage

According to oriental medical thought, the body functions may be hyperactive (excess condition); in such cases therapy must be applied to calm them. Or the functioning of the organs may be sluggish (deficiency condition) and require treatment to stimulate or reinforce them. In the case of point massage, practitioners lightly press a acupoint with the fingers. If the patient feels pain, he is exhibiting symptoms of the excess condition and needs point massage treatment to calm his body functioning. If he feels only a pleasant sensation, however, he is exhibiting a deficiency symptom. This means that light rubbing treatment is called for. The theory on which this therapy is based is in accord with modern physical treatment rules.

These applications are effective because they are regulated to the physique and bodily powers of the patient. Furthermore, the pressure used is varied in accordance with whether the functions of the body must be stimulated, calmed, or reinforced

Pressure is the only thing used in point massage, but ways of applying it are varied to suit the needs of the case in hand. Sometimes, pressure is applied to one spot for a short interval and then to another and another in rapid succession. In certain cases, pressure is applied slowly for a long time to a single acupoint. In other cases, it is applied for short intervals on one acupoint but is gradually increased. In other words, the pressure may be light, medium, or strong.

Light and rapid pressure is used for reinforcing and strong and slow for calming ( reducing ).

• (1) Light pressure that is gradually increased and then slowly decreased.
• (2) A quick, light touch with a sudden increase of pressure followed by a sudden release.
• (3) Completely natural touch followed by a very slight increase of pressure and a careful, gradual release.

The palms, thumbs, or fingers are used in a number of different techniques, which are varied to suit the condition and illness of the patient

The weight of the practitioner rests on the hands or fingers that are in contact with the patient's body. Using only the strength of the fingers results in sharp pressure that causes pain and reduces the effectiveness of the treatment. It is important that pressure be always directed toward the center of the patient's body. Because of the essential nature of this rule, great stress is put on the position of the body of the shiatsu practitioner. There is no definitely established spatial interval at which pressure should be applied to the patient's body, though from three to five centimeters is generally accepted