Acupressure and Shiatsu

Acupressure and Shiatsu are Asian body work therapy which can help people with a wide variety of problems and disorders. They could also be called "Acupuncture without Needles" because they work with the same "points" and energy pathways as acupuncture. "Shiatsu" is a Japanese word meaning "finger pressure", and although Japanese styles differ slightly from Chinese (Acupressure), the words are often used interchangably. Shiatsu is characterized by the application of pressure by the hand, thumbs, or fingers, along the energy meridians and to the acupoints, to release blockages in the flow of Qi.. Tui Na is Chinese clinical acupressure massage, and means "push-pull". Tui Na incorporates pressing, kneading, rubbing, percussing, point-holding, and other strokes to release blockages and stagnation of the Qi. There are other styles of acupressure which primarily focus on point holding. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing for the treatment; disrobing is usually not necessary.

The ancient Chinese developed an understanding of the human body thousands of years ago that seems, for us Westerners, somewhat strange because it focuses on a different part of our functioning than conventional Western medicine. It is based on the idea that something called "QI" (pronounced "key") flows throughout the body in channels or pathways called "meridians". These pathways are the same in everyone, and along the pathways there are "points" where the practitioner can access and manipulate the Qi within the patient. All living things have Qi, and it is sometimes called the "Life Force" or "Vital Energy". According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, all illness, whether physical or emotional, is caused by deficiencies, blockages, or disturbances in the flow of Qi. In health, Qi is in sufficient amounts and flows evenly and harmoniously throughout the body. By stimulating the Acupressure points, Qi can be strengthened, blockages can be released, and correct direction of flow can be restored. In this way, the body's natural rhythm and balance is encouraged to restore itself.

What is this Qi or "Vital Energy" in Western terms that we can understand? Much research is being conducted around the world to understand this phenomenon in terms of our Western scientific view of the body and health. Many theories have emerged, but there is little agreement among scientists and doctors about what the link is, even though this bio-electro-magnetic field is recognized and used in many of our modern diagnostic methods, such as EKG's, MRI's and others.

These therapies probably work on at least four different levels. FIRST, in the musculo-skeletal system: many of the classical acupressure points lie at the points where the muscles attach to the bones. In these areas are tiny organelles called "proprioceptors" which tell the muscles when to contract and when to relax, and how much tension to maintain even when relaxed. By stimulating those points manually with shiatsu or acupressure, the therapist can give them an instruction to relax or change the resting tension. This can quickly and very effectively induce a relaxation response and better muscular balance, relieving pain and tension in the receiver.

In the nervous system: many of the points are located along nerve pathways near the spine and in the extremities. Different pressure techniques can stimulate or relax the nerve firing to areas of the body. Since the nervous system delivers information and instructions from one part of the body to another, and from the brain to the organs and muscles, acupressure can effect internal processes very well. Many people have found that receiving acupressure can lower blood pressure, improve digestive functioning, help allergies and asthma, water retention, female organ problems, and many other difficulties besides just muscular tension and pain.

In the immune and endocrine systems: No one knows how this works yet, but people often discover, after receiving regular acupressure treatments for a few weeks, that their immune system seems stronger. They have better resistance to colds and viruses, allergies and other immune-mediated disorders improve. Others who have suffered from hormone imbalances often start to feel better too, and even medical testing frequently shows that hormone levels have changed after a series of regular acupressure sessions.

At the level of emotional stability and general well-being: it is well known that stimulating the acu-points causes a natural release of endorphines, brain substances which induce a sense of comfort and well-being likened to a "runner's high". I believe this is only one aspect of how acupressure can help people to achieve better emotional balance, thus offering help for depression, anxiety, fears disorders, chronic worry, and anger. Various emotional states can only emerge out of a certain body chemistry. As the body chemistry begins to restore a healthier balance, as the muscular, nervous, immune, hormone, and other systems get into better harmony, a shift in emotions naturally and comfortably occurs. When the person is willing to add simple lifestyle changes along with acupressure therapy and medical management, dramatic changes can take place in the person's emotional and mental functioning. In addition to these factors, I believe that many people are simply starved for healthy touching. We have developed a "touch-me-not" society, in which most touching experiences for many people occur only in the contexts of sexual behavior or abuse or punishment. Humans simply work better when we receive respectful, healthy, unconditional touch on a regular basis. We need our "strokes". In addition to the physiological benefits, acupressure fills a very great need for those deprived of this inate biological demand.

Many people wonder what a typical acupressure session would be like. When someone come to see me for their first visit, I need to ask them some questions about their condition. I ask how long they have had the condition, what they have done to help it so far, and what has worked or not. I ask detailed questions about their symptoms or pain. I take a simple medical history, to find out what surgeries, accidents, or illnesses the person may have experienced. Then the person lies down on my treatment table or a thick mat on the floor (I work both on the floor, Japanese style, or on a table like other massage therapists). It is not necessary to remove clothing, but I do ask the person to remove shoes and socks, belts, jewelry, and contents of the pockets. Next I feel the pulses in the wrist, and test for sensitive areas in the abdomen and in the arms and legs. This helps me to determine where the Qi energy may be blocked or deficient in the body. Based on what the person has told me, and what I find in the pulses and points, I focus the treatment on the points and meridians where I need to move the Qi. The treatment feels very pleasant and relaxing. A typical session lasts one hour, but the benefits continue to manifest for several days after the treatment.

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