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Acupressure

TCM practice of applying pressure to specific meridian points.
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Thai Massage

A form of massage incorporating both acupressure and ayurveda.
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Massage

The manipulation of muscles in order to reduce stress and tension.
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Shiatsu massage was developed in Japan early in the 20th century. Although influenced by Western medicine, it has its basis in Traditional Chinese Medicine and follows the same principles of energy and meridians as acupressure. The practitioner uses fingers, thumbs, elbows, knees, and even feet in a combination of massage techniques, applying pressure to key points to influence and stimulate energy flow in the body. Shiatsu has become very popular in the West, where it is both practiced by trained practitioners and used as a self-treatment for minor ailments.


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HISTORY

Shiatsu (which translates literally as "finger pressure") has its origins in Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced into Japan around 1,500 years ago. The most common form of Japanese massage was anma (tuina in China), which was used for hundreds of years simply as a means of relaxation. The therapeutic potential of this type of massage was rediscovered in Japan early in the 20th century, and a Japanese practitioner called Tamai Tempaku developed what is now known simply as shiatsu by combining the traditional Eastern techniques with a knowledge of physiology and anatomy derived from Western medicine. Schools were founded to promote the new therapy, which received official recognition by the Japanese government in 1964.  

Shiatsu is used in Japan by professional therapists to diagnose and treat ailments, and a related version of shiatsu, called Do-In, is practiced as a form of self-­help. There are approximately 1,200 practitioners in the US.
 
KEY PRINCIPLES
 
Shiatsu is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, according to which "life energy" (ki in Japanese and qi in Chinese) circulates throughout the body along meridians, or channels, which can be influenced at specific points (tsubos, or acupoints) on the body. Stimulating the acupoints externally, either by acupuncture  or by finger pressure and massage, is said to reduce excess ki where its flow is blocked or it is overactive (jitsu), and to restore it where it is depleted (kyo).  Practitioners aim to identify and harmonize the body'" jitsu and kyo patterns.  
 
Practitioners may use a specialized technique called hara diagnosis to monitor the flow of ki through the internal organs and their meridians. Treatment techniques vary, with some practitioners working on specific tsubos, as in Chinese acupressure, and others using a general massage to stimulate the meridians.  
 
Western practitioners use physiological terms to describe the effects of shiatsu, claiming it regulates the hormonal system and the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid, aids the elimination of waste products, releases muscle tension, and promotes deep relaxation. They claim that shiatsu works effectively as a general tonic and also enhances the body's self-healing abilities.
 
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
 
There is little evidence specifically relating to shiatsu. Any studies on acupuncture, acupressure, or massage would have implications for this technique.
 
MEDICAL OPINION

The theory of acupoints and meridians underlying all Traditional Chinese Medicine is unfathomable to doctors and scientists in the West. Some patients report strong sensations after shiatsu, yet for many doctors, the therapy appears to be no more than a highly developed approach to massage. Practitioners' claims for the power of touch and pressure to treat diseases need more research before Western science can accept that shiatsu triggers healing processes.

CONSULTING A PRACTITIONER  
 
The practitioner will be trained in the "Four Examinations" of Traditional Chinese Medicine: she will ask detailed questions about your medical history, emotions, lifestyle, and your responses to foods; observe your appearance, movements, and posture; listen to your voice (wheezing is a sign of poor lung energy, for example, and an angry voice indicates liver energy problems); and use touch to take your pulse, using a complex technique characteristic of Eastern medicine.
 
The practitioner may also use hara diagnosis; the hara consists of "energy centers" in the abdomen, which are said to relate to parts of the body. The practitioner may gently feel the hara to detect problems elsewhere in the body.  
 
You remain clothed for treatment, but loose, preferably cotton, clothing is advised. So that the practitioner can use her body weight to apply pressure, you lie on the floor, on a mat or a futon. Sessions last about an hour, and several may be needed, depending on your condition. The practitioner may also advise changes in your lifestyle and diet.  
 
Each session covers the whole body and treatment often begins at the point on the hara called the tanden, three fingers' width below the navel, which is the center of balance and gravity, and is said to be where ki is stored. A wide range of techniques may be used, including pressing with the knee or elbow to stimulate blood and ki flow, stretching and squeezing to disperse blocked ki, rocking to counteract agitated ki, and gentle holding on the meridians and tsubos to enhance the flow of ki. The practitioner may even walk on the soles of your feet (believed to stimulate the kidneys). At the end of the session you will be left alone for a few minutes to relax and absorb the benefits of the treatment.  
 
Although firm and sometimes robust, treatment should leave you feeling relaxed but invigorated. However, after-effects, such as flulike symptoms, may occur; this is the "healing crisis," a sign that the body is trying to expel "toxins," said to be released as ki is unblocked.
 
PRECAUTIONS
 
• Tell your practitioner if you are pregnant. Certain tsubos should not be stimulated in pregnancy, except during labor.  
 
• Tell your practitioner if you have any long-term condition, such as cancer, AIDS, or crs; some shiatsu techniques may be unsuitable. This also applies if you have high blood pressure, epilepsy, osteoporosis, thrombosis, or varicose veins.  
 
• Avoid alcohol, large meals, hot baths or showers, and strenuous exercise (including sex) immediately after treatment, as they may counteract its effect.

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