Shiatsu, like acupuncture is based on Chinese Medicine, which is over 3000 years old. The principles of Chinese medicine come from the observations of natural cycles such as the cycle of day and night (yin/yang) and the cycle of the seasons (5 elements).
The ancient Chinese saw in the delicate balance achieved by Nature a great source of teaching. Man being a microcosm of the universe also has these cycles within him and so needs to keep a balance in his life style in order to stay healthy.
Over centuries of research, Chinese Medicine developed a remarkable understanding of the interconnections between mind and body as reflected in the meridian system and the acupuncture points.
Meridian lines and acupuncture points
A meridian line is a pathway of energy that goes through an internal organ and links it to other parts of the body.
For example, the lung meridian starts internally in the lower belly - where a healthy breathing should originate – goes up through the chest and lungs before emerging to the surface under the collarbone. From there it runs down the inside of the arm into the thumb finger.
The acupuncture points are situated on the surface part of these meridian lines and thus by pressing them you can have an effect not only on the associated internal organ but also on the whole pathway of the meridian.
The 12 main meridian lines form a network covering the whole body: arms, legs, belly, chest, back, neck and face. They are the expression of the lungs, colon, stomach, pancreas-spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, heart protector, fascia-triple heater, gall-bladder and liver.
The internal organs in Chinese medicine
In Chinese medicine the internal organs have a much wider list of functions than in Western medicine. Each organ has a special role in the energetic make up of the bodymind and is also related to:
- one of the tissues of the body
- a sense organ
- a particular emotion
- a mental faculty
The lungs for instance govern the skin, the nose and smell, are weakened by grief and reflect our sense of space and boundaries.
So by working on a meridian you can influence the muscle chain situated along its pathway, as well as the physiological, mental and emotional functions of its associated organ.
Differences between Shiatsu and Acupuncture
The knowledge described above is used in both therapies however the approach is slightly different:
- Acupuncture uses needles to contact the acupuncture points whereas the shiatsu practitioner uses his thumbs or elbows.
- the diagnosis techniques often differ : in general acupuncturists rely mainly on the pulse and tongue; in shiatsu we tend to also palpate the meridians and their reflexzone maps situated on the belly and back.
- Acupuncture is more point-based; shiatsu is more meridian orientated. In acupuncture the treatment consists of inserting needles in a series of points. In shiatsu we apply pressure on the whole length of the two meridians diagnosed as the fullest and the emptiest. We also use massage techniques, limb rotations and stretches.
Next: yin / yang : cycle of day and night, rest and activity.
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