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What Makes Japanese Acupuncture Special
Thinner Needles
-The obvious differences between Japanese style acupuncture and that of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are that the needles are far finer (using needles barely thicker than a human hair), and that they are inserted often barely deeper than 1 or 2mm, with an absolute minimum of manipulation. In some instances, they are not inserted at all.
-For a first-time acupuncture patient who is worried about needles, Japanese acupuncture might be the style to try first because it tends to be more comfortable for the patient.
-In Japanese Meridian Therapy there is a focus on conserving the Qi of the patient. The practitioner must be mindful of ways the patient can lose qi: needling (especially deep needling or strong stimulation of the needle), stress, and the inappropriate use of a guide tube
More Emphasis on Palpation
-The diagnosis is very hands-on. In fact, 40% of licensed acupuncturists in Japan are blind, so there is much emphasis on touch and palpation.
-Much like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we look at the tongue and pulse to see what’s going on at a deeper level in the body.
-Unlike TCM, we also do abdominal palpation where the abdomen is split up into different areas to represent different organ systems. We can tell a lot about what is going on by palpating the abdomen.
-Also, instead of just choosing acupuncture points from a textbook based on point functions, we palpate the channels in order to decide which acupuncture points are most appropriate for the individual patient.
Front and Back Treatments
-We always treat the front and back side of the body. This promotes balance.
-We assess both the root and branch of the presenting illness. We cannot just look at the local area of pain; instead we must look at the person’s individual constitution. We must figure out what underlying deficiencies allowed this disease process to take place. Then we can strengthen from the root so the illness will not come back.
-Every person is born with a constitutional deficiency of one of the main yin organ systems. We look at different characteristics and features of the individual to help us assess what the constitutional deficiency is and how it led to the current state.
If Japanese Acupuncture sounds right for you, then make an appointment with us. We look forward to meeting you!
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