November/December 2008 Alternative Health
Shiatsu: The Right Pressure for Health and Longevity

by Bart Walton, M.Ac.

In the West, most people associate shiatsu with massage. But actually, shiatsu is a complete system of bodywork that includes examination, diagnosis and treatment, based on the ancient principles of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Around 1000 A.D., the Chinese visited Japan and brought their medicine, including the practice of acupuncture. At that time, the traditional Japanese anma massage was already well established as a safe and effective method of bodywork. Over the course of time, it was natural that these two systems would evolve together into a completely new form of therapy. The result of this meeting was shiatsu, which literally means "finger pressure."

Shiatsu consists of rhythmic, single point pressure applied with the hands and fingers, along the traditional qi energy meridians of the body. During the treatment, the practitioner is continuously assessing the underlying tissue and making a determination as to how much pressure to apply as well as how long to hold it. Shiatsu is simple, safe, noninvasive and at the same time, very helpful in the treatment of many common disorders of our modern society.

Based on research in Japan, it has been documented that shiatsu helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system and improve the function of the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymph nodes, endocrine glands and internal organs. In addition, it has been shown that shiatsu assists the body in eliminating toxins and metabolic waste.

The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic functions. These two functions are designed to work together like two sides of a balance. During times of stress, when the sympathetic function is dominant, the pupils dilate, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, adrenaline is produced, digestion is shut down and in general, the body's attention is focused on the peripheral muscles and nerves.

During times of rest, when the parasympathetic function is dominant, the peripheral muscles and nerves relax, digestive organs become more active, secretions increase, blood pressure and heart rate decline, and in general, the body prepares to relax and replenish energy.

Our nervous system is designed to shift back and forth between these two functions several times a day. Problems arise when we become stuck in one function for too long. In our modern society, the overwhelming tendency is to become stuck in the stress or sympathetic function.

Over time, this chronic over stimulation of the sympathetic nerves can lead to problems such as insomnia, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, muscular pain and stiffness, nausea, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastro-intestinal disorders. Because of its profound calming effect on the sympathetic nerves, shiatsu is particularly helpful in treating these kinds of disorders.

Shiatsu also has a profound cleansing effect, helping to flush toxins from the body. The deep pressure, applied along the trunk and limbs, helps to loosen accumulated toxins and move them into the proper channels to be neutralized and eliminated.

In Japan, it is believed that shiatsu and acupuncture share a synergistic relationship. As a result, these methods are often combined together into a single treatment. Although treatment focused on a particular area of discomfort will bring some relief, treatment of the whole body on a regular basis will address the underlying cause of many problems and help to prevent their recurrence. From this perspective, many patients have decided to make shiatsu a regular part of their routine health care.

In this country we go to the doctor when we're sick and the rest of the time, we don't think much about our health. But in other parts of the world, it is widely recognized that the body, much like a car, needs routine maintenance for optimum health and longevity. The effects of daily wear, accumulated toxins and especially stress, weaken all the systems of the body and accelerate the aging process.

Shiatsu helps to reverse this process by relaxing the peripheral nerves and muscles, and assisting the body to release stress and accumulated toxins. After a treatment, we feel lightness in the limbs, renewed energy and an overall sense of well-being. In addition, most people experience improved digestion and deeper sleep. Shiatsu is a beneficial part of any health maintenance program.

Bart Walton, M.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and shiatsu practitioner with a private practice in NW Portland. He specializes in Japanese-style acupuncture and shiatsu as well as the use of herbs, diet and lifestyle in traditional Asian medicine. Visit www.japanesehealingarts.com.