Therapist's principles (9)

Principle 9. Think about therapeutic environment.

It is better to have a clinic conveniently located and make a signboard, waiting room and therapy room's atmosphere be simple. However, make sure that people gather not only good because of location, door sign and advertisement, rather principle 1 (not worse pursuing those who run away, accept those who come to you) is the most important. It is more important to clean the therapy room, etc neatly to maintain clean environment. 

signboard of Taishido acupuncture clinic

Therapist's principles (8)

Principle 8. Do not depend on machinery.

Sensory diagnosis and treatment is the core of medical art of acupuncture, so do not bring in mechanical means as far as possible.

making Chinetsu-kyu

Therapist's principles (7)

Principle 7. Do not depend on people.

Make sure that depending on people is a last resort, and pursue treatment details on your own as much as possible. For this, you should not treat patients aimlessly, and make a habit of recording treatment details each time so that you can refer to later.
About a case which you failed, it is desirable to intend that you do not have the same failure again after one year.

clinical record

Therapist's principles (6)

Principle 6. Communicate with others.

It is important to have a relationship with other therapists.

Therapists are apt to be self-righteous and think their own experiences are the best, so they are prone to have exclusive or closing attitudes towards information. So, their characteristics are liable to be skeptical and introverted. This is somehow different from an attitute being aware to issues.


It is desirable to let your experience be open, and if you get some information from others, it is recommended to give something to them in return. It is also desirable to join in an (acupuncture) association, society or some groups that you can attend regularly.

USA seminar

Basic course at Taishido acupuncture clinic

Therapist's principles (5)

Principle 5. Pursue another speciality.

Relating to Principle 5, it is important to have hobbies, and try to make an effort to deepen the skill and knowledge of one of those hobbies to the expert's level. This enriches your speciality, the sphere of medicine.

Ceiling of the study room in Taishido acupuncture clinic;
Ptints of dragon, phoenix, male wave and femal wave by Hokusai Katsushika

Therapist's principles (4)

Principle 4. Broaden your horizons.

Take broad interest in Oriental medicine field as a specialist, Western medicine as a present-day common sense,  and moreover, other fields except medicine, such as literature, music and art. You never know the personal quality of patients who are coming to the clinic. The tolerance of a therapist is in propotion to the number of patients who he/she can face with. That is, performing medical art is not only healing disease, but also healing the person him/herself through disease.

 

Therapist's principles(3)

Principle 3.  Answer patients' questions.

When a patient asks questions such as his/her own diseases and daily life, answer with sincereity. If you are uncertain, answer later. Never evade questions.

薬師如来： Buddha of healing

Therapist's principles (2)

Principle 2.  Learn from patients.

Try to get information as much as possible from patient's body itself, and certainly from what the patient talks. For this, it is desirable for a therapist to be moderate in asking questions and to be in the side of listening what patients talk.

Let the bowel movement, sleep and appetite be the three general questions, and limit medical explanations, explain only when asked by a patient; do not show off your knowledge.

"Uncle Shakuju" at the reception of Taishido Acupuncture Clinic

Therapist's principles (1)

In the study room of Taishido acupuncture clinic, where acupuncturists and students come to learn Shakuju Therapy, there's a paper written about "therapist's principles" hung on the wall. This was written  by Kobayashi sensei in the newsletter called "Shakuju" published before.

"Therapist's principles" hung on the wall.

Let me introduce these "therapist's principles" little by little.

Principle 1. Not worth pursuing those who run away, accpet those who come to you.

You have to think reasons why some patients are leaving from you. This is because the effect of treatment is not what they expected. For those who come to you, according to physical strength of therapist's side, you have to face them with sincerity regardless of any personal appearance of patients.

That is, when the therapist's ability corresponds to the sick condition of the patient well, it would bring gratification to both sides, but on the other hand, when the patient's state exceeds the therapist's capability, patients often leave.

If patients who are satisfied with your treatment are sociable enough to introduce people, more and more patients would come to your clinic. You have to be plain and simple to everything, of course including money. With such a simple and open attitude, you can establish rapport with patients more. Try to face patients with happy and clean heart, and do not speak what the patient tell even to the patient's family members, such a fair attitute of keeping secret wins the patient's confidence.

The quality of  patients coming to the clinic represents the quality of the practitioner.

*This principle is applicable not only for therapist/ patient relationship, but also for the broader human relationship, such as the relationship among the study group or even master/disciple relationship.