Tai-ji and Total Lunar Eclipse

Tai-ji has the power to enfold everything. Tai-ji is where everything is coming from. Kobayashi sensei said "when you do a treatment, you have to be the Tai-ji". Worth taking time what this means...

Looking at the total lunar eclipse last night, many people would have felt awed by the mystery of the universe, the mystery of the Tai-ji.

Points

If let us say, for example, points are where there exist pressure pain, you all will look for only pressure pains. If I say where is deficient, you would search only deficient points.

However, actual points include where are painful and where are deficient. Sometimes where are stiff, where are swollen, each of all these is a reaction of "point". You can never pick up only one reaction and say that a point is like this.

So, it is difficult to express in words. The only way is to touch many points to remember feelings of points touched by fingertips.

The same thing can be said to the pulse examination as well. If you limit information from the pulse only to the pulse rate, you end up knowing only the result of the pulse count. However, when you recognize the pulse is not only pulse rate, but the information resource to know the inside of the body, containing more information, even if it looks checking the same pulse rate, what you can get is quite different.
This means that things can be different depending on the perception of a viewer. Indeed, at first glimpse we seem like living in the same world, but each individual lives in each different world.

*This article is translated from Japanese Shakuju Association blog.

Exercise (7)

One of the merits of swimming is that one rarely feels the load of the gravity. One can move the body freely because of feeling no gravity, but in other words, the amount of exercise is prone to be increased. In addition, the resistance of water is rather strong, one tends to feel more fatigue than exercise on the ground.

Fatigue means that the body heat is consumed. Staying in the water, which temperature is lower than the body temperature, for a long time leads to consumption of the body heat. Warming-up exercise before entering in the water is absolutely necessary to raise the body temperature in advance.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Exercise (6)

Everybody should have experienced the fast beating pulse after exercise. The rapid pulse indicates that the heat is produced in the body. However, the most of the heat produced by the extreme exercise is unnecessary for the body, and it takes a lot of energy to diffuse it. This is the reason why exercising too much becomes burdensome.

It is ideal for those who always exercise like athletes not to produce heat much even during exercise, so the normal pulse of an athlete tends to be rather slow.


*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Exercise (5)

The body is active even during sleep at night, though not as the daytime. Heat production is not as high as during the daytime, so one uses bedding to cover the less heat production at night.

The reason why children move a lot is because their bodies are too small to store the heat, so they move their bodies a lot to supplement the heat even during night. This is why children tend to be untidy sleepers in general. Moving a lot during night is a good movement to produce heat in the body.
However, this does not produce enough heat, so if one takes off bedding, the body gets cold.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Core

When one starts learning a certain acupuncture methodology, the focus would be on its technical aspects. Everybody would be into acquiring techniques that are visible and exist in front of you. However, having certain skills and techniques are not necessary equal to the success of treatments.

Have you ever felt that you could have treated patients better when you just started acupuncture? Why is it, though you were inexperienced in terms of techniques? It would be possible to analyze in various perspectives, but one reason would be because you would have expected and believed possibilities of acupuncture more, when you just started acupuncture.

Techniques are acquired by constant training. However, they are not enough for the treatments.
Practitioners need the core, the basis of such techniques. That is the belief, as you can be sure what you are doing by learning the basic theories. Making the CORE bigger and stronger is the best and shortest way to improve your treatment efficiently.



*This article is translated from Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Exercise (4)

Exercise makes the circulation of qi well, but when the flow of qi is too strong, sometimes the body cannot absorb it. This is the situation that the body is filled with heat, and one notices it as a pain, for example, one has a knee pain when having walked too much, and an elbow pain when having played tennis too much.  Sometimes, one experiences a chest pain.

It is important to know the condition of the body when exercising, and make sure how long you can do it. Please think to what extent you start feeling the pain, and how you can avoid the pain.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Exercise (3)

What you have to be aware while doing an exercise is breathing. Let slow movement of the body be along with breathing. When exhaling, the body tissues shrink, and when inhaling they become loose.　Therefore, when exhaling, movements of shrinking the body, such as lowering arms and bending the body are good, on the other hand, when inhaling, movements of loosening the body, such as stretching the arms and spreading legs suitable.

The purpose of exercise is not strengthening muscle power unduly, but regulating qi circulation of the body by exchanging air outside (outside qi) and air inside (inside qi)　well.


*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Exercise (2)

What kind of exercise fits myself? Everybody would come across this question. Exercise can be viewed in two aspects; one is that people who have enough energy use their power, and another is that people who lacks energy do for enhancing energy.

Let alone those who have surplus energy, one of required conditions during exercise is to do with some loading. The bag carried when climbing up the mountain is the typical example, and for example, one feels tired when he/she carries　moves arms slowly and continuously, this is because the weight of arms becomes a load.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Exercise (1)

Nobody can deny the necessity of exercise. In a broad sense, all daily activities are kinds of exercise, but in general exercise refer to activities requiring physical efforts.


Exercise is adjusting the movement of qi, by moving muscles, such as limbs, to affect the deep qi in the body.

When qi moves, heat is produced and the body gets warm and the adjustment of its work refers to that the heat spreads all over the body evenly. Good exercise can maintain this state for a long time.


*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Sweat (6)

One sweats after having a meal. This is because the circulation of qi of the body becomes active. Strong seasoning, especially hot and spicy foods make the body hot and sweat a lot. This suggests that the taste of foods itself contains the element to move qi.

Young people need and are able to absorb such movement of qi, so they tend to love well-seasoned foods, on the other hand, old people tend to take simple flavoring. This suggests one aspect of "good medicine tastes bitter".

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Contact Needling

Contact needling is the first step of Shakuju therapy, which is approaching the shallow qi, however, this is indeed the profound skill.

Shallow qi is the relative expression towards deep qi, but what is shallow depends on the skill of the practitioner. There is a famous story about contact needling by Kobayashi sensei, the treatment of the frozen shoulder. The story is like this...

A patient who could not raise his shoulder at all.. He said it was the "frozen shoulder".Kobayashi sensei started the treatment procedure as usual. At first, contact needling on the abdomen, he repeated it several times, then asked the patient to raise the shoulder. The patient could raise the arm and was very surprised. Then, Kobayashi sensei followed the treatment procedure, and finished the treatment.

It might not be the frozen shoulder called in Western medicine, however, it was the fact that the patient could raise the arm that he could not before the treatment. Even the symptoms mentioned above, if it did not take much time since the symptom began, do you think whether the disease is shallow?? Then, can any practitioner, who faces with a patient having such symptom, give the same treatment result?? Please consider a lot. 

When practitioners are used to clinical experiences, they tend to give an attention to use of back shu points, the treatment pattern and supplemental treatments that Kobayashi sensei found out recently. However, the stimulation of one acupuncture point makes the Jin-qi of the patient tonified in Shakuju therapy, so brushing up each skill of each step of the treatment procedure leads to the raise of treatment effect dramatically. I think this is the interesting point in the therapy. Rather, it is hyper-interesting.

How can we brush up the skill of contact needling, then? At first, (1) apply the pressure enough to the skin with the needle tip; however, though the tip of SJ needle is egg-rounded shape, the needle is needle, so it makes a patient painful when touched. So, (2) pull the skin enough with Oshide (pressing hand). To be able to cover these two points is the purpose of basic classes.

To be honest, needling randomly, and the pace of the speed are required in the more advanced level.

Perceiving the state of the abdomen with Oshide side, grasping the changing state of areas where contact needling passed with Sashide side, and the strength of each area, the speed, and breathing of a therapist when he/she can do all these mentioned above unconsciously, and projecting consciousness later on... The image that the needle extending from the contact area to the back, one that dropping a little stone to the surface of water and spreading like a ripple, and the infinite image from the abdomen to the whole body of the patient...

As a first glimpse, it might look like the same contact needling, but the difference is obvious. Please look at the movie of contact needling by Kobayashi sensei again, taking account of what is mentioned above.

About Shakuju Therapy (4)

"Shakuju" of Shakuju therapy is the names of disorders appeared in the abdomen; Shaku is one which stays at the deep inside, and does not move easily, and jyu is one which is in the shallow layer and easy to move.

The words "Shakuju"  originates from the "Nan-jing". Later on, there are periods that Shakuju were interpreted as what would be referred as cancer in the present day, but Shakuju in Shakuju Therapy basically means the pain, hardness and pulsation of the abdomen.

By the way, when one practices Shakuju Therapy for a long time, the I-Ching's way of thinking is getting important to deepen its understanding. It can be said as the basis of all Oriental concepts.
Simply speaking, the ideas of I-Ching  is trying to see everything in the world in yin and yang. Oriental medicine is what is applied this yin-yang concept to the human body.

According to the yin-yang concept, when looking at the human body, Shakuju can be explained as Shaku being relatively yin and Ju being relatively yang  among the disorders of the abdomen.

Then, how do you regard Shakuju, disorders of the abdomen, in the whole body context, with yin-yang idea? The abdomen is located in yin side of the human body. If you would like to deal with disorders appeared in the yin side, the focus would be on the yang side of the body. This is the view based on yin-yang idea; treating disorders of the abdomen with back-shu points is the most distinctive characteristic of Shakuju therapy. 


Shakuju is the body reaction that anybody can feel and confirm. When supposing that the states which can be confirmed, such as the main complaint and symptoms, are yang, their causes are yin and what cannot be confirmed. Therapists grasp the condition of the deficiency of Jin-qi (yin), which is invisible, and impossible to be touched by confirming the disorders of the abdomen and other reference points (yang), which can be touched and felt. 

By the way, some people might think that Shakuju therapy examines only the abdominal area (abdominal diagnosis) by its name, but we also do pulse diagnosis and check not only the abdomen, but other reference points, so please do not misunderstand!

Sweat (5)

Generally speaking, people perspire more than expected during sleep. This can be explained because heat qi, that is produced by the work of internal organs, is absorbed by various body activities, such as seeing and thinking, while being awake, but during sleep there are no such actions.

Especially, children perspire more than adults during sleep, because they are in the growth period. If they emit heat qi, taking off duvet or bedding, their bodies end up getting cold. This is called cold caught in sleep, and this is why kids get chilled easily while sleep.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Movie "Heart Shaku: Abdominal Diagnosis of Shakuju Therapy"

Here is the movie of "Heart Shaku: Abdominal Diagnosis of Shakuju Therapy". (If there's no English subtitle, please click the red "cc" button in the bottom!)

Sweat (4)

There are people who rarely sweat. Not sweating means either that they have energy to produce heat, but are weak to diffuse it, or that the energy to produce heat itself is weak.

Those who are weak to diffuse heat tend to be yang excess, and the skin is liable to get red and rough, because the heat stays inside of the body. On the other hand, for those who are weak to produce heat, their bodies have coldness, so for women, they have difficulty to get pregnant.

When they receive acupuncture treatments, their bodies gets warmer and start sweating.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Sweat (3)

The sweating area is depending on each individual, such as on the head, the neck, the face, the lower back, the palm, the sole or sometimes the whole body. Moreover, as one gets older, or depending on the condition of the body, one sweats on the different area.

However, concerning sweat, the area is not problem, but the quality is. In terms of the quality of sweat, non-sticky sweat is better, but what sticking to the skin is abnormal as sweat due to low energy of the body.

Sometimes, one sweats because of mental stress. This indicates that the body has a weak point affected by the surrounding, and this sweat is also sticky. 　

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

About Shakuju Therapy (3)

As Kobayashi sensei and many other practitioners in Shakuju Association say, ultimately speaking, a needle is merely a thin metal, and moxa is just withered grass. In general, it is considered that acumoxa therapy = oriental medicine, but we, as professionals, have a different way of thinking.

The important thing is how you use a mere thin metal and dry grass.

In the acupuncture world, there are mainly two different therapeutic ways; one is western medicine, another is oriental medicine. Then, what do you mean by saying Oriental medicine way? If you treat as written in ancient Chinese classics, is it Oriental way?? If you treat in the way that  western doctors in the hospital never do, is it Oriental way??

Western medicine has made remarkable progress by looking at human body in more and more micro view. Because of this, people  can get to know what had not been discovered or noticed yet.

On the other hand, how about Oriental medicine? In Oriental medicine (precisely speaking, it is not only medicine, though), it has been considered that everything in this world, including human beings, are qi. That is, the answer is clear from the beginning. Diseases are also qi, sick people are just different from healthy people only in terms of the state of their qi. According to this simple idea, it is possible to treat any diseases regardless of symptoms. 

In Shakuju therapy, it is considered that the cause of diseases is the "deficiency of Jin-qi (= Hie)" . The cause of lower back pain is the deficiency of Jin-qi. The reason for not being able to rise the shoulder is the deficiency of Jin-qi. No appetite is stemming from the deficiency of Jin-qi.    We think simply like this. Therefore, the purpose of the treatment is "tonifying the Jin-qi". In Shakuju therapy, we think Jin-qi is tonified by acupuncture and moxibustion. The cause is   assumed the one ultimately, you don't need to have any doubt in the treatment.

In other methodologies, they treat patients according to the symptoms and if the causes of diseases are different, they have to change the means of treatment as well.

Why are there so many kinds of acumoxa therapies, then? Every method should be all good and effective, and each should have its own characteristics and merit, for each existing as a therapeutic method. Though, the way of examination, used acupuncture points and tools are all different... So, why don't you think like this? Taking account of the causes considered in each therapeutic method, in fact, there exists the common fundamental cause of all sickness. When their treatments are targeting on the assumed causes, however, they are solving the fundamental cause which has not been noticed as a result. If you think this way, you are able to explain that although many acupuncture therapies are doing the different things, each of them has the good effective result in the same way.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are therapeutic method which can approach the fundamental cause of diseases of patients. Then, isn't it wonderful if you can think about this fundamental cause and perform treatment efficiently?

The answer is Shakuju therapy. This fundamental cause is referred as "the deficiency of Jin-qi (Hie)"in Shakuju therapy. Why don't you learn Shakuju therapy?

About Shakuju Therapy (2)

In the background of the birth of Shakuju therapy, there were mainly two factors; Kobayashi sensei's questions in medical practice when he was young, and the problem of school education.

The treatment when he started his career as an acupuncturist was the therapy style that one judges meridian conditions by pulse examination and treats for the cause of diseases and appeared symptoms.

Questions that came to his mind when he was adopting the treatment style, and its contradiction with clinical practices, these led to the clinical education at K Acupuncture School in Chiba, where Shakuju therapy was born. I have been teaching clinical training classes at school as well, and find very difficult for an acupuncture school as a job training school to have a certain level of internship before graduation, systematized clinical training classes and education which can give students enough skill and knowledge as professional therapists after their graduation.  

At that time, what Kobayashi sensei was thinking about clinical practice education, except those mentioned above, were 1) how to treat patients regardless of age and sex differences, 2) contents of classes bearable for students' training (i.e. even students who have little knowledge and skill can diagnose and evaluate the treatment result),  3) maximizing the ability of the tools, i.e. acupuncture and moxibustion, to treat people, and 4) therapeutic theories based on oriental thoughts, such as concepts of qi and yin-yang. Covering these four factors, what systematizes only the facts seen in clinical experiences straight is the present Shakuju therapy.

Medicine is art, but it has to contain scientific aspect as well, for, not only masters, but everybody can do the same thing. Medicine as ta-ji contains science and art as yin-yang. Pursuing clinical cases and seeking the best form as art, as a result of containing four elements mentioned above, Shakuju therapy gets the scientific aspect as well.

*This is translated from an extract of Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Sweat (2)

Sweat has a role to keep body heat in a certain condition. So, it is quite reasonable to have perspiration when being active in daytime. Even during sleep, the body is active quietly, people sweat lightly.

However, abnormal sweat during sleep is the matter. This indicates that even during sleep, abnormal heat is produced somewhere in the body, in other words, there exist weak points in the core of the body (internal organs) that can control heat during night. The idea of internal organs here is a broader concept than those in Western medicine; for example, it is said that bone diseases belong to Kidney, and this idea is broader than kidney in Western medicine.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

About Shakuju Therapy (1)

When comparing Shauju therapy to other acumoxa methodologies, there are some distinctive differences. One of such differences is the way to assign sho (pattern) and to treat.

Most of acupuncture therapies collect a patient's information by the four examinations, and decide which acupuncture points to use. Sometimes, sho　was named after summing up such information in the process. This method can also be seen in Chinese herbology, forming a counterpart of acupuncture in Oriental medicine. Because it is same, you can treat patients either with acupuncture or herbology in the same way.

In Chinese herbology, a patient takes the whole prescribed medication according to the condition of the body, that is lead by the information, by mouth at the same time. How about acupuncture, then? If you want to use LI-4, LI-11, GV-14 and GB-20, you can not apply a needle to these points at the same time. So, in which order do you start needling? 

As a fact can be seen in clinical experiences, the human body changes surprisingly even with one needle. That is, the body often changes a lot, when comparing before and after the first needling. Isn't it a more ideal treatment with less stress to patients, to check changes of the body and perform needling in the most suitable way according to the state of the body each time of needling in each point, rather than to treat after summing up all information of the body in the first place? 

Shakuju therapy is what a therapist always confirms changes of the body each needling, approaching the body gradually from the yang side to the yin side and targeting on the cause of diseases. Following changes that appear in each needling as they are, it makes therapists possible to treat patients regardless of symptoms or names of diseases with acupuncture and moxibustion. This can be said the very Oriental therapy, being different from Western ways, I think.

*This is translated from an extract of Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Sweat (1)

When the body is hot, a person starts sweating. The body has certain heat, so invisible heat qi is always dispersed from the body. When the heat of the body exceeds certain level, heat qi changes its shape to the liquid state, sweat. This is because heat qi is too strong to disperse in the state of gas. When heat qi becomes stronger, the body cannot disperse all the heat in perspiration, the liquid state, so the body tries to discharge it in the solid state. That is the state of eczema. The reason why eczema is red is because of heat in the body.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

As It Is

Whenever asked what the necessary disposition for a therapist is, I always answer "ability to accept things as they are".  However, it does not mean to believe theories easily or blindly. Rather, to perceive what is in front of you as it is, this is what the words, "to be able to accept things as they are" means. We are prone to modify received information as we judge. However, if we do like this, we can never grasp the original meaning that the information conveys. At first, let us follow our own feeling straight as it is. Everything starts from here.

*This article is translated from Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Nail (4)

The shape of the nail tells you the state of the body, so does the color of the nail. Fingertips are the most distant area from the center of the body, and because there are fine and narrow area, the disorder of qi of the body appears there promptly.

The color of nail plates is light pink, there is a white lunula in the matrix, and no specific color appears in the skin around the nail bed; these are the good condition of the nail.  For, light pink color and white moon indicate energy of qi in the body, and dark color around the nail matrix means stagnation of qi.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Teishin Needle (2)

We often treat very sensitive and insensitive patients towards stimulation of acupuncture and moxibustion with a Teishin needle. In terms of lacking normal neural process of sensation, there exist the deficiency of Jin-qi, Hie (the fundamental cold) in both cases.

Our way of thinking is based on the I-ching, so we consider yin-yang, harmony and moderation to be very important. It is not good thing to deviate in only one side. In this way, a Teishin needle can be used in different situations.

treatment with a Teishin needle!?

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

Nail (3)

The reason why nails grow long fast is because of active metabolism of tissues at the nail root. This means that qi movent around fingertips are extremely intense.

When disorders of the body affect movement of qi around fingertips, there appear layers transversely or grooves lengthwise in nails. Such layers represent the severe bad condition during a short period, and longitudinal grooves of especially young people represent chronic ill health. Nails grow from the root to the tip in around six months, so layers of nails will tell you when your body was in a bad condition.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

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

Potato Needling

Today, I want to write about a potato not that we ate, but that is our (acupucturists') mate. In Japan, acupuncture students used to practice needling on various objects, such as fruits and vegetables (there is a special training called "Ukimono-do-shi" literally meaning "piercing floating objects". Especially there is a famous practice of penetrating a needle into a floating apple in an washbowl filled with water), a toilet roll, or wooden board. So, potatoes can be our good friends to practice needling with (actually, needling texture of a potato is similar to one of a human body).

On Thursday a regular advanced class was held in Taishido acupuncture clinic, we had a needling practice on a potato for three-edged needle training. We used a kind of big needle for this practice instead of three-edged needle; trying to penetrate it deeply and remove it quickly.

Some people might think that Shakuju therapy is an acupuncture methodology with soft, gentle and sensitive stimulation, but this is half right understanding. Rather, Shakuju therapy can be very soft, gentle and sensitive methodology, but can also give very strong stimulation like three-edged needle, according to the patient's condition and the therapist's skill. Kobayashi Sensei is always saying that because you have enough skill to be able to handle various kinds of needles* freely, from soft stimulation, such as Teishin needle, to strong stimulation, such as a three-edged needle, you can give a deep influence on patient's body with subtle stimulation.

*Nowadays, Kobayashi Sensei does not use a big needle or a long needle anymore, however, before he used those needles as well. In basic course in Tokyo, we learn how to use a big needle, a long needle and moxa needle for supplemental treatment. When your needling skill is not enough, you can rely on such needles for supplemental treatment when necessary.

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

Reference Points (2)

The  timing to check reference points is very important. When your skill of needling is getting stable, more careful, sensitive palpation is required. Because the body is reacting quicker than what you think. You have to correspond to the speed. There is a possibility that you might be palpating reference points which already have changed because you miss the timing little bit. It might be a reason for never-seem-to-change reference points no matter how time passes.

The body is moving at a very rapid speed. It can be said as an instant in other words. Infants who are filled with qi are the most understandable example. Exactly reference points change in an instant. How much you touch the kid later, you never be able to feel changes. It is no exaggeration to say that the most of treatments on children are over-stimulated.

Again, what is important is the timing.

*This article is translated from Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Reference points (1)

The criteria that we use to judge things are always "reference points".

For example, let's say when you see the patient's body who is receiving Western medical treatment, and as a result of the treatment, reference points show "getting better" direction, you can judge that the Western medical treatment is effective for the patient. 

On the other hand, even if the patient received the treatment having a good reputation, and when you examine the patient's body after the treatment, the reference points show "getting worse", you have to judge the treatment was ineffective for the patient, even though the treatment was performed by a famous master. This evaluation applies to not only manipulation treatment, but also medications such as Chinese herbs as well. We judge the effectiveness of the treatment by changes of reference points. This is the only scale to evaluate everything, not anything else.

*This article is translated from Japanese Shakuju association blog.

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

Teishin Needle

There are three kinds of needles used in Shakuju Therapy; SJ Go-shin needle (filiform needle), Sanryo-shin (three-edged needle) and Teishin needle. Three-edged needle is a needle to pierce, filiform needle is one which is able to pierce, and Teishin needle is one not to pierce.

According to "Hari-kyu riron (Acupuncture and moxibustion theories)" (Toyoryohogakko-kyokai(ed.), Ido-no-nippon-sha), the text book used in acupuncture schools in Japan, nine classical needles are classified similarly; namely, needles to tear, needles to insert, needles not to insert.

Considering the border between needｌe not to pierce (Teishin needle) and needle to pierce (filiform needle), the phenomenon of puncture does not happen by contact of needle to skin, but observed when the skin cannot bear the pressure of the needle and opens a hole. It happened through the process of needle applying pressure to the surface of the skin. Therefore, filiform needle is one that can adjust various conditions from not to insert like Teishin to tear like three-edged needle. It is quite understandable that filiform needle is the most frequent used needle in the classification of needles based classical nine needles (generally speaking).

Because a SJ filiform needle is capable to correspond to various situations, needling in Shakuju therapy is up to the condition of patients, and a therapist does not judge to insert or not. When the skin of patients accepts the needle, let it puncture, if not, let it not. The effect of treatment is measured not by whether inserting or not, but by changes of reference points. But, be aware, this is for those who are skilled enough to insert, if you are beginners who do not have enough needling skill, keep on practicing aiming to insert.

Here, let us think about the significance of Teishin needle. Taking account of the explanation mentioned above, pressure by a needle is presupposing insertion action, so if you apply pressure with a Teishin needle, it means that you do not make the best use of Teishin needle.

That is, the treatment effect with a Teishin needle occurs only by the effect of contacting Teishin, and the pressure to the surface of the skin is only 5 gram, the weight of SJ Teishin. If you hold this 5g Teishin with both hands, the pressure to the skin is added a little more by the weight of your hands. This state of almost 5g pressure is the basic hand-positioning. Then, when you remove your thumb and index finger of Sashide (needling hand) gently, not letting the Teishin fall, the pressure to the skin gets lighter as much as the weight of hands, the skin pushes up the Teishin with its own elasticity. It is enough for Teishin to repeat this, the slight change of 1mm or something pressure can affect the body, as Kobayashi Sensei said.

Of course, you can get the needling effect when you applied Teishin needle with little bit more pressure (as like a SJ filiform needle), or when you perform contact needling with a three-edged needle. However, when you choose these three differnt needles for each purpose of use, as mentioned above, as a logical consequence, it becomes easier to grasp the situation of the patient during the treatment.

About using a Teishin needle without stimulation of pressure, you would feel the overwhelming effect especially when you use consciousness. It is superb! Seriously!

From left, SJ filiform needles (before use), a Teishin needle, a marking pencil, and an incence stick for moxa

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. 

Nail (2)

The skin is not only the inside and outside border of the body, but also has a role to control the amount of body fluids and the condition of heat by getting loosened in summer and tightened in winter. If two thirds of the gross area of the whole skin is covered by something like tar, the body is filled with heat, and the person dies.

Apart from nails grown too long, nails are together with the skin. So, the skin is also related with adjusting the heat and other roles, if you consider that the fingertips are sensitive as antennas of the body, you should better not to fill the nail such as a nail polish by nature.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Basis

You always have to make sure where you are standing. We are focusing on the basis of everything and nothing else. It is possible to provide people temporal satisfaction by acting on phenomenon appearing on the surface. However, it does not exist the fundamental gratification for both there.

What we are aiming for is the permanent satisfaction and joy. Only those who know the existence of the basis can bring this. As in the Suwen, this is the root of all things, the dynamic power itself. As closer we reach to the basis, more we are aware that we are already holding everything in each one's hands. This is what we are longing in acupuncture.

*This is translated from the article by N sensei in Japanese Shakuju association blog.

Nail (1)

The condition of human internal organs is related with life itself. Then, for preventing not becoming defenceless, there is a system to notice the danger early, located far away from internal organs. This is why the skin is sensitive, especially the tips of fingers, which are most distant from internal organs, are extremely sensitive.

Fingers can be compared to antennae (feeler). Nails are kind of the skin, for protecting fingers that are too sensitive. If a nail is hurted, the finger would become sensitive, sometimes causing abnormal stimulation affecting internal organs.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Oriental view of body and mind

In Oriental viewpoint, everything in this world is made of "qi". It means that human body and mind are also made of qi, and everything in this world is qi itself.

There is a principle of Oriental thinking to express how qi is, the state of qi as words of yin (qi) and yang (qi). However, with only this principle, everything in this world is filled with words of yin and yang. This is why there exist names, such as "cold and heat", "top and bottom", "wind", "pencil", "Japan", or "Mr./Ms. somebody", to disitinguish each other. This book (note: "Yamai hitokuchi memo") is what this way of thinking is applied to the body.

By the way, when a person dies, he/she becomes cold. This is the state that there is no movement of qi. On the other hand, a person who is alive, qi is moving and he/she is warm. When the movement of qi is stagnated even a little, presume that a cold part (Hie, the fundamental cold), which can lead to death, is made somewhere around the core of the body. The core of the body means the inside of each cell, and also what is deep, in terms of connecting to life, such as the bone, the internal organs the marrow and the brain. Any disorder of mind/body, such as the knee pain, headache and so on, is all stemming from the fundamental cold, causing from such stuck of qi movement.

When you see diseases in such a viewpoint, it is possible to sum up a way of considering the body. When you get used to see any condition of the body in such a way, you do not need to be twisted around by how to consider various sympotoms.  

*This article is translated from an extract of preface of "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005. Articles of "Yamai hitokuchi memo (Memos for diseases- oriental view of health)" were originally written in newsletters for patients, called "Ochanomizu dayori".

"Yamai hitokuchi memo"

*Y's note: Sorry that I began uploading translated articles of "oriental view of health" without this core bit... There are many ways of so called "oriental" views, however, some of them are applying "western" schemas of thinking, using "oriental" terms. Actually, in the beginning it would be hard to get used to this way of thinking, because we are so used to think in "western" schemas, classifying and subdividing matters. It is not that everything in this world is made of "invisible" essence called qi, rather, it starts with a priori assumptions to think everything in this world is made of qi, including the visible and the invisible.

USA Shakuju Seminars 2011

Thank you for attending USA Shakuju seminars held in August. This year, there were three days Introductory course in AIMC Berkeley, CA, and two days introductory, two days advanced courses in NESA, Boston.

In both seminars, there were lectures in the morning class, and the treatment demonstration by Kobayashi sensei, practical training session in the afternoon. Lectures were started from the idea of qi, which is the basis of Shakuju therapy, and covered the whole procedures of Shakuju therapy.

As Kobayashi focused on the lecture, there exist the invisible on the background of the visible, so to change the visible, it is important to affect the invisible. In terms of human body, on the background of the visible (main complaint, symptoms and other reference points), there underlies the invisible (the deficiency of Jing-qi). Shakuju therapy is always targetting on this deficiency of Jing-qi.

We are happy that more and more acupuncturists are interested in Shakuju therapy in USA. 

Hair (2)

Human body is sustained by incessant flow of matter, such as flow of blood, electric substances, atoms and etc. These are summed as flow of qi.

One direction of such flow is up and down flow. When a person is tired, there occurs stagnation of qi in the head. Generally speaking, women prevent stagnation of qi by not letting their bodies get cold, men prevent by emanating qi. This is why women have more hair and men have less.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Hair (1)

In a human body, there grows hair in every important area. Hair in each point has a role to protect the body, but especially hair of the head plays a role to control heat of the head.

It is considered that one who tends to have heat on the head has less hair, and on the other hand, one who should not cool one's head have a lot of hair. This is why there are less haired people in men, and more hair in women. The diffrent characteristics between sex are indicated here.

So, hair transplantation for men and frequent washing hair for women are unnatural in this point of view.

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Scurf of the navel

There is no muscle layers around the navel. It is like a volcano on the surface of the ground. Because it is hollow, scurf can be gathered there easily.

In Japan, many people say that if you clean scurf of the navel, you harm the abdomen. However, it is not good idea to accumulate a lot of scurf at the navel. The navel is an important acupuncture point called Shenque, CV-8, which is used for the severe sickness.

Try to wash the navel lightly when you take a shower to keep the flow of qi around the navel smoothly. 

*This article is translated from "Yamai hitokuchi Memo" written by Shoji Kobayashi, 2005.

Beauty Under the Harvest Moon

In the entrance of Taishido Acupuncture Clinic, there is a night-blooming cereus, called "Gekka-bijin" in Japanese, literally translated in English as "beauty under the moon".  It is very beautiful, but blooms for only one night.

On Monday, September 12th, the harvest moon, it bloomed! "Beauty under the moon" bloomed under the harvest moon!

Movie "Contact Needling by Shoji Kobayashi"

Contact needling is the first step of the fundametal treatment method.

Shakuju Therapy Seminars are going to be held in Boston in August ,2011.

Basic Course: 10th, 11th August
Advanced Course: 13th, 14th August
Place: NESA (New England School of Acupuncture)

If you have questions or inquiries, please contact to the administrative chief of SANA (Shakuju Association of North America),

 Ellen Leifman (eleifman@gmail.com)  or
Shajuku Association Office in Tokyo (office@shakuju.com) .