Total serenity

The land of the rising sun, japan, is famous for its electronic and automobile products. But, its healing therapies are just as well-known, says Ritu Raizada. Concluding the two-part series on holistic treatments from the Far East

Japanese medicine has borrowed heavily from Chinese medicine. Take for example, the concept of yin, yang, the five elements and Qi ('Ki' in this case). But it has also developed its own unique emphases, variations and innovations in terms of medical theory and practice.

The concept of ki is central and is incorporated in many Japanese words: genki (good flowing ki) means healthy, while byoki (blocked ki) means disease.

The disease patterns are described in terms of two main parameters, kyo (deficiency) and jitsu (excess), with kyo being by far the most important and the main focus of diagnosis and treatment. Cleanliness and purity are seen as the keys to health alongside correct eating, behaviour, respiration and exercise.

The origin
It is believed that the first Chinese medicines were introduced in Japan around the 4th or 5th century AD. But after that, the Japanese created their unique herbal medical system and diagnosis. Kampo utilises most of the Chinese medical system including acupuncture and moxibustion, but is primarily concerned with the study of herbs.

How they diagnose
Observation of the tongue, face and gait, and palpation are the two most important forms of diagnosis in Japanese medicine. Palpation includes pulse taking, similar to Chinese medicine but different in technique, and also a uniquely Japanese form of abdominal diagnosis. Other diagnostic methods include listening and smelling and questioning.

What is it good for?
Japanese medicine isn't extensively known outside Japan, but certain types of Japanese therapies have become extremely popular in the West, especially shiatsu and reiki (originally from Tibet and then rediscovered by a Japanese).

The traditional herbal medicine - known as Kampo - is an adaptation of Chinese medicine and aims to bring one's life back into balance and in harmony with the laws of nature.

This is achieved through adapting the home environment, diet (eating seasonal foods and balancing foods from land, sea and mountain), breathing and other exercises, hydrotherapy (watsu) and spiritual exercises (zen shiatsu) and by using various other therapies to treat underlying deficiencies.

Exposure to the beauty of nature is considered to be of paramount importance in this part of the world and the home environment is designed to be calm and uncluttered.

"In Japan, hot spring baths are very popular and the use of seasonal plants such as ginger is found to be extensive," avers Miharu Yamakawa, a Japanese physiotherapist in Dubai Healthcare City. "It is used to make warming baths in winter as well."

Jin shin jyutsu
"Jin shin jyutsu is the art of releasing tensions, which are the causes for the various symptoms in the body," avers Mala Jham, noted jin shin jyutsu practitioner in Dubai.

"Our bodies contain several energy pathways that feed life into all of our cells. When one or more of these paths get blocked, then the result might be discomfort or even pain. This blockage or stagnation not only disrupts the local area that is affected but it continues and eventually disrupts the harmony of the energy flows.

"We all hold tensions in various parts of our body and this causes aches and pains and if we ignore it all for too long, it creates disharmony and chaos in our lives where we feel totally drained and unsatisfied with life," she adds.

"Jin shin jyutsu harmonises and revitalises our life energy by a simple way of holding with our fingers, palms or thumbs on certain points of our body where all this tension is accumulated.

"This helps the energy move within us like rivers to unblock and harmonise, thereby releasing the tensions and pains and helping the body's own healing capacity to awaken, thus bringing about increased vitality, health and well-being."

Retrieving an art from obscurity
Born of innate wisdom and passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, the art had fallen into relative obscurity and was dramatically revived in the early 1900s by Master Jiro Murai in Japan.

After clearing himself of a life-threatening illness, Master Murai devoted the rest of his life to the research and development of jin shin jyutsu, gathering insight from a range of experiences and resources, including the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Things).

How it works
Jin shin jyutsu employs 26 'safety energy locks' along energy pathways that feed life into our bodies. When one or more of the paths become blocked, the resulting stagnation can disrupt the local area and eventually disharmonise the complete path of energy flow. Holding these energy locks in combination can bring balance to the mind, body and spirit.

What happens in a session
A jin shin jyutsu session generally lasts for an hour and does not involve massage, manipulation or use of any kind of drugs at all. It is a gentle art practised by placing the fingertips or palms over certain points known as 'safety energy locks' that help to harmonise and restore the energy flow. This facilitates the reduction of stress.

The practitioner begins by reading the pulse of the client, which helps the practitioner understand the inside story, getting to the root of the disease and helping to determine the flow patterns that need to be worked on.

The practitioner works on more than one flow in the hour-long session and the client usually goes into a deep state of relaxation as the energies start harmonising within.

Do-it-yourself
"Jin shin jyutsu can be used anywhere at any time," assures Jham. "It can be used in a crowded bus or in the middle of a seminar or during an interview. It can be used by all ages and can also be used on animals and birds. Everyone can learn jin shin jyutsu, as no prior training in other healing modalities or body anatomy is required.

"It is so simple yet powerful and life-transforming. When one practises this art, an aura of relaxation is noticed around the person practising (it) and upon closer examination, it may be noticed by those around you that you are holding one or more of your fingers."

Best of all, jin shin jyutsu can be used in conjunction with conventional medicine to facilitate the healing process.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu focuses on the use of 'shi'=finger and 'atsu'=pressure. It is the name coined to describe an increasingly distinguished form of healing.

Massage, along with acupuncture and use of various herbals, had been an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine for years. As it developed in Japan, however, the practice of massage known by the old name of "Anma" became gradually divorced from medicine and more associated in people's minds only with relaxation and pleasure.

Certain practitioners were concerned about preserving massage and related techniques as an accepted healing art.

What is shiatsu?
It is a traditional hands-on Japanese healing therapy that can help in a wide range of conditions - from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health, e.g., back pain, headaches and migraines, whiplash injuries and neck stiffness, joint pain and reduced mobility, menstrual problems, digestive disorders, asthmatic symptoms, sports injuries and depression.

Energy flow
The philosophy underlying shiatsu is ki, the vital energy which flows throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians. For many reasons, ki can stop flowing freely and this produces a symptom or pain.

When a shiatsu practitioner determines that the energy along one or more meridians is blocked, such that there is an excess of energy at some points (manifested as tension, tightness or fullness) and a depletion at others, he will work with the energy in these meridians to try to harmonise it.

Most acupuncture points lie on meridians, and shiatsu practitioners will sometimes work on specific points by pressing or holding them. Shiatsu differs from acupuncture (and acupressure) in that it is more usual to work on the meridian on a whole rather than on isolated points.

Shiatsu is highly effective because it treats the whole body. First, it deals with the body as a whole, since everything is connected and every part and component influences another. Then it focuses on the local area that needs more attention.

Related forms

Anma Shiatsu
This is a method of massage which uses techniques of kneading, pressing, grasping, pulling, tapping and stretching to move energy in the body, promote balance and restore health.

Applying different types of pressure has different types of effects. Weak or medium stimulation promotes function of the nerve and muscles. It's used to arouse or excite the nerves.

This is helpful when someone complains of fatigue or is in a weakened condition.

Anma shiatsu, therefore, brings a balance of energy in the internal organs and the energy meridians that run throughout the body, while shiatsu can even benefit victims of a stroke and may also produce sedative and analgesic effects.

Zen shiatsu
Invented by Shizuto Masunaga, zen shiatsu is rooted in the theories of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Five Element Theory and is a modernised form of the ancient art of acupressure to stimulate the body's innate healing mechanisms.

It is based on the principle that if ki's flow is disrupted or diminished, we experience discomfort in the form of muscular pain, headaches, digestive disturbances, swelling, skin irritations, excess mucus, dizziness, memory loss, stress, anxiety, irritability and other emotional imbalances.

Why it works
Your body 'speaks' to you and 'tells' you what is going on - you may just not know how to 'listen' to it. It is a language that zen shiatsu 'listens to' and then corrects the imbalances.

These imbalances usually occur with no organic problem, which means that a Western medical doctor will not be able to find anything physically wrong with the body. This is where zen shiatsu can help.

How it works
Zen shiatsu combines stretches, joint rotations and gentle pressure to stimulate, sedate, and unblock disrupted energy. It also stimulates the circulatory, lymphatic, hormonal, neuromuscular, respiratory, digestive and autonomic nervous systems.

Zen shiatsu done on a regular basis can also strengthen the immune system and allows the body to shift into balance - it addresses the root of the problem and not just the symptoms!

Reiki
Reiki is a gentle form of healing massage therapy that originated in Tibet, and has been practised for more than 2,500 years. Loosely translated, 'reiki' means 'universal life-force/soul/spiritual energy'.

As with other treatments, like acupuncture, shiatsu and reflexology, reiki is a holistic treatment based on the idea of balance and Qi - the life force that needs to flow freely through us if we are to be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy. Reiki aims to renew and refresh your energy flow, encouraging healing and increasing your sense of well-being.

However, reiki is far less physical than similar treatments, and depends on the relationship formed between the giver and the receiver - the practitioner channels his own reiki into your body, by placing his hands on you.

What is it good for?
Reiki affects each person differently. It works on the basis that many physical and emotional problems are inter-related and so these problems must be treated simultaneously.

This therapy not only, say, helps relieve muscular aches and pains, it also boosts the immune system and relieves even chronic, long-term conditions, as it works with the body to help it heal itself. "Reiki is generally recognised as being relaxing and good at releasing stress, and can help with physical problems too," says Vinay, a therapist at the Six Senses Spa, Dubai.

But Vinay strongly believes in mixing the power of his healing touch with Hath Yoga and Angad Yoga to get optimum results, which he chooses to call "internal cleansing of the body".

Why it is sought-after!
Reiki is a non-invasive therapy and does not involve massage or manipulation, so it is unlikely to cause anyone any problems.

"It's always a good idea to tell your therapist if you have any medical conditions, including whether you are, or might be, pregnant," he adds.

Reiki can be very powerful for some people, so it's worth making sure your therapist knows all about you. One of the pleasures of receiving reiki is that it is a peaceful treatment - the practitioner is unlikely to chitchat as they'll be focusing on channelising their energy levels.

How reiki works
"In simple words, let us compare this healing process with that of your own mother's touch that warded off so many of your illnesses and woes," explains Vinay. "Similarly, this is a hands-on treatment that works with the practitioner's own energy levels and helps in opening the receiver's blockages.

"This way, the therapist directs his healing energy into your body, and stimulates your own. Therefore, while taking the treatment, you may feel heat building between his hands and your own body.

Reiki is a very gentle, spiritual treatment that should leave you feeling relaxed and calm. As with all massage treatments, you should try not to schedule anything too demanding afterwards so that you can get the full benefit from the treatment.