Close, very close ties , because the energies of our body circulate and can be stimulated through many techniques and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which boasts a millenary culture is the common denominator that guides those who want to deepen acupuncture (doctors), shiatsu , the tuina, beyond geographical borders and discussions on Chinese or Japanese origins .

Summarizing this great universe in a few lines becomes difficult , but we try, without the presumption of providing indications or guidelines, but only some basic information that can be a stimulus for deepening.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

We have traces of the codification of Chinese Medicine under the Han dynasty which ruled the Chinese Empire from 206 BC to 220 AD.

The great work of reference is the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine , written in the form of a dialogue between Emperor Huang Ti and Prime Minister Qi Bo.

In this vast work topics of philosophy such as Taoism, yin and yang, the identification of the 5 movements and the relationships between energy channels, organs and viscera, natural cycles and therapeutic approaches to rebalancing are treated.

All these aspects are integrated into the therapeutic approach through shiatsu and acupuncture, techniques that move on the human body following ” energy maps” that connect various fundamental points for the restoration of energy and physiological imbalances.

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Meridians in Chinese Medicine

According to the theory of energy channels, our body is crossed from top to bottom, and vice versa, by meridians, a sort of “highway network” that transports energy to and from organs and viscera and supports vital functions.

The number of meridians in itself is indefinite but if we take into consideration the Masunaga map we can make a classification more similar to our Western vision .

The main ones are 12, energetically connected to 6 organs such as lung , kidney , liver , heart , pericardium , spleen ; the other 6 are related to the viscera of the large intestine , urinary bladder , gall bladder , small intestine , “triple heater” , stomach .

There are also so-called extraordinary meridians that function as an energy reserve: they absorb excesses and put them back into circulation when needed.

Acupuncture

The so-called acupoints have been identified on the meridians where it is possible to stimulate or quell energy in disorder.

Acupuncture makes use of bimetallic ghee for the stimulation of precise and specific points in combination for the treatment of disorders related to organ or central nervous system imbalances.

Acupuncture is a medical practice and must only be performed by a professional , because if not done correctly it can cause damage, and in any case needles are used. We always check the credentials of those who practice this discipline.

Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine

Shiatsu is another means that “travels the highway of the meridians” . Instead of needles , the operator’s hands are used, acupressure and more … sometimes even the elbows and knees. But don’t worry, the weight exerted by shiatsuka is always balanced according to the strength of the recipient.

Like acupuncture, shiatsu works on the meridians and tsubo points to rebalance ki, energy. The therapist’s fingers listen to the points of emptiness and full of energy , kyo and jitsu and balance them.

Tension and relaxation, pressure and stretching are the practices that are carried out during a shiatsu session, which can often last up to an hour.

For those who receive the treatment it is not always easy to see the results immediately, sometimes it takes several sessions to feel the change. The relationship between operator and recipient also enters a binary circuit of energy exchange, Tori, the practitioner and Uke, the recipient, merge with breathing, with beating, with heat and cold, with giving and receiving.