If someone sticking pins in your body isn't your idea of a cure, try Shiatsu

Acupuncture is an ancient form of physical treatment and therapy with an impress

ive record of success. It's origin is in the orient, based on the theory that th
e body is organized by an energetic system which, having no observable pathways
available to empirical study, yet manifests itself in countless examples of cure
s of diverse diseases and the alleviation of a variety of pains. Even many moder
n hospitals employ acupuncture as an alternative form of treatment for such ailm
ents as muscle injuries and bone, spine, shoulder and hip diseases, and as a mea
ns of anesthetic. While many people welcome the treatment, others abhor it, prim
arily because the principal method of acupuncture is that of sticking the tips o
f needles along energy pathway. It's the needles they don't like, and who can ar
gue with that. Isn't there an acupuncture alternative, most will ask, something
that does the same thing, works with the same energy system, but doesn't involve
sticking needles into my skin>
Acupuncture alternatives have been available as long as acupuncture has been ava
ilable. The most prominent of these acupuncture alternative, and the most popula
r, is a form of oriental physical treatment and therapy that uses the same theor
etical structure as acupuncture, but without the needles. Acupuncture aims to re
lieve pain by tonifying, calming, or dispersing blockages in the energy system t
hat delivers life force, Ki, throughout the body. This is done by inserting need
les into connecting nodes between Ki channels to disperse, relieve or strengthen
this connecting node, called a Tsubo. Shiatsu, as an acupuncture alternative, rec
ognizes the validity of the acupuncture approach, but does not concentrate on th
e fixed Tsubos that connect energetic pathways. Shiatsu maintains that many ailm
ents are the result of an imbalance in the flow of Ki through these channels. On
e form of dysfunctional flow is called Kyo, which is found in the channel as dep
leted, weak, under active or even empty Ki flow. Its reverse and equally unbala
nced condition is called Jitsu. With Jitsu, Ki is overactive, bulging, knotty. I
t is more obvious, resistant, causing congestion and blockages. Naturally, Kyo a
nd Jitsu will often appear in combination, Jitsu causing the weakness and decrea
sed flow of Ki at the Kyo region. The whole effort of this acupuncture alternati
ve is to create a balance between the Jitsu and the Kyo regions found along the
web on energy that is the body's life force.
The methods of Shiatsu are not as frightening as acupuncture. Shiatsu practition
ers use variable pressures along the Ki channels to move, dispel and harmonize t
he affect regions. It calls for a mind/body balance to retain the balance that p
hysical postures and precise massaging effect in the treatment. It is something
like chiropractic treatment, but with an oriental slant. So, when that Doctor of
Acupuncture shows up with his tray of needles, inquire first if a Shiatsu pract
itioner is on call. Now you can get your Ki system in balance without the pricks
.