AOBTA Educational Requirements: CHINESE MEDICAL THEORY (100 Hours Minimum)

SHIATSU

Nathaniel Whitmore

PART ONE – THEORY

I. General Theory

A. Chi

B. Tao

II. Yin-Yang

Tai Chi Tu
Yin-Yang Correspondences
The Six Divisions
Seven Principles of Yin and Yang
Twelve Theorems of Yin and Yang

III. Five Elements

Elements as Symbols of Energy
The Five Element Correspondences
The Control and Nourish Cycles of the Five Elements

IV. Five Fundamental Substances

A. Chi

B. Blood

C. Jing

D. Shen

E. Fluids

V. The Twelve Organs

A. Spleen and Stomach

B. Lung and Large Intestine

C. Kidney and Bladder

D. Liver and Gall Bladder

E. Heart and Small Intestine

F. Heart Governor and Triple Burner

VI. Meridians and Points

A. Conception and Governing Vessels

B. Spleen and Stomach

C. Lung and Large Intestine

D. Kidney and Bladder

E. Liver and Gall Bladder

F. Heart and Small Intestine

G. Heart Governor and Triple Heater

H. Twelve General Points

I. Bo Points

J. Yu Points

K. Points for Common Complaints

VII. Assessment

Observation
Questioning
Palpitation

VIII. Pathology

The Five Pathogenic Conditions
Diet
The Seven Emotions
Defensive Chi

PART TWO – TREATMENT

IX. Aim of Treatment

Centering Hara
Balancing Meridians
Balancing Kyo & Jitsu
Balancing the Five Elements

X. Technique

A. Hara

B. Finger Pressure

C. Additional Technique

D. Tonification and Sedation

XI. 50 Minute Routine

Supine Position
Prone Position
Kneeling or Sitting

XII. 75 Minute Routine

Supine Position
Prone Position
Kneeling or Sitting

XIII. 100 Minute Routine

Assessment
Supine Position
Prone Position
Kneeling or Sitting
Finishing Supine Position

PART THREE – HISTORY

XIV.Origins of Modern Shiatsu

Tenpaku Temai
Tokujiro Namikoshi

XV.Chinese Medicine

Shamanism & Folk Medicine
“Traditional Chinese Medicine”
Tadashi Izawa

XVI.Macrobiotic Shiatsu

A. Shizuko Yamamoto

XVII.Endless Mountains Shiatsu

A. Ohashi

XVIII.Zen Shiatsu, Etc.

A. Shizuto Masunaga

I. General Theory

A. Chi - Qi / Ki / Energy / Vital Force

Shiatsu is energy work, not massage. Shiatsu treats the body based on the recognition that everything is energy.

If one’s energy, or chi, is abundant and free-flowing then there is health. If the energy is deficient or stagnant then there is a lack of health. These two main imbalances are seen as the underlying causes of ill health.

B. Tao – Way / Path

Shiatsu is as much of an art as it is a science, or more so. In shiatsu, the practitioner must learn the meridians and the points (tsubos), and the various techniques used to encourage the balanced flow of energy through the points. Once all such technicalities are understood, the shiatsu student learns how to use the hara to guide the act of giving shiatsu.

The hara is the abdomen in a general sense, and is a particular point just below the navel in a specific sense. The hara is considered to be the center of the body, both physically and energetically. In martial arts (including chi gung and tai chi), dance, and shiatsu, practitioners learn to make every movement “from the hara”. The martial artist does not learn to break bricks using mere physical strength, but learns to cultivate chi and to guide movement with the hara. In shiatsu we do not look to hurt anyone, and we care little about breaking bricks. But we do want to have our sessions be as powerful as possible. Rather than just pushing points, therefore, we use our hara so that healing chi is used to apply pressure to the points.

I have noticed that the feedback I receive from shiatsu clients directly corresponds to how “centered in my hara” I am when giving shiatsu. The more centered I am and the more each movement comes from the hara, the better I feel while giving shiatsu and the better the feedback is from those who received shiatsu.

The Tao is important regarding shiatsu because giving a good shiatsu session depends on being tuned in to yourself, your client, and healing energy. There is a “way” to do shiatsu that makes it powerful. Remember, shiatsu is intended to be therapeutic. The aim is to move stagnant energy and nourish deficient energy, which is to say in a more general sense that the aim of shiatsu is to balance energy.

When giving shiatsu, imagine yourself being in tune with a higher power and with healing energy. Imagine yourself in communication with your client. And imagine yourself nourishing and moving energy.

“becoming one with the Tao”

II. Yin-Yang

A. Tai Chi Tu – The Yin-Yang Diagram

B. Primary Yin-Yang Correspondences

Yin: The Dark Side of the Mountain HeavenFemaleWater

Yang: The Sunny Side of the MountainEarthMaleFire

C. The Six Divisions – (The Eight Principles)

Yin:ColdDeficiencyInterior (Chronic)

Yang:HotExcessExterior (Acute)

D. Seven Principles of Yin and Yang

1. One Unity is the source of Yin and Yang in infinite manifestations.

2. Everything changes.

3. Everything is interrelated.

4. Nothing is identical.

5. What has a front has a back.

6. The bigger the front, the bigger the back.

7. What has a beginning has an end.

E. The Twelve Theorems of Yin and Yang

1. Yin and Yang are the two poles of infinity.

2. Yin and Yang are produced infinitely.

3. Yin is centrifugal; Yang is centripetal. Yin, centrifugal, produces expansion, lightness, cold, etc. Yang, centripetal, produces constriction, weight, heat, light, etc.

4. Yin attracts Yang, Yang attracts Yin.

5. All things and phenomena are composed of Yin and Yang in different proportions.

6. All things and phenomena are constantly changing their Yin and Yang components. Everything is restless.

7. There is nothing completely Yin or completely Yang. All is relative.

8. There is nothing neuter. There is always Yin or Yang in excess.

9. Affinity, or force of attraction between things, is proportional to the difference of Yin and Yang (potency) in them.

10. Yin expels Yin; Yang expels Yang. Expulsion or attraction between two things Yin or Yang is in inverse proportion to the difference of their Yin or Yang force.

11. Yin produces Yang, Yang produces Yin at the extremity.

12. Everything is Yang at its center and Yin at its periphery.

III. Five Elements

A. Elements as Symbols of Energy

Most, if not all, indigenous cultures used the “elements” of nature to symbolize aspects of life and qualities of energy. Following are some examples. The Chinese Five Elements are used in shiatsu. Sometimes the terms “phases” or “transformations” are used instead of the word “elements” because they indicate a more dynamic, alive quality rather than a static image.

Chinese: Five Elements: Wood/Tree, Fire, Earth/Soil, Metal, & Water

Japanese:Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, & Heaven

East Indian: Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, & Ether

Tibetan:Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, & Space/Ether

Greek: Four Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, & Air

English:Four Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, & Air

Early American:Four Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, & Air

Native American:Four Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, & Air/Wood

African:Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Mineral, & Nature

B. The Five Element Correspondences

Aspect: Wood: Fire: Earth: Metal: Water: .

Direction-UpwardOutwardDownwardInwardFloating

Cardinal Dir.-EastSouthCenterWestNorth

Season-SpringSummerIndian Sum.AutumnWinter

Life Stage-BirthEarly AdultAdultElderDeath

Plant Growth-SproutFlowerSeedRootDormancy

Solid Organ-LiverHeartSpleenLungKidney

Hollow Organ-Gall BladderSmall Int.StomachLarge Int.Bladder

Tissue-TendonVesselsMuscleSkinBone

Orifice- EyeMouthMouthNoseEar

Sense-SightTouchTasteSmellHearing

Part of Face-Mid. BrowNoseTongueCheeksUnder Eyes

Pathology-WindHeatDampnessDrynessCold

Foods-SproutsLeavesGrainsRootsBeans

Taste-SourBitterSweetPungentSalty

Color-GreenRedYellowWhiteBlue

Pos. Emotion-PatienceJoyLoveCourageCalmness

Neg. Emotion-AngerAnxietyWorryGriefFear

Diseases-JaundiceHypertensionHypoglycemiaCoughL. Back Ache

Gall StonesHigh Chol.DiabetesConstipationFatigue

ShakingPoor Circ.BleedingSkin DiseaseReprod. Issue

Digestive Ill.Growth Prob.

C. The Control and Nourish Cycles of the Five Elements

The Nourish Cycle:

Wood nourishes Fire > Fire nourishes Earth > Earth nourishes Metal >

Metal nourishes Water> Water nourishes Wood

The Control Cycle

Wood controls Earth > Earth controls Water > Water controls Fire >

Fire controls Metal > Metal controls Wood

The control and nourishing cycles help to explain the interconnectedness of the meridians and body functions of the Five Elements theory. When one element is out of balance, it often corresponds to related imbalances in other elements.

Although the star shaped diagram is a visually balanced representation of the elements, the realities of element imbalances are quite dynamic. Each element has its own tendencies for imbalance. The water element, for instance, tends to suffer from deficiency, while wood tends to suffer from excess.

IV. Five Fundamental Substances

A. Chi

Sources of Chi: parents, air, food, environment, thoughts

Chi Deficiency: lack of chi in general or a chi def. associated with a particular meridian

Chi is particularly associated with the kidneys, the lungs, and the spleen.

B. Blood

Blood provides nourishment. Blood deficiency often occurs with Chi deficiency and is the result of poor diet. Nutrient dense foods are emphasized to correct the condition.

C. Jing – Reproductive Energy / Reproductive Fluids

Jing is responsible for reproduction / procreation. At the moment of conception one receives a certain amount of jing from the parents. It is difficult to nourish the jing through life; it is mostly supplemented by nourishing chi.

Jing controls growth and development, and dwindles with age. Unhealthy lifestyle practices, stress, and the like deplete jing. Longevity practices are aimed at nourishing and protecting the jing.

Jing is associated with the kidneys.

D. Shen – Spirit

Shen is the spirit or the mind. Mental and emotional imbalances are considered to be “disturbed shen”.

Shen is associated with the heart.

E. Fluids

The body Fluids nourish and lubricate the body. Often called “yin”, the fluids are the cooling principle of the body. “Yin Deficiency” refers to dryness, or the lack of fluids.

Fluids are associated with the Kidneys and the Earth element.

Fluids are symbolized by the element water (yin), which is in a complementary and antagonistic relationship with fire (yang). Fire dries water, while water puts out fire – they keep the other quality in check. Too much fire results in inflammatory disease. Too much water results in diseases of dampness.

V. The Twelve Organs

A. Spleen and Stomach

The spleen (and pancreas) is associated with the digestive system, the blood and lymph, and the energy of the center and of holding. The stomach is responsible for encasing food during one of the initial stages of digestion. The spleen and stomach are very important for digestion and pathologies associated with the spleen and stomach often involve digestive problems, such as “dampness of the spleen”.

B. Lung and Large Intestine

The lungs and large intestines both gather and disperse. The large intestine gathers water from the chyme and releases stool. The lungs gather fresh air and release what the body does not need. The lungs are very important for the gathering of chi from the air.

C. Kidney and Bladder

The kidneys are associated with the reproductive system and one’s constitutional energy, in addition to their well-known function of filtering blood and creating urine. Many alternative therapies focus on “cleansing the kidneys”, but in Oriental medicine, the kidneys are nourished in order to promote health and longevity.

D. Liver and Gall Bladder

The liver works very hard to filter the blood, constantly breaking down toxins and nutrients. It often becomes overworked and stagnant, creating liver heat. The gall bladder stores and releases bile, which is produced by the liver in order to eliminate cholesterol and produce a substance that will emulsify fats in digestion.

E. Heart and Small Intestine

The heart and small intestine disperse nutrients throughout the body. The heart works very hard and is damaged by yin and susceptible to heat. The small intestine relates to digestion.

F. Heart Governor and Triple Heater

The heart governor is associated with circulation. The triple heater is the metabolism of the body and chi. The three burners are the three energy centers of the body- the lower abdomen (the place of the hara), the upper abdomen, and the chest.

The heart governor is also known as the “heart constrictor” or the “pericardium”.

VI. Meridians and Tsubos

A. Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel

The conception vessel travels from the point just in front of the anus (CV1) to the mouth.

The governing vessel travels from the mouth, up over the head, down the back, and to the point just in front of the anus.

CV3, CV4, and other points in the lower abdomen are treated for menstrual problems.

Several bo points are located along the conception vessel (see below). CV3 is the bladder bo point, CV4 is small intestine, CV5 is triple heater, CV12 is stomach, CV14 is heart, and CV17 is heart governor.

GV20 is an important point that corresponds with the crown chakra.

B. Spleen and Stomach

The spleen meridian travels from the big toe, up the inside of the leg, to the abdomen.

The stomach meridian travels from just below the eye, down the front of the body, and branches before the 2nd and 3rd toes.

SP6 (“three yin meeting point”) is a very important point for menstrual problems and other problems relating to the spleen energy. SP10 is also important.

ST36 is an important point for fatigue and stomach energy in general. It is one of Ma Danyang’s 12 miraculous points, as is ST44.

C. Lung and Large Intestine

The lung meridian travels from the chest to the thumb.

The large intestine meridian travels from the index finger to the nostrils.

LG1, LG2, LG10, and LG11 are all especially important for treating lung diseases. LG7 is one of Ma Danyang’s miraculous points. It is used for migraines and wandering pains.

LI4 is important for constipation and other large intestine imbalances, and for headaches.

LI20 helps to open the sinuses and lungs. LI4 and LI11 are among Ma Danyang’s miraculous points.

D. Kidney and Bladder

The kidney meridian starts behind the ball of the foot (KD1, “bubbling spring”), travels up the leg, up in front of the torso and along the sternum.

The bladder meridian starts at the inside corners of the eyes, travels up over the head and down the neck, divides into two branches that run down the sides of the spine and back of the legs, reconnects at the knees, continues down the back of the legs, along the dises of the feet, to the pinky toe.

KD1 is a very important point for kidney problems and fatigue. KD3, KD5, KD8, and KD 10 are also very important.

The bladder points along the spine, called Yu points, are very important (see below). BL13 corresponds to the lungs, BL14 to the heart governor, BL15 to the heart, BL16 to the governing vessel, BL17 to blood, BL18 to the liver, BL19 to the gall bladder, BL20 to the spleen, BL21 to the stomach, BL22 to the triple burner, BL23 to the kidneys, BL24 to chi, BL25 to the large intestine, BL27 to the small intestines, and BL28 to the bladder.

BL1, BL2, BL36, BL40, and BL67 are also important points.

BL40, BL57, and BL60 are among Ma Danyang’s miraculous points.

E. Liver and Gall Bladder

The liver meridian starts at the big toe and travels up the shin and inside of the leg to the abdomen.

The gall bladder meridian starts at the temples, zig-zags down the sides of the head and body, and continues down the sides of the legs to the fourth toes.

LV2 and LV3 are important points. LV3 was added by Xu Feng to Ma Danyang’s original 11 miraculous points.

GB1, GB2, GB20, GB21, GB30, GB34, GB40, and GB44 are important points. GB20 and GB21 are important for stiff neck, wind invasions, and sinus congestion; and are contraindicated for pregnancy. GB30 is one of Ma’s miraculous points.

F. Heart and Small Intestine

The heart meridian starts in the armpits and travels to the little finger.

The small intestine meridian starts at the little finger and travels up the back of the arm, over the scapula, and to the area in front of the ear.

HT1 is an important point for shoulder problems. HT5 is one of Ma Danyang’s points.

SI3, SI10, SI11, SI14, and SI19 are important points. SI10 and SI11 are very good for shoulder and upper back discomfort.

G. Heart Governor and Triple Heater

The heart governor meridian starts parallel to the nipple and runs along the arm to the middle finger.

The triple heater meridian starts on the back of the ring finger and travels along the arm, up over the ear, to the end of the eyebrow.

HG1 and HG8 are important points for the heart and cirulation.

TH17, TH21, and TH23 are important points. Be careful treating TH17.

H. Twelve general points (LI4, ST36, SP6, SI10, BL40/54, GB20, GB21, GB30, LV3, CV4, CV17, GV20)

LI4 “union valley” ~ good for constipation, headaches, fatigue, wind invasion, et cetera

ST36 “leg three li” ~ good for ST and SP disorders, and for fatigue

SP6 “three yin meeting point” ~ good for SP disorders and menstrual disorders,

especially stagnation. Contraindicated for pregnancy.

SI10 “upper arm shu” ~ good for shoulder problems

BL40/54 “bend middle” ~ good for low back, leg, and knee pain and for BL disorders

GB20 “wind pond” ~ good for internal and external wind, including stiff neck

GB21 “shoulder well” ~ good for internal and external wind and shoulder problems

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Used to promote labor.

GB30 “jumping round” ~ good for sciatica, back pain, and arthritis

LV3 “great surge” ~ good for LV disorders, digestive disorders, eyesight, et cetera

CV4 “origin pass” ~ good for menstrual disorders. Bo (or Mu) point for SI.

CV17 “chest center” ~ good for HT and LG disorders. Bo point for HG.