The pure, clean and orderly society depicted in countless movies still exists in modern Japan and is taken extremely seriously. These traditions have survived the test of time-from the meticulous preparation and presentation of Japanese foods such as sushi and sashimi and the intricate perfection of the traditional kimono, to the near absence of English being spoken on the streets, the straw tatami mats omnipresent in homes throughout the country and the importance of bathing in daily life.
Traditional Japanese belief holds that illness is the result of possession by vengeful spirits (kami) and the cure requires purification rites (harai) or exorcism by shamans. Purification is therefore fundamental, more as a preventive rather than curative measure. Even today, bathing rituals to clean and purify the body and careful attention to personal hygiene are an intrinsic part of Japanese etiquette and society as a whole.
Ki is the vital life force that sustains the body. The principal aim of any of the range of time-tested Japanese therapies is kyo-jitsu-ho-sha or the manipulation of ki, which is achieved by either replenishing a ki deficiency or dispersing excess ki to regain overall balance and harmony in the body and the mind.
Japanese Shiatsu – The finger pressure massage.
Literally translated as finger (shi) pressure (atsu), shiatsu is a relatively modern therapy, popularized only a century ago by Japanese physician Tokujiro Namikoshi.
Often described as acupuncture without needles’, shiatsu uses the fingers, palms and especially the thumbs to apply pressure to manipulate the body’s acupoints and improve the flow of ki.
It helps correct imbalances and realigns the body naturally. Therapy is tailored to individual concerns-be it back pain, migraine, neck and shoulder discomfort, menstrual issues, sports injuries or rheumatic pains. Regular sessions can help to boost stamina, improve digestion and concentration, relieve stress and calm both the mind and body.
Japanese Rciki healing treatment
Reiki is a trusted method of healing for body, mind and spirit. It rates as one of the most widely taught and practiced therapies in the West today This technique is believed to have been discovered in ancient Tibetan Sanskrit sutra (Buddhist teachings) during the late 1880s by Dr Mikao Usui, who went on to teach reiki in Japan.
Reiki is an extremely calming form of touch therapy during which the attuned practitioner harnesses his ability to control his ki to heal others. During a typical session, the reiki healer transmits energy to the client by placing his hands over or on the specific body parts requiring, attention.
When the energy is channelled through his hands, it activates the recipient’s innate healing ability to rebalance their ki. For example, placing the hand of an experienced reiki practitioner over or on a woman’s abdomen helps rebalance her ki and is believed to cure certain digestive problems and ease menstrual cramps, while hands placed over the head can relieve upper body tension and headaches. Reiki is reputed to be effective in relieving many illnesses including arthritis, insomnia and migraine, and apart from treating others, it can also be used for self-healing.
Japanese kanpo herbal medicine
The Japanese system of kanpo (herbal medicine) is adapted directly from Chinese herbal medicine.
It is formulated to rebalance and strengthen the body through specific herbal recipes, primarily based on plant and animal ingredients. The remedies concocted are tailored specifically to the individual, not to the disease, and are prepared as teas, decoctions, pills, and granules to be taken daily.
The prescriptions are carefully combined to ensure that each ingredient acts in synergy.