Physiology of Shiatsu (1) by Rakesh Verma

 Introduction

 Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage developed over 2000 years ago in China which uses acupuncture points (tsubos) and Meridians in order to balance the receivers energy, therefore bringing them back into a better state of health. Such eastern methods of healing involve manipulating what is called Qi, Chi or Prana. Mind, body and emotions are seen to work together and an imbalance in one aspect will have an affect on the other; a concept that is becoming more widely accepted in the west.

I would like to try and demonstrate how eastern ways of healing and health using energy work can be understood through explaining how it affects the body; more specifically, how Shiatsu therapy affects a patients` health and how health can be restored by releasing stress from the body and nervous system. Through a stress free nervous system health radiates and a person is seen to be in harmony with themselves and their environment. I will include case studies of clients I have treated for specific ailments and I will link how the central nervous system would have had an impact as a result of the shiatsu treatment. As the central nervous system has a number of functions and divisions, I will mainly be focusing on the sympathetic and parasympathetic division.

 

 

Basic Physiology

Western aspects

 

Research has shown that the internal organs are linked to the skin, sub-cutaneous tissues and muscles via the nervous system and by means of nerve reflex actions, disturbances in the way internal organs function can be felt on the surface of the body. Pain is a response often caused by chronic and inappropriate tension held in the muscles due to habitual movement, poor posture or emotional tension in the body. Working on an area that is affected by palming and stretching will help by displacing fluids concentrated in the contracted muscles and clear away any toxic waste material such as lactic acid, which can cause cramp and may have been contributing to the pain. The lymphatic system which is responsible for draining toxins from the cells will be activated as will the circulation. Increased capacity of the capillaries helps fresh oxygenated blood flow into the muscles which in turn reduce the effects of any pain inducing toxins. Shiatsu also helps to release endorphins which act as natural analgesics suppressing pain as well as regulating the body’s response to stress and determining mood. By stimulating the Yu points along the Bladder Meridian over the back, the internal organs are directly influenced by excitation of the afferent visceral sensory nerves. Pressing of these points can also give you an indication of any disharmony within that organ associated with a particular Yu point. By working with the nerves directly in this way, harmony can be restored to the autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) deals with the nervous functions that are not normally under our control, such as the beating of the heart muscle and the contraction of muscles needed to move food along the digestive tract and is controlled by the hypothalamus. The ANS supplies nerves to all the internal organs of the body and the blood vessels. The central nervous system (CNS) deals with more conscious functions such as the voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

The ANS is divided into two divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic, which work together to govern our responses to our surroundings and activity between the two is usually balanced. Every organ in the body has a sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve supply and works as follows.

The Sympathetic consists of a collection of nerve cells which are situated in front of the vertebral column and travel the length of the body from the thoracic to the lumbar region. (The effects of sympathetic stimulation last longer and are more widespread.)

-stimulates the action of the heart, releases noradrenalin which prepares the body for excitement and stresses “the fight or flight response”.

-if the body is in a long term state of alertness due to secretions of hormones that have prepared it to respond to stress then in the long run ’exhaustion’ will result from the dramatic changes during the alarm and resistance stages. Exhaustion involves the wasting of muscle, suppression of the immune system, ulceration of the GI tract and failure of the pancreas to secrete insulin.

-accelerates heart rate and force of contraction.

-causes dilation (relaxing and opening) of arteries, hence increasing blood supply to the heart.

-causes dilation of the blood vessels supplying skeletal muscles, increasing the nourishing and waste removal process, thus enabling the muscle to work better.

-causes sustained contraction of the spleen, thus increasing volume of blood circulating.

-raises blood pressure by constricting small arteries and arterioles that supply the skin.

-constricts blood vessels in secretary glands of digestive system, restricting flow of digestive juices.

-blood moves away from the sexual/reproductive organs.

-breathing is more restricted and shallow.

 

The Parasympathetic division of the ANS consists of nerves which branch off to all the organs in the chest and abdomen.

-slows down the action of an organ.

-stimulates the opposite reaction to that produced by sympathetic nerves.

-releases acetylcholine which is an excitatory neurotransmitter.

-slows action of heart reducing rate and force of contraction.

-constricts flow of blood to heart muscles.

-enhances digestive activities during intervals between exercise by allowing energy supplying food to be digested and absorbed.

-supports body functions that conserve and restore body energy during times of rest and recovery.

­­­­­-decreased heart rate, decreased diameter of airways and decreased diameter of pupils.

-stimulates salivation, acclimation and urination.

-sexual organs responsive and arousal will be heightened.

-breathing more relaxed and the amplitude of the breath is much greater.

Shiatsu induces the activities of the parasympathetic division to predominate resulting in overall relaxation, calmness and a feeling of tranquilly as well as allowing the bodies own natural healing mechanism to start working, bringing the body back into a state of homeostasis. There is an experience of mind and body being unified as one, and the feeling of being touched in a Shiatsu treatment is experienced as more diffuse and integrated. Shiatsu promotes to switch the nervous system from sympathetic to parasympathetic mode through the application of touch. As pressure is applied to the body the sympathetic mode reacts to the stimulus and creates a barrier between our finger and the receiver’s body as their protective mechanism evaluates the quality of the stimulation. When the receiver’s body determines that it is a positive stimulus the sympathetic relaxes and the parasympathetic is turned on leaving the body more open and relaxed. The breath change is a key sign that the receiver is entering into parasympathetic mode.

 

So in summary Shiatsu can affect bodily systems in the following ways:

Muscular – continued tension or operation of muscles gradually causes accumulation of fatigue-producing elements (lactic acid and carbon dioxide) and a resulting induration of the muscle fibres, which lose power to contract. The flow of blood and lymph is reduced and capillary nourishment becomes insufficient. If this induration continues, contracture develops, nerves are dulled and the internal organs and endocrine systems are affected with a consequent loss of bodily homeostasis. Shiatsu therapy can help to correct this disharmony.

Circulation – Shiatsu stimulates efficient circulation of bodily fluids; the pressure applied has good effects on the limbs and vitalises return of venous blood to the heart.

Neural – Force and duration of pressure applied to the surface of the body should set up reflexes in the internal organs, stimulating them to function as they should, therefore correcting irregularities. Controls the reaction of the sympathetic nerves and works with the parasympathetic nervous system.

Endocrine – various points near to where the glands are situated can be stimulated in order to affect the functioning of the endocrine gland.

Skeletal – helps to restore mobility of various joints and to correct impaired posture.

Digestive – Shiatsu regulates the absorption of nutrients in the intestines and the process of digestion.

Respiratory – breathing slows down, circulation of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide becomes more efficient.

Lymphatic – transportation of lymph and excess fluid is improved by manipulation of the muscular system therefore making sure the production of anti-bodies is not compromised and waste material from the blood is removed.