The Open University is conducting a survey into the choices people make re: complementary/conventional medicine.  The vast majority of people that have taken part so far are GPs and Dentists so please take the time to complete the survey (5 mins) to balance it up a bit, and forward to anyone you know who would be interested

http://www.open2.net/healtheducation/health_socialcare/healthsurvey.html

 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.

I’ve just watched the ‘Alternative Therapies’ programme on Reflexology on the BBC i-player.

I really enjoyed seeing it start at ‘Quest’ a small alternative therapy festival held in Newton Abbot. I’ve been a couple of times and really enjoy the mix of workshops, treatments and music on offer, in addition to the warm friendly atmosphere it has. 

I’ve got mixed feelings about this programme, I really liked the fact that they were going around the festival asking people about Reflexology and you got some lovely shots of people having Shiatsu treatments. I like the fact that the people being asked weren’t putting themselves forward as experts and were open to say they didn’t have a scientific understanding of why it worked.  I  do feel the editing made these willing participants look confused about what they were talking about and therefore not reliable. 

“As a scientist Sykes, unsurprisingly, begins from a skeptical point of view. But on both topics both covered she has concluded with the admission that there may be something in it after all”(http://new-age-spirituality.com/wordpress/?p=111).

I found a really good post on http://www.homereflexology.co.uk/articles/bbc-2-alternative-therapies-reflexology which looks at the scientific evidence todate in relation to reflexology and puts together a good case in response.  

Another post discussion on the subject can be found here: http://tracingflight.blogspot.com/2008/03/real-alternative-therapy.html

I really liked a comment posted by Michael “Yes, in the programme she rather left it hanging - couldn’t find any scientific proof but did introduce a number of practitioners who were somehow producing results. The sceptical scientists will of course keep calling it nonsense until a new theory looks at it all from a novel angle with results which will trigger a new wave of research. That’s how science works, that’s how knowledge moves forward. But what are the chances of getting research funding for such apparently off-beat areas.”

 I have to say that anything that brings Complementary / Alternative therapies into the public domain is a good thing. It raises awareness and enables people to see what is available to them. 

Here’s one CAM clients response ” Although they found no solid “evidence” to show how reflexology could work and therefore could be useful, an investigator in the series from LA had said that people with fibromyalgia had been reported to benefit from massage.

“Benefit from it?” Yeah! I can vouch for that! Give me massage over NSAIDs anytime for my fibro! And mind you, I mean deep massage which tackles my trigger points. Not just gentle stroke for relaxation”   http://fms-ra.blogspot.com/2008/04/alternative-therapies-on-bbc.html

I’ve just stumbled across an article which states the rowing teams from Salford and Manchester Universities have been having Complementary thrapies to ensure they are in the best shape ready for their annual race : http://www.salford.ac.uk/news/details/682.   With or without Scientific proof, if the client feels a benefit from a treatment and believes it is beneficial to them, then they are going to use it.

DR Kathy Sykes talked freely about how she felt like she had a new body once she had a massage and believes that she should have more because she feels they do her good. The rowing teams must feel the CAM therapies will be beneficial to their performance else they wouldn’t use them. 

The programme ended with Dr Sykes going to a cuddle class in LA and concluding that touch has positive effects. 

One of my clients told me that this weeks womens weekly has an article on touch therapies, including Shiatsu, so I picked up a copy and really like what I see.

I’ve not found the article on the internet, so I’ll give you a snippet and if you like it’s W/C 15th Aprils copy.   ” Increasingly, GP’s are prescribing massage for minor injuries, such as stiff neck, and using it, together with other treatments, for more significant medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis and depression. Touch therapy is enormously beneficial, acknowledges Dr Graham Archard, a GP in Christchurch, Dorset. It can be used to reduce tension in muscles, which can in turn help to relieve pain in joints so, for something like a stiff neck, massage is excellent. Or I would use it as an additional therapy with other care for a condition such as osteoarthritis. Research has demonstrated that healing  touch lowers heart rate and blood pressure and can cut levels of stress hormones, and at the same time increase levels of melaton and the feel good hormone serotonin.”……. Get your copy now!

I’ve just read a great post on ‘Zen Habits’ (http://zenhabits.net/2008/04/13-things-to-avoid-when-changing-habits/#more-670). I think the quote in the title that I’ve used is wonderful.

I’ve recently changed a couple of my habits and really enjoyed the post on ‘Zen Habits’ in relation to it.

I have started getting up earlier in the morning which I am really enjoying. I’m finding the enjoyment that I’m getting from doing this motivates me to get out of bed and the lighter mornings help :-). It means I’m able to take the dog for a decent walk in the local woods, eat breakfast without rushing, put together a packed lunch and do some chores before going to work.

It’s also benefitting me in my working life, I’m more relaxed and grounded and I no longer feel like I’m on a work treadmill.

I’ve also recently cut out alchohol, not with a view to never have a drop again but to give my body and my wallet a break. I have to say that I’ve found it much easier than anticipated and currently don’t fancy a tipple.

The early mornings haven’t been an easy transition and I still need to get into a habit of going to bed earlier to balance out my early starts. My partner elaborates on this at: http://barefootdeveloper.blogspot.com/

Steve on Gotham Acupuncture (http://gothamacupuncture.typepad.com/gotham_acupuncture/) recently posted about rVITA.

I too am really enthused by the website and the whole ethos behind it. I had a chat with Niteen from rVITA and was really thrilled to discover that they found my blog because it was listed in the top 50 blogs in the USA, not only that but I was 28th!

I won’t let on that I’m actually based in the UK if you don’t (nudge, nudge, wink,wink).

Anyway, rVITA is a site that wants to promote Complementary, Alternative therapies in a positive light by encouraging qualified practitioners and teachers to share their knowledge, blog posts ( you’ll find a couple of mine on there if you look hard enough) and research in relation to their area of knowledge, expertise and experience.

It also enables interested parties to look for complemantary therapies by putting in specific conditions rather than having to look at different therapies.

I’ll say no more on the matter, why don’t you take a look for yourself:

http://www.rvita.com/    

The BBC, funded by the Open University, has produced a second series of the popular programme which takes a Scientific look at Altertive therapies.

In the first show, Professor Kathy Sykes investigates if hypnosis can help with pain control / relief.

She finds some interesting results along the way, including one patient having their front teeth removed with hypnosis.

This is still available to view on line at:   http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b009jcrj.shtml?src=ip_potpw

“In the second film in the series of Alternative Therapies, Professor Kathy Sykes continues her exploration as she travels to Florida to meet the nephew of the woman who first coined the term reflexology in New York in the Thirties. She also hears about a reflexologist in Sheffield who believes that she has helped over 100 infertile couples to have babies. ” Read more at; http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk13/mon.shtml#mon_reflexology

“I have just found online an entirely free 3d A & P program, with full skeleton, muscle, respiratory, digestive systems - the lot.

You can add and remove whatever you like, rotate it, zoom in and out…
It is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

It takes a while to download it all to your computer, but it looks absolutely amazing.
(Mine stopped part way through, but I just closed internet explorer and reopened it, and it worked fine)

Check it out!

http://www.visiblebody.com“

Thanks to Pete for this fantastic website!

(Parts 1-4 can be found in the preceding posts)

 Conclusion

Early on Set Asthma can start without an allergic reaction, this can happen when a child suffers from an upper respiratory infection (Wind-Cold or Wind – Heat) which is either not treated properly or treated with antibiotics. If wind is not dispelled properly, it dispels itself in the lungs and impairs the dispersing and descending of Lung ki resulting in breathlessness and phlegm. On the other hand, the presence of Wind and phlegm in the lungs predisposes the child to further invasions of external Wind which can make the situation worse. Thus, a vicious cycle sets in when the child is progressively weakened and prone to the invasions of external wind and the breathlessness gets gradually worse.

This is certainly the case with myself. I always thought that my Asthma had started in my late teenage years and early twenties due to the stress that I experienced at the time. After discussing my health as a child with my mother whilst doing this project, I discovered that I had very bad whooping cough as a young child which lasted for a year. I was treated with antibiotics and believe that this and the Whooping cough weakened my lungs enabling a Wind invasion resulting in Asthma. I was a very out going child before this, where upon I started to and became very introvert demonstrating the lung deficiency. I believe that my family generally has low Kidney ki.

One thing that is certain is that the treatment of asthma can be expected to take a long time as the dis-ease is always based on an inborn deficiency of lung and kidneys defensive ki systems. Treatment can take many months if not years to produce lasting results.

Oral steroids can induce a deficiency of kidney. Oral steroids give relief in the short run but make it worse in the long run. Thereby worsening the ki deficiency that already exists. It is better for asthmatics to use their inhalers sparingly and only when really necessary. Other techniques should be tried first to control the situation, for example breathing exercises or qigong.

 Corporeal soul & pre-natal essence

Asthma can be explained in the same way as the deficient essence of the baby fails to root it’s corporeal soul and therefore it’s lungs.

There is a close relationship between the kidney essence and the Lungs corporeal soul. The corporeal soul originates from the mother and arises soon after the pre-natal essence of a newly conceived being is formed. It can be described as the manifestation of the essence in the sphere of sensations and feelings. The corpeal soul provides movement to the essence.

The corporeal soul is responsible for sensations and itching and is therefore closely related to the skin.

Wind is the main pathogenic factor in Asthma:not in the sense of an invasion of external wind, but as a kind of chronic external Wind locked in the bronchi. The Lungs are the most exterior of the Yin organs as they control the skin. The bronchai mucosa can be seen as extensions of the skin. Thus, just as wind invades the skin it may invade the bronchi, lodge itself there cause bronchial spasm.

This can happen only against a back drop of deficiency of the Lung and Kidneys defensive qi system which allows the wind to lodge in the bronchi for a long time, Thus asthma is characterised by Wind.

The Chinese idea of Wind may be compared to the western concept of allergens, as discussed earlier. The inhalation of dust, faecal matter from house dust mites, pollen and animal dander could be compared to invasion of ‘wind’ in TCM.

The main problem in asthma is a deficiency of the lungs and kidney defensive ki systems which allows wind to penetrate and lodge itself in the bronchi causing bouts of bronchoplasm.

Allergic asthma is due to wind in the bronchi causing periodic bouts of wheezing. This is difficult to expel because it is linked to a deficiency of the lungs and kidneys defensive qi systems. Until this deficiency is addressed, the wind cannot be expelled.

Lung and Kidney defensive Ki in relation to Asthma

The lungs according to TCM theory are vital in that they control all the blood vessels and channels in the human body by infusing Ki into the blood and assist the heart. Ki has a direct connection with blood. (Cibik, 2007)

The lungs spread defensive ki to skin and muscles and are connected to the kidneys which are the root of the defensive ki. Ki warms the skin and muscles.

Kidney yang is the source of all yang energies and is the route of defensive ki. The kidneys are paired with bladder and kidney-yang provides ki to the bladder for it’s transformation of fluids. In the process of this transformation a clear part of the fluids flows upwards along the bladder channel in the back to the skin and muscles where they mingle with defensive ki. Besides this, both the bladder channel and the governing vessel which spread defensive ki all over the back in the greater yang area are connected to the kidneys. Governing Vessel also starts from the kidneys. (Macocia,1994,p.112)

“The correction of errors in medicine (1831) by Wang Quing Ren has diagrams showing defensive Qi gathering vessels emerging from the kidneys, thus resistance to pathogenic factors(which includes allergens) is dependent not only on the lungs but to a great extent also on the kidneys”. (Macocia, 1994)

In allergic asthma there is a deficiency of the kidney defensive ki system from the beginning. In children prolonged wheezing and coughing can induce a kidney deficiency which is therefore the consequence of a lung pathology in atopic asthma. However, a kidney deficiency is the cause of  the condition and the cause for chronic wind to be lodged in the chest.