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In earlier days in China, a doctor wasn't paid to give treatment to ill people but to keep a person healthy. As soon
as a person became ill, he received his treatment for free. The health care was basically preventive. There are 5
types of treatment: acupuncture, medicines and herbs, curving with stones, moxa and anma (massage). Shiatsu
came from anma. It was recommended for people living in the center of the country, near to the yellow river. In this
area the culture was most developed and people were doing more mental than physical work. The same can be
said about us. The Japanese took many things from Chinese culture to change and develop. So they did with
anma and acupuncture and developed it into "shiatsu".
Finger pressure
Shiatsu literally means finger pressure. Natural body weight is used when pressure is applied on special points on
the body. Through this pressure the energy flowing in the meridians is influenced. This energy is called chi.
Chi
Chi by itself is invisible, but the way chi works can be seen in the body. When a wound is healing 'just by itself' it is
the work of chi. Traditionally everything was seen as an expression of chi. Chi is the origin, the power of live.
When chi stagnates, the body becomes ill.
Meridians
Meridians are channels of chi. Sometimes they follow the same line as muscles or blood-vessels. The functions
of the meridians is:
- control the movement in the body (blood, gas, air, water)
- connect the arms, legs and head with the trunk
- communication from inside to the outside of the body (and from the outside to the inside) and from up to down
(and from down to up)- control the regulation of the organs. There are twelve main meridians. Each meridian
corresponds with an organ and is named after that specific organ. Triple heater however is an exception. This
meridian corresponds with the relationship between a few organs. The meridian is not only connected to the
organ, but also to the eastern concept of the function of that organ. Large intestine for example takes care of
secretion. Emotionally it is related with lost, parting e.g. A collector can have problems like constipation.
Spending a lot of money also can effect the large intestine.
