TCM & Shiatsu - FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

TCM originated in China over 4,000 years ago. Within TCM, the core belief is that illnesses are caused by an energy (bloodflow) imbalance in the body or an external attack (bad weather, bacteria or viruses). Health wellness comes when there is an energy alignment; illness means a body energy imbalance. You will hear TCM ideas of Ki or Qi energy, balancing out Yin and Yang energies, that flow along Meridians and their Acupoints.

Chinese mapped the internal organs 4,000 years ago, but these do not always correspond to the modern Western anatomy.  TCM says the Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver relate to digestion, the Lung to breathing, but the 12 TCM organ meridians and their Acupoints are not widely understood. These Meridians and Acupoints are depicted on ancient Oriental diagrams, the ones now used by Shiatsu and Acupuncture practitioners.

TCM takes a whole or holistic approach in medical diagnostics – observing human phenomena that may be create pain or unease:  posture, skin, blood pressure, eyes, tongue etc. TCM enquires about your living and working habits, what you’re eating and drinking, how you sleep, state of your emotions and social relationships. All these affect your energy patterns and health.

Shiatsu practitioners tell people after diagnosis, your body organ is too weak, or too strong, or it’s blocked in its meridian.  Shiatsu uses accurate finger pressure and massage to support your body organs via proper bloodflow after a treatment to regain health.

TCM Shiatsu treats the human Holistically as an organic total of Mind+Body+Spirit (MBS).  The vital blood energy flow across these planes of existence is reinforced by finger pressure on meridians or Acupoints to address root causes of illness.  Western doctors usually address the symptoms not root causes, often prescribing painkiller or antidepressant tablets to battle surface phenomena observed.

Shiatsu (or Tuina in China) is an early TCM modality using Acupoints and finger pressure; how much better than other TCM methods is controversial.  As a medical treatment, it is more effective than Reiki (an American non-contact method). Shiatsu is more readily taken up than Acupuncture as some people are intrinsically frightened of needles or injections.   

Human beings differ, so levels of pain experienced depend on the individual.  For most patients, the pain can manifest as short 2-3 seconds stinging that subsides. Some have a low threshold for pain, so cannot seem to bear minor pain during treatment, even if it makes them healthier.

The short answer NO – it’s a matter of personal choice. Many people use both Western and TCM medicine in complementary form.

No, by the non-invasive nature of TCM / Shiatsu as I practise, it is almost impossible to harm. From the insurance and risk management aspects: the potentially harmful effects on the patient are limited – there are no drugs administered, no needle penetration, no surgery given.   The aim is to shift energy and blood flow around the human.

Modern human lifestyles can be stressful, complex and exhausting, so an excessive burden will hurt you.  TCM Shiatsu need collaboration of both TCM practitioner and patient: Mind+Body+Spirit are released to relieve areas of inner pain to create a lighter overall feeling. But, unbalanced lifestyles and commitments deplete your inner energy – you will be suitably advised.

Inner energy is used for living, growth, feeding, exercise, decision-making and creativity, but if you’re unbalanced, negative emotions enter: bitterness, anger, impatience create inner conflict and bad health.  TCM-led movement, better food and drinks can counter the negative. TCM practitioners encourage patients towards positive thought, and a healthier life.

National Healthcare patients can be mentally blocked or negative, so get tension, mental illness or depression.  Drugs and antidepressants do not often work as there’s destructive power within mental illnesses to create inner damage. A TCM Shiatsu practitioner can work with patient’s Qi energy and bloodflow in specific meridians and Acupoints to rebalance blood and energy.  The key is to work together as a team to progress past mental “stuckness”, depression and grief towards constructive decisions and mental clarity. 

More accurately, TCM Shiatsu help to get the patient on the healing path, but doesn’t cure the patient.  TCM Shiatsu can assist the patient getting on a healing process when the patient and practitioner move energy and blood flow to a balanced level.  When the practitioner and patient work together along an appropriate remedial path, TCM Shiatsu can be said to help healing.  When opinions are different or incompatible, then no one is trusted or co-operating, there will be no healing.