Japanese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

As one of the world's oldest cultures, Chinese influences can found world round in a number of areas including technology, mathematics, the culinary arts, and medicine. The reach of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be seen throughout East and Southeast Asia, where principles outlined in ancient Chinese classics like the Huang Di Nei Jing or "Yellow Emperor's Classics" form the basis for traditional medicine in many countries today.

On the islands furthest to the east, the influence of the Chinese classics can be seen in a number of ways in Japanese traditional medicine. Kanpo - the Japanese word for herbal medicine acknowledges the Chinese, its literal translation is "medicine of the Han people", the Han being the ruling clan of people in China at the time. Furthermore, the herbal formulas, points, meridians and organ systems used to treat in traditional Japanese medicine derive from Chinese classical medical texts.

However, over the centuries classical Chinese ideas were evolved and enhanced to form a definitively Japanese style of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Kanpo employs a uniquely Japanese style of abdominal palpation in its system of diagnosis. Also, alternative locations or new points are often found in Japanese styles of acupuncture in addition to a unique emphasis on the use of moxibustion.

This past August I spent a weekend learning from Sensei Kiiko. I even had the chance to be a demonstration patient for the class. What a treat!

Even within Japan, there are a great many schools and styles of acupuncture and Kanpo. I myself study and practice a style of Japanese acupuncture developed by Master Practitioner Kiiko Mastumoto, who emphasizes tangible results, palpatory confirmation, and everlasting openness to evolution and improvement of technique and philosophy.

This November I will have the opportunity to join Sensei Kiiko Matsumoto on a trip to Osaka, Japan. There I will take classes with some of the Japanese Masters she has studied under. In addition to visiting Japan for the first time, in the spirit of Sensei Kiiko I hope to continue to improve and expand my skills to serve you better!