The Centre for Japanese Acupuncture

Toronto Ontario

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What is Japanese Acupuncture?

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Acupuncture has been practiced in Japan for over 1,600 years, having been passed down through the generations by an unbroken lineage of practitioners since it was first introduced in that country in 410 AD. Japanese acupuncture has continually evolved over the centuries to reflect the unique characteristics of that country’s climate, geography, culture and sensibilities of its population. As a result, Japanese acupuncturists established their own methods and traditions which in recent times have spread overseas and become standard practice in China, South Korea and other countries around the world.

Some unique features of Japanese acupuncture include:

  • the use of ultra fine needles for pain free needling
  • gentle needling techniques with shallow insertion
  • non-insertion contact needling
  • use of fewer needles
  • Oshide – left and right hand needling positions
  • subtle De Qi
  • contact and non-insertion needling techniques
  • the use of pure grade mugwort for direct and semi-direct moxibustion
  • an emphasis on hands-on diagnostic methods such as abdominal and pulse diagnosis

How Does Moxa Work?

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The use of needles to stimulate acupuncture points and channels dates back approximately 2000 years, to the time when metal needles were first invented in China. Before that, other methods of stimulating acupuncture points and channels were used, such as cupping, massage and the application of heat.

Modern day physiotherapy recognizes the therapeutic benefits of applying heat to injured parts of the body as a means of improving circulation and speeding up the healing process. Physiotherapists apply heat by various means including heat packs, laser and infrared therapy.

In Asia, from prehistoric times to the present day, the therapeutic application of heat was done by burning mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) either close to, or directly on, the skin. Mugwort, commonly referred to as moxa (or mogusha in Japanese) is a common weed that, when dried, processed and burned according to traditional methods, has special healing properties. According to modern research, moxa likely originated in Mongolia and was used for therapeutic purposed before Chinese medicine was developed.

Stimulating acupuncture points with moxa has different therapeutic benefits than stimulating the same points with needles. While needles have a harmonizing effect on the subtle energies of the body and the central nervous system, moxa stimulates tissue and organ repair and improves immune functioning through its effect on the blood.

Moxa can be applied in various ways, either in conjunction with needles or by itself. In Japan over many centuries, a technique was developed of burning tiny ‘threads’ or ‘cones’ of moxa directly on acupuncture points without burning or scarring the skin. This technique uses specially refined moxa that burns at a relatively low temperature, so it is safe and transmits a very pure quality of heat into the acupuncture point.