| Springtime |
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| Written by Andrew Stewart | |
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Bear
with me. Traditional oriental medicine, from which Shiatsu springs, is
predicated on the concept of an energetic body working in parallel with the
physical one, overseeing and directing the functions of the physical, emotional
and intellectual self. Strange as this may sound to western ears, oriental
medicine developed over literally thousands of years and is still practiced
today, along side western medicine in modern China and elsewhere. Some people
see this ‘energetic body' as a way of explaining the workings of the
complexities of the human body in a time when hormones, neurological impulses
and so on could not be detected, let alone understood. Others simply accept the
notion and work with it. Whichever, the fact that people have been gaining real
benefit over a period of at least eight millennia must convince even the most sceptical
that there is some value to the approach, albeit only as a metaphor to explain
the otherwise inexplicable.
In this model, the energetic body is seen as being composed of a substance known as ‘chi', which flows around and through every part of the body, and which can be accessed at various places which have become known as acupuncture points. Within this framework, energy, or chi, is sub-divided into five parts or phases, each being associated with a particular element, colour, set of organ functions and, interestingly, seasons. This brings me on to springtime. Spring is associated with wood energy which is characterised by, among many other things, growth, flexibility and strength. It is particularly linked to joints, tendons and ligaments which should be just that, strong and flexible, and the ability to adapt to changing situations - rather like a tree bending in a strong wind. In keeping with all this, at this time of year, I tend to find more people coming to me with aches and pains, particularly in their joints. I would see as an expression of a ‘wood imbalance', at a time when wood energy is on the increase. Physical symptoms aside, a wood imbalance can also manifest as a short temper, and inability to make decisions or to adapt to change. Further information about all this is on my website, www.shiatsu-co.co.uk. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 May 2007 ) |
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