How the Seitai Shimpo System was
Developed
By Ta-ichi Sorimachi
(SeiTai is Japanese Structural Acupuncture)
When doing acupuncture and moxibustion, every practitioner has
an idea of the effects of the acupuncture points and gives the
treatment with the intention of utilizing these effects to the
maximum extent. At least this has been the basic approach for
practitioners up until now. Thus on one hand there were those who
armed themselves with complex theories and on the other hand
those who took the shortest route to best results regardless of
theories. Acupuncture advanced through history as these
practitioners competed and influenced each other.
In the classics of Oriental medicine the workings of the
universe are cleverly contrasted to the human body to create a
theoretical foundation. Our medicine, which originated in China
2500 to 3000 years ago, constantly evolved new systems to adjust
to the times and has survived to this day. In the case of
herbology, the formula is decided based on the patient's
constitution and physical condition as well as the quality and
stage of the disease. Thus the four examinations of looking,
listening, questioning, and palpation are employed to determine
the current state of the patient and the pathology (disease
state). It is inevitable that numerous styles (approaches) would
evolve over time, but regardless of the approach it is very
difficult to grasp a patient's internal condition (disease state)
from subtle clues on the outside. Yet, unless we do this, there
can be no meaningful treatment.
Seitai Shimpo had its start with a simple question. In the
early years of my practice, I studied with many masters of
various styles since I had a strong desire to learn an authentic
and effective healing method. In addition to acupuncture and
moxibustion, I even studied Seitai Manipulation. As I continued
my practice, I noticed that in patients who got better,
invariably distortions in their body gradually disappeared and
they became more balanced. Why was this?
In that period I was learning Sotai Therapy from Dr.
Hashimoto, and I was keenly interested in helping patients with
physical distortions regain balance. Yet, in the acupuncture
systems I had been studying before that, there was no scheme for
restoring structural balance. Although I understood the logic:
removing distortions - restoring balance - recovering health, it
took many years of practice before I became thoroughly convinced
of its validity.
I worked with the following three themes to establish the
Seitai Shimpo System:
1. Find effective methods of removing distortions.
2. Achieve the above aim with acupuncture and moxibustion.
3. Find any rules or principles which may apply in using
acupuncture and moxibustion to restore balance.
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