Acupuncture is generally believed to have originated in China over 3000 years ago. It has been practiced continuously since its inception and remains a significant part of Chinese medicine today. Is has spread to most countries around the world and has become an accepted part of mainstream Medical practice in serval countries.

Acupuncture has been practiced in other Asian countries other than China for a long period and they have developed their own distinct styles. In Japan acupuncture has been practiced for about 1400 years. The styles of acupuncture from Japan although not as widely know as those from China are immerging at a very rapid rate within western cultures.

Toyohari, the main form of Japanese acupuncture used in the clinic is a style, which was developed and taught to and by blind acupuncturists. Their refined senses of touch and heightened sensitivity have lead them to a very gentle form of treatment. It is particularly suitable for infants and very sensitive patients.

The main differences between Japanese and Chinese style acupuncture are;
1.The first and foremost important development was the reduction of needle size. Japanese style uses needles three to four times finer than Chinese styles.

2.The development of the pre-sterilized and disposable needle.

3.The use of an insertion tube which allows the needles to be gently tapped in and controlled so as to eliminate or minimize any discomfort on insertion.

4.Needling usually remains very shallow, about 1-2mm, without the need to manipulate needles, rather relying on location, direction of needle and breath to create the required effect. Other times the needles do not even penetrate the skin, but rather simply touch the points.

5.Points are located by palpation and patients verify immediately the effect via a reflex point.

6.The pulses and abdomen are palpated to indicate patterns of imbalances and treatment principles.

7.A greater variety of points are used for their immediate, palpable effects rather than usage of points based on standardized point combinations.

8.Unique variations and refinements in the development and usage of cupping, moxabustion (thermal therapy), bloodletting and physical therapeutic movements (Sotai).

9.Treatment is directed at harmonizing Ki in the body through the meridian system instead of using herbal diagnosis methods.

Is it safe?
Most acupuncturists are now using individually packaged, pre-sterilized and disposable needles that are safely discarded after each treatment. Japanese acupuncture needles tend to be of a high grade and so prove to give a painless insertion. The needles are fine and need an insertion tube to be tapped in.

The most common response people have to acupuncture is a deep level of relaxation. Good acupuncture will do more than just alleviate your symptoms, it will also address your constitution. It is free of side effects and beneficial for acute or chronic disorders as well as preventative treatment. The primary goal of Japanese style acupuncture is to re-establish harmony within the person's own healing abilities. The complexity of the human organism has at its underlying level a very simple and basic healing intelligence that only needs to be given a mild stimuli to be activated. A strong stimulation bypasses this system and activates the nervous system, producing a totally different result.

Although acupuncture has been shown to have clinical success in many disease states, most people want a comfortable as well as therapeutic approach to their health and well being. The idea of being prodded by needles does not frequently arise as the first treatment of choice, due to the usual experience with sharp instruments producing pain and anxiety. This is where Japanese style acupuncture finds its strongest qualities, as it always maintains the absolute comfort of the person. This return to the classics is a return to the keys of harmony between the human being and their world.

History and Background
Toyohari is a method of acupuncture developed in Japan. It is an extremely gentle yet powerful treatment. It was founded by Kodo Fukushima, a well known blind acupuncturist (many acupuncturists are blind in Japan), who went on to found the Toyohari Association in Japan just over 40 years ago. The theory of Toyohari is rooted in the classical texts of acupuncture, which are over 2000 years old. The practice however uses innovative new techniques, including the use of needles made of different metals such as silver, gold, copper and zinc. Another remarkable development is the technique of "contact needling", where a silver needle or probe is held over the skin, without touching it. This technique is very helpful for treating children and for individuals who don't like the sensation associated with needling in other forms of acupuncture.

The founders of Toyohari were mainly blind and consequently relied heavily on the sense of touch. New methods of diagnosis and treatment have been developed over the years relying on touch, gently palpating and stroking the abdomen, neck, back and what are known as the meridians or channels of energy (qi), which flow through the body. Toyohari acupuncturists who use this approach in Japan are highly respected. Today there are over 1,000 Toyohari acupuncturists in Japan and in recent years a European training program has been developed by Stephen Birch and Junko Ida. There are currently only 16 Toyohari acupuncturists working in the UK with a handful of new practitioners being trained each year. Once qualified, a Toyohari practitioner makes a commitment to continuing professional development and attends monthly study groups allowing them to remain a member of the Toyohari Association.

Q. Can Toyohari be combined with 'normal' acupuncture?
A. There is no such thing as 'normal' acupuncture as it has evolved and developed in many different historical and cultural contexts since its origins in ancient China. There are many different styles of acupuncture used today although the most common and widely used is known as TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). This is part of the core curriculum of study for a basic acupuncture qualification in the UK. The study of Toyohari is at a post-graduate level in the UK, which means your practitioner has already qualified as an acupuncturist before training in Toyohari. Your practitioner may choose to use Toyohari or use a different approach depending on what they feel is best for your condition. On occasion, different styles may be combined during a treatment depending on how your practitioner chooses to work.

Q. What is a treatment like?
A. Treatment is a very relaxing experience. First the details of your case will be taken. Then you will lie on the treatment couch and the practitioner will gently palpate your abdomen and feel the pulse at the wrist. She or he will then set to work to address the underlying imbalances with contact needling over selected points on the body or stroking the skin with a rounded silver Toyohari instrument called an enshin (it looks a bit like a solid silver lollipop!) or sanshin (like a tiny silver cone). A technique called moxibustion may also be used to apply warmth to certain points. You may experience little more than a sensation of warmth or tingling as the points are stimulated. The whole process is very relaxing. Most people feel a deep sense of calm and wellbeing. The session itself is normally half an hour to an hour long.

Q. How many treatments will I need?
A. This is a difficult question to answer as many people choose to use Toyohari as a method of maintaining health and well being, as well as those who come to address a specific health issue. Normally treatment is weekly to begin with and then as your condition improves the sessions are spaced out. You may end up coming once every 6-8 weeks for a health top up. All sorts of conditions respond to Toyohari. Practitioners have had clinical experience of treating a wide range of illnesses, for example: arthritis, menstrual problems, digestive problems, skin conditions, asthma, musculo-skeletal problems, and pain relief, to name a few. The symptoms of the condition are treated directly but the underlying imbalance, which is causing the problem, is also addressed.

Q. What are the benefits of Toyohari?
A. Toyohari is very gentle so having a treatment is a relaxing and pleasant experience. The unique diagnostic techniques developed in Toyohari enable practitioners to work to address problems that may respond more quickly to Toyohari than other treatments. In particular working on musculo-skeletal problems especially around the neck and shoulders (known as the naso region) can be very helpful in some cases. This treatment can be combined with other styles of acupuncture or other types of complementary therapy such as osteopathy or chiropractic where its use may enhance or speed recovery. As mentioned previously the fact that it is painless means it is very useful to treat children.