Masunaga Shiatsu Manuals 4th: 4th month

By Shizuto Masunaga and Valentina Pasqualini

In the 70s, Shizuto Masunaga Sensei, a great master and the creator of Keiraku shiatsu (meridian shiatsu) conducted four-month correspondence courses. He sent his students the four manuals he had written to purpose. Given their valuable content, we decided to translate them from Japanese, believing them to be of great help to students, practitioners, and teachers of shiatsu alike. This fourth and last volume illustrates clinical shiatsu, examining a series of common “ailments” and recommending the most appropriate meridian treatment, from the illustration of the symptoms to “how to assess” and “how to cure”. Each section is supported by figures giving the meridian pathways. The final week also considers shiatsu for children and beauty. The concepts are accessible to everyone and are useful for we as practitioners and for the recipients we practice on. Shizuto Masunaga was truly a master, and his words always have something to teach us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SHIATSU MILANO EDITORE
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9791280253200

Book preview

Shizuto Masunaga

Masunaga Shiatsu Manuals

Fourth month

Series: The books of natural disciplines

Title: Masunaga Shiatsu Manuals – 4th month

Author: Shizuto Masunaga

Introduction, notes and glossary: Roberto Palasciano

Graphics, reworking of meridian maps and layout:

Matteo Olivari - [e-mail]

Translation from Japanese: Mayu-Fanny Suzuki

Revision: Valentina Pasqualini

English translation: Elaine Wright

Italian Edition by Roberto Palasciano with the collaboration of Paola Palasciano

Technical collaboration: Elena Lamperti.

Translation from Japanese from the original 1970 edition

Publisher: Shiatsumilano.it S.r.l

C.F. - P.IVA: 04680920966

Headquarters: viale Brianza, 36 - 20127 Milan, Italy

tel. + 39 366 6896831

Registered office: via Pascoli, 70/4 - 20133 Milan, Italy

www.shiatsumilanoeditore.it

[e-mail]

Printers: Universal book S.r.l.

Rende (CS) Italy

All rights reserved

© Keiko Masunaga

© 2016 licensed by Shiatsumilano.it

ISBN 979-12-80253-200

Index

Introduction

Notes for consulting images

Thirteenth week: Emergency Shiatsu

Day 1 - The rapid effects of Shiatsu

- The limits of family shiatsu

Day 2 - In case of fever 1

- Having a fever

- Lowering fever

- In case of tonsillitis

In case of fever 2

- Fever from colds

- Sore throat

- Skin rashes

Day 3 - In case of pain 1

- Pain

In case of pain 2

- Characteristics of pain

Day 4 - In case of pain 3

- To anaesthetize

- Toothache

In case of pain 4

- Headaches and heavyness

Day 5 - In case of pain 5

- Haemorrhoids

- Dysmenorrhea

In case of pain 6

- Neuralgia

- Abdominal pain

Day 6 - Paroxysm, agitation and spasms 1

- Apoplexy

- Calming violent cough

Paroxysm, agitation and spasms 2

- Hiccups

- Epistaxis

- Cramps

- Numbness

Fourteenth week: Diagnosis and treatment I

Day 1 - Diagnosis based treatment

- Stiff Shoulders

Day 2 - Pins and needles hands and feet

- Constipation

Day 3 - Diarrhea

- Tired Eyes

Day 4 - Urticaria

- Anaemia

Day 5 - Blood pressure alterations

- Breathing difficulty and palpitations

Day 6 - Adhesive capsulitis

- Stiff neck

Fifteenth week: Diagnosis e treatment II

Day 1 - Sprains

- Whiplash

Day 2 - Lumbar pain

- Nausea and stomach upset

Day 3 - Liver ailments

- Diabetes

Day 4 - Excess body weight

- Oedema hands and feet

Day 5 - Urinary problems

- Impotency

Day 6 - Tinnitis

- Insomnia

Sixteenth week: Shiatsu for children and Aesthetics

- Part I: Shiatsu for Children

Day 1 - Night-time crying in newborns

- Stiff neck

Day 2 - Feet anomalies

- Enuresis

Day 3 - Pseudomyopia / strabismus

- Childhood asthma

- Part II: Shiatsu for beauty

Day 4 - Becoming beautiful

- Waist and glutes

Day 5 - Slim and beautiful hands and feet

- Prosperous, beautiful breasts

Day 6 - Improving body temperature and complexion

- Reduce weight and tone up

Appendix

- Leg meridian stretches

- Meridian Maps Iokai style

- Abdominal quadrants

Glossary

Acknowledgements

Introduction

When teaching shiatsu I often hear my students ask: Can you give us a sequence, let’s say, for treating lumbar sciatica?. My reply is usually that because Masunaga’s Keiraku shiatsu works on the meridians, it is vital to assess first the kyo and jitsu on hara and back and then tone or disperse along the meridian involved. Then with experience, you can confirm meridian therapy results and consequent relief from symptoms, without forgetting any of the fundamentals of Eastern philosophy.

As I read this book, I could already imagine my students’ comments: "Yes, but Masunaga has explained really well how to treat specific ailments, now this is some manual!"

Masunaga often reiterates that treatment can indeed be established by looking at the disorder, but the task of shiatsu is to treat a receiver’s imbalances overall so that the symptoms will disappear.

The clinical shiatsu illustrated in this manual is the result of the Master’s years of experience combined with his studies in psychology (according to Western medicine) and the ancient manuscripts of oriental medicine. Therefore, given his extraordinary preparation, Masunaga sensei advises students to read this manual carefully, to deepen their knowledge and learn some medical notions, which can be useful both in the interaction with the recipient and to the student personally, as he concludes: "It would be appropriate for practitioners to acquire some basic medical notions, without necessarily entering the scientific-professional perspective".

This text contains many medical indications and an attempt has been made to keep the author’s communicative spirit, without excluding scientific correctness, for which Dr. Elena Lamperti’s supervision of the text was essential.

The translation was not easy, but we believe we have managed to render some important medical concepts, still current today and their combination with meridian treatment.

The volume broadens the scope of shiatsu application for a series of common ailments, both for ourselves and our recipients. Having indications on how to operate correctly in these cases will certainly be immensely beneficial.

This fourth volume concludes the series and I’m certain it will be valuable for students, shiatsu practitioners and teachers alike. It goes hand in hand with the book by the same author Tales of 100 Treatments.

Roberto Palasciano,

Editor and Director of Studies at the Milan branch of the Scuola Internazionale di Shiatsu Italia

Notes for consulting images

Shizuto Masunaga has added valuable tables alongside the text indicating which meridians or parts of their pathway are vital to treat for the disorders under examination. He provides the same for the diagnostic areas of the back and abdomen and areas of the body where meridians are not found. As is often used in Japanese manuals, the human figure is divided into two parts, one frontal and the other dorsal. To avoid confusion, check for scapula and the direction of the foot, which will always be on the dorsal side.

The tables therefore indicate the meridians to be treated including their extensions throughout the body (according to Masunaga’s style, unlike the meridians of acupuncture) and as usual, the dashed or dotted lines indicate the yin meridians, while the solid lines indicate the yang meridians.

For ease of consultation we have included the complete Iokai School map of the meridians in the appendix.

In the figures - as Masunaga sensei always repeats - you see the evaluation areas of hara and back, useful for treatment, as the evaluation is effectively a treatment in itself.

Also note the dotted lines highlighting areas to pay attention to or to treat: these are sensitive areas, reflected and relative to the disorder in question. In the text, you will find advice on how to treat the areas which according to Masunaga sensei’s experience, are useful for alleviating or resolving certain discomforts or pathologies.

However, for Keiraku shiatsu we are always present to a whole body treatment and, before treating specific areas, we must disperse tension by following the necessary meridians and working mainly on the kyo. We also remember, as example with headaches, that before proceeding to treat the ‘ache’ it is necessary to relax the areas that may cause the problem or make it worse; working in order first on the shoulders, then arms, torso, legs, abdomen and neck.

To better understand the method indicated in