Scientific evidence for Shiatsu

THE SCIENTIFIC EFFECTIVENESS OF SHIATSU

The medical evidence

Do we know the scientific effectiveness of Shiatsu? Shiatsu and Western medicine have the same goal: to improve people's health. It is the way to reach this goal that is different. In Shiatsu, people are treated as an indivisible whole, mind and body, and through the global physical treatment, improvements are achieved both on a physical level (general and local) and on a mental level (stress, emotional imbalances, etc.).

Shiatsu and Western medicine can complement each other, as advocated by the Dr. Federico Santamaría (doctor and Shiatsu therapist). Here is a summary of Santamaria's analysis of the laboratory studies carried out by the EJS in Tokyo.

Analysis of 5 studies from the EJS Tokyo research laboratory (2013-2017) by Dr. Federico Santamaría

They consist of a series of Shiatsu pressures on different lines of points on healthy volunteers who are monitored to document how Shiatsu influences our body through the autonomic nervous system.

First study: work on the 6 points of the midline of the top of the head (22 volunteers)

Second study: 8 stitches midline of forearm (26 volun)

Third study: interscapular area (19 volun)

Fourth study: Upper nape of the neck and lateral cervical region (35 volun)

FifthSubscapular, infrascapular and lumbar area (34 volun)

The variables they will obtain from the monitored volunteers are pupil diameter, heart rate and blood pressure. They are looking for measurable and quantifiable effects on the autonomic nervous system.

RESULTS OF THE STUDIES:

First study: No effect on heart rate and blood pressure. No effect on the non-stimulation group. Produces pupillary constriction after stipulation, implying a vagal/parasympathetic effect. In the first 30 seconds, the pupil dilates.

Second studyNo effect on heart rate and blood pressure. No effect on the non-stimulation group. Produces pupillary constriction after stipulation, implying a vagal/parasympathetic effect. In the first 30 seconds the pupil dilates.

Third study (Yuketsu point of heart is worked on)Produces pupillary constriction in the first seconds, decrease in heart rate and blood pressure in the stipulation phase and after stipulation (= vagal/parasympathetic effect) to a greater extent than the resting group.

Fourth study: Very important area in Shiatsu for the cervical area as it accumulates tensions, including the "anmian" point for treating insomnia. It produces pupillary constriction in the first seconds, decrease in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure in the stipulation phase and after stipulation (= vagal/parasympathetic effect) to a greater extent than the group that remains at rest.

Fifth survey: Produces pupillary constriction and decreased heart rate during stimulation and after stimulation (= vagal/parasympathetic effect). Blood pressure is not altered, and there are no alterations in the non-stimulation group.

Conclusions

Shiatsu, in general terms, brings our organism into a vagal/parasympathetic tone. This effect is most easily observed in pupil size (pupil constriction) and to a lesser extent in blood pressure and heart rate.

An initial peak of orthosympathetic activation (with pupillary dilation) is observed, but then gives way to a vagal/parasympathetic predominance.

If we want to check the real scientific effectiveness of Shiatsu, we should not rely on subjective elements. We must prove its effectiveness with a system that can be measured in real figures, that can be measured. And to be able to measure pupil, heart rate and blood pressure is the right way. Through such studies we can prove that shiatsu has a real and demonstrable effect on the human body.