What can it treat?
Shonishin is a non-invasive form of acupuncture meridian massage, developed specifically for babies and children up to the age of ten. It was first used in 17th century Japan. It is a very gentle and highly effective treatment for many childhood illnesses.
Shonishin is a whole treatment for your child in several steps. Some of the treatment can only be given by an acupuncturist, but the first and most important can be performed by you at home. This can easily be learnt during the first few sessions, so that you yourself can give your child daily treatment between visits. This is a skill that can be applied to your other children and for many other situations.
Each session lasts between fifteen and thirty minutes. After a discussion of symptoms and medical history, the practitioner takes your child`s pulse on both wrists and then feels his or her abdomen to make his diagnosis. Initial treatment consists of a three or four-minute “massage” using Shonishin tools, often followed by the application of a “press sphere”, a tiny round ball which is taped in place and left for a few hours to stimulate the acupuncture point. You can easily remove this at home yourself.
As treatment continues, different approaches can be used to complement the Shonishin massage including pain-free non-insertive Toyohari techniques modified for children.
You will learn how to give Shonishin massage at home (a silver teaspoon makes an effective Shonishin tool), and have a chance to discuss any other changes that you or your child may need to make.