Japanese acupuncture—this alternative medicine technique always made people think, “How can this be different than Chinese acupuncture?” Both used solid needles. But to your surprise, there are differences between these two needling techniques, which are explained in this post for you, making it a very interesting read. This blog will highlight the basic differences between two great techniques and emphasise the importance of being open to learning.
What is Japanese Acupuncture?
In this technique, the needle, rather than being inserted, is used to prick or stroke the skin surface. Japanese needling is extremely gentle and superficial, meaning it only focuses on the surface and just slightly below the surface of the skin. An alternative medicine practitioner can perform this technique in two ways:
- Simple insertion: In this insertion, the needle is withdrawn after reaching a certain depth without applying additional techniques.
- Retaining needles: After insertion, the needle is left in the skin. In general terms, Japanese acupuncture is unique in its efficiency and precision. These techniques are often directed at using the least amount of stimulation to attain the greatest results.
Difference Between Japanese and Chinese Acupuncture
In comparison to the Chinese style, Japanese acupuncture uses thinner and smaller needles and a gentler technique with shallow insertion. Their diagnostic assessment relies heavily on palpation of the abdomen, back, and various pulses along the meridian system. Japanese acupuncture tends to use finer needles than Chinese acupuncture, and the needling is more surface-level and not as deep. Chinese needles tend to be slightly thicker, and the needling is deeper and stronger.
Japanese needles tend to be smaller and typically sharper than Chinese needles. Many say that this is the reason for gentler, more superficial needling with less pain for the patient.
Also Read: Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture
Surprisingly, Japanese acupuncture places a lot of emphasis on the use of palpation (touch) before needle treatment. These practitioners rely on abdominal palpation to judge the insertion point of the needle. This practise derives from the many blind acupuncturists of ancient Japan and goes hand in hand with gentle needling.
Chinese acupuncture gives patients a much more distinct feeling of “Qi” moving through specific points in their body, as practitioners of this discipline tend to, as stated above, rotate and shift the needle much more than Japanese practitioners. Further, the increased depth of the needle gives more distinct Qi sensations. In fact, Chinese acupuncture is often called “meridian acupuncture” for this reason.
In both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese-style acupuncture, disease is seen as an imbalance in the organ system or Qi meridians. The goal of both remedies or treatments is to assist the body in reestablishing its innate harmony.
Reference:
- Qi-R Consultancy & Research in Chinese Medicine (2018), Japanese Acupuncture, Journey of the Needle (28–30)
- Brisbane Natural Health (2022), The 7 Main Differences Between Japanese Acupuncture vs Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture
- Dr. Zhanxiang Wang, National University of Health Sciences (2017), How Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Acupuncture Differ