Japanese Acupuncture & Hara Diagnosis

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive natural healthcare system that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition and Qi Gong. While we commonly think of acupuncture as a Chinese modality, acupuncture is also practiced in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Europe. The Japanese in fact, have developed their own style and many would distinguish it as one that emphasizes a more subtle needle technique, one that does not cause sensation for the patient. As Jennifer’s teacher, Koji Ichihashi, once said, “If a patient has pain, do not cause them any more pain.”

Hara means abdomen in Japanese. Hara Diagnosis uses palpation of the abdomen to determine any patterns of disharmony that may exist in the organ systems. In Western Medicine, your doctor palpates the abdomen for tenderness, masses or other abnormalities in the local area. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese Acupuncture, we palpate for diagnosis and to achieve instant feedback regarding our treatment.