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Before Treatment

Common questions about receiving a Tao Shiatsu treatment

Basics of an treatment:
If you wish to make an appointment, please call or e-mail us.
Q: How long does a treatment last?
A: About 60 minutes, depending on your symptoms.

Q: What kind of clothes should I wear?
A: Loose and comfortable clothes, like t-shirt and sweatpants or yoga pants.

Q: What is the cancellation policy for an emergency?
A: In the case of an emergency, please contact your practitioner and or centre/branch as soon as possible.

Q: Could I have a treatment when I have my period or during pregnancy?
A: Yes, we treat you during these times with special care,. Even you have irregular menstruation and/or heavy menstrual pain, receiving regular treatments helps lighten your symptoms and improve your constitution. During pregnancy, especially during the stable phase, common discomforts of pregnancy become lighter and delivery can be easier.

Q: Could a treatment influence the effectiveness of prescription drugs I’m taking?
A: Receiving treatments can affect your condition so you don’t have to take the drug anymore. However, it’s possibly risky to stop taking medications by your own decision, it’s a good idea to consult our staff.

Q: Can I take a bath the same day after a treatment ?
A: Yes, if you don’t have a fever, or headache. Ideally, take a longer lukewarm temperature bath instead of a hot, short bath. A very hot bath may make you tired and cool you down too much afterwards. A half body bath that gives you internal warmth but no chill afterwards is also recommended. If you have a fever and/or headache, take a foot bath instead. Foot baths bring “Ki” down from the upper body to decrease these symptoms.

Q: How soon after a treatment should I wait before eating?
A: An hour is best unless you’re really hungry. If you are experiencing “Menken“ reaction, eat lighter than usual. When less energy is being used to digest, the process of releasing “Jaki“ becomes more smooth. It’s also recommended to avoid or minimize stimulants such as coffee or white sugar.

Q : What care should I take after a treatment?
A: Some people get very excited after a treatment because their symptoms are suddenly gone and they feel really good. This is a great, but you need to take care to not be overly active right away. Too much activity within 72 hours can possibly bring your symptoms back, even more intensely. Please be patient for at least for 72 hours so the healing process can settle deeply.

Q: Is it recommended to have several types of treatments for the same symptoms?
A: Your attitude toward the type of treatment you receive, and your belief in it, influences your healing. It’s important to choose one type though depending on your symptoms. Your decision to heal yourself through Tao Shiatsu therapy activates meridian functions and makes your spirit recover, from the base of your existence.

Possible reactions from treatment:

Q: What is “Menken” reaction?
A: It is a healing process. Sometimes after a treatment, symptoms manifest and appear like sickness. Usually they are symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, or cold symptoms. Sometimes menken reaction can be nausea and/or diarrhea as well. Also, you may have symptoms that are similar to a disease that you had in the past.

Q:Why do these symptoms appear?
A: Because toxins in the body, called Ja-ki (excessive or unnecessary energy in Japanese) is released through the treatment. It is this release which improves your natural healing ability. Symptoms can come to the surface of the body, or become more intense temporarily, as the Ja-Ki is released.

Q: Do you have an example ?
A: Yes, for example, if you had Diphtheria when you were a child, you may experience the same symptoms again as Menken. In another example, a case of lower back pain, after treatment the pain moved to the thigh, and after the next treatment, the pain moved again to the knee and ankle. This is a common case of the healing process. The pain in the joints would not be as severe as the original pain in the lower back.

Q: Why does this happen?
A: During a treatment, Ja-ki that was suppressed to a deep level and manifesting as a chronic condition starts to move or come to the surface. It transforms into an acute condition through the healing process, then is completely released. Most chronic conditions began as an acute state through injury or trauma. Movement patterns, emotional patterns, eating habits, sleep habits, etc. can also create chronic health conditions over time.

Q: Why does this happen?
A: During a treatment, Ja-ki that was suppressed to a deep level and manifesting as a chronic condition starts to move or come to the surface. It transforms into an acute condition through the healing process, then is completely released. Most chronic conditions began as an acute state through injury or trauma. Movement patterns, emotional patterns, eating habits, sleep habits, etc. can also create chronic health conditions over time.

Q: How does this happen?
A: Because during the treatment, Ja-ki in the lower back started to release through the tip of the patient’s toe. As it travels out, Jaki often pauses around the joints like a train stopping at each station.

Q: In the case of body pain, what kind of Menken reaction is common?
A : Several examples are common. If the pain was deep inside the body at the beginning, it may feel more on the surface after treatment. It may also change from pain to stiffness that is then gone in a day or two. The pain can move. For example if left shoulder pain was the original problem it can move to the right shoulder after treatment. In these cases, Ja-ki is releasing through follicles of your body.

Q: Are there cases of psychological Menken reaction?
A: Yes, it is possible to re-experience emotions which have been suppressed since childhood. You may feel loneliness, sadness, anger, melancholy, fear as the Ja-ki releases. Some people spontaneously cry during a treatment not really knowing why. Tao Shiatsu treatments can be very psychotherapeutic. When the period of feeling the suffering passes, you feel much lighter and better emotionally.

Q: How can there be a psychological or emotional improvement?
A: This is possible because the meridian treatment of Tao Shiatsu is deep enough to affect a range of the patient’s subconscious. Ki exists in the subconscious as well as in the physical body. Please consult your practitioner if you have further questions.

Q: How long can the Menken last?
A: Usually between a few hours to a few days. In some cases it can last a couple of weeks.

Q: What is the best thing to do with Menken?
A: Menken is usually indicated by fatigue. What’s best is to rest, even in the middle of the day. When you take some rest and sleep, Jaki releases more rapidly. It’s best to not do any heavy exercise, and a warm bath with epsom salt is excellent because the natural salt absorbs Ja-ki.

Q: What if the Menken reaction is very strong?
A : Please let your practitioner know. You may need to come back sooner than your next scheduled appointment.

When to come for treatments:

Q: How often should I receive treatments?
A: It depends on your symptoms. Some conditions are treated with once a week treatments, others are everyday, or 2~3 times a week initially. It completely depends on how acute, urgent or chronic the condition is. As a condition improves, frequency of treatment decreases.

Q: How many treatments might I need?
A: Sometimes just one treatment can take care of the condition. Other cases could be 10. When the distorted “Ki” level is shallow, and the appearance of symptoms has been short, usually a few treatments is enough for the condition to improve. But, if the distorted level is deep, and symptoms have been chronic, it often takes a longer time for the Ja-ki to release and the body to heal.

Q: Is it recommended to have treatments without specific symptoms?
A: Ideally Oriental Medicine’s purpose is to treat the seed of illness before it appears as symptoms. If your purpose is to slow aging and/or improving your health, we recommend 1 to 4 treatments/month.

Please contact your local Tao Sangha Centre or Branch to make an appointment.
Madison Center (Madison WI, USA)
Montreal Centre (Montreal, QC, CANADA)
Toronto Centre (Toronto, ON, CANADA)
Vancouver Centre(Vancouver BC CANADA)
Eastern Townships Branch (Sutton QC CANADA)

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