Shonishin - Pediatric Acupuncture
The Shonishin became renowned in the 17th Century in Osaka, Japan. Shonishin techniques involve rhythmic stroking, rubbing, tapping, and pressing the skin to give gentle stimulation for harmonizing the child's vital energy, and strengthening the constitution.
Children are almost always more sensitive than adults. Because it is very important to control and regulate the amount of stimulation given when treating children, specialized Shonishin methods have evolved.
A variety of tools are used to treat wide range of symptoms from excessive crying, Atopic dermatitis, headaches, eczema, allergies, asthma, bed wetting, posture, growing pains and a range of sleep, digestive, ADHD to developmental problems. (for age 1 - 12)
How the Shonishin works?
Shonishin is a technique that, without causing damage to the skin, strokes the skin to produce stimulation in accordance with skin toughness by gently waving the needle over the skin. In Daishi-style, this technique is called “feather touch”.
Shonishin acupuncturists observe that the child they are treating gets calmer and more relaxed with treatment. We now know what causes this frequently observed physical and psychological effect. Among the free nerve endings, the C-nerve fibers, with their slow conductivity, respond to stimulation by delicate stroking (Uvnäs-Moberg 2005).
The stimulus produced via these C-fibers is directed into the CNS, and leads to release of the hormone Oxytocin in the hypothalamus (Waldeyer 2003).
"Oxytocin also plays a part in the fine-tuning of emotional states and appears to reduce anxiety and stress - independently of childbirth and breastfeeding.
Because of its influence on social relations, and because it gives rise to feelings of happiness, oxytocin has been called the love and bonding hormone. For the Shonishin acupuncturist, this is one of the most important explanations for the success of the treatment; it also highlights one of the strengths of Shonishin, namely the immediate reaction to treatment.
In a child - the same, of course, being especially true for a baby - Shonishin treatment has a balancing effect on the vegetative system, and is therefore a key factor in the maintenance or recovery of inner equilibrium.
Treating the child has a relaxing effect on the mother as well. Special nerve cells, the mirror neurons, are responsible for this. They are activated by the presence of other people and awaken the other person's feelings in the observer.
The mother feels what her child is feeling, and in this way Shonishin supports bonding between mother and child.(Deutzmann 2010)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk2KpeUSZd0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrQqEJilqig&t=185s
Reference:
Tatesaka, Satoshi, “Benefits of Daishi-style Pediatric Acupuncture”, NAJOM, Volume 22 number 64
Wernicke, Thomas, Oppenheimer, Anne, Michel, Wolfgang, "Shonishin: The Art of Non-Invasive Paediatric Acupuncture", Singing Dragon; 1 edition, 2014, p.68-70
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Arn, I., Magnusson, D. "The psychobiology of emotion: the role of the oxytocinergic system". Int J Behav Med, 2005, 12, 59– 65
Waldeyer, "Anatomie des Menschen", 17. Auflage, Berlin 2003, p.99
Deutzmann, R. "Hormonelle Regulation". In Duale Reihe Physiologie, Thieme 2010
