Customer Reviews

Tsubo: Vital Points for Oriental Therapy

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Believe it or not I actually found the hardback version of this book [now out of print] at the Japanese Pavilion in the EPCOT Center, Disneyworld, Florida. This is probably the best resource for pressure points that I have ever found. It is also a exceptional resource concerning Oriental pressure point therapy. If you can find this book BUY IT! The copies at Amazon are paperback only.

First some history: (from the author's bio)
Serizawa(1915-)is known for is research into the electrical properties of skin and for finding a significant correlation between increased electical signatures on the skin at traditional acupuncture points (A.K.A. tsubo in Japanese). Serizawa, who was visually impaired attended the Tokyo school for the blind and graduated the instructor's course for physical therapy in 1938. As is the custom in Japan, blind people have been trained in acupuncture and anma (a form of Japanese massage) since the 1600's. Serizawa went on to become a medical doctor and conducted research at the Tokyo University School of Medicine.

PROS:
Tsubo, published in 1976, was well translated and informative. It provided an extensive example of Serizawa's clinical experience. He described specific tsubo treatments for specific illnesses and also was very specific about when it would be practical to rely on tsubo to relieve symptoms versus when one should seek immediate care from a western medical practitioner. He was open to both systems of medicine, and as he described the use of tsubo, he often recommended it as a therapy to complement recovery after treatment through essential invasive western medical procedures. In other cases he recommended visiting an acupuncture clinic. The intention of the book was to provide a detailed yet straightforward manual for the layperson to use for the personal relief and for family members in the home. Pleasingly, the book provides, the Chinese names and characters for each tsubo along with the point number and description. Japanese terminology is also explained where appropriate. Because of the detail in the book, I would expect that this book would make a useful reference for a healthcare professional such as a massage therapist or physical therapist who is interested in seeing examples of alternative treatments. The book is an interesting read if you want to examine tsubo treatments for common issues relating to stress and fatigue as well as musculo-skeletal discomfunctions, skin disorders, etc.

CONS: 1. Serizawa might have added depth with a more detailed section on his experiments, procedure and results.
2. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOCUMENTATION, CITATION, or BIBLIOGRAPHY. This lack of transparency impedes further investigation by the reader.

The book provides clear information and illustrations on the Oriental Meridian system and the tsubo acupoints. It also provides information about use of the points in practical application, both technique and condition-specific. It is a good book for self-help but also a good reference for practitioners.
Shoshana Savyon, PhD, DHM
Heliotorpe Holistic Health Services

Just wanted to let you know that TSUBO has been reprinted in paperback form by Japan Publications.