HEALTH WARNING: THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGER ASSIGNMENTS so, pleeeeze, understand that spending more than 3 hours on it will be a great temptation BUT don't let it damage your enthusiasm. In the early stages of learning you might not get much done in 3 hours but do have patience with yourself. It will come. Along with the endocrine, the Nervous system is more directly affected by shiatsu treatment than most others. The more you know about it, the better will be your treatments. Shiatsu licenced by the Japanese Ministry of Health is based on points related to the nervous system.

Reading List

A friend asks you if shiatsu can help with: MS - Multiple Sclerosis

What are the symptoms and organic changes of their condition?

What tsubos might help relieve their symptoms?

What do you think might be the underlying elemental imbalance?

What related organ/meridian network governs this anatomical system?

What might be the related or local meridians, and why do you think so?

Would you describe the condition as more kyo or more jitsu?

What might be your treatment approach?

How would you explain to your friend this condition in terms of energy-flow and elemental imbalances?

What suggestions/recommendations might you make if your friend asks how they could share in their own healing – for example, life-style, diet, habits, exercise, meditation, other therapies?

How would your responses differ for other conditions of the same system, and should any be contra-indicated?

Epilepsy, Sciatica, Migraine, Neuritis, Brachial Neuralgia, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), Meningitis, Neuralgia, Stroke - cerebral/vascular, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Spina Bifida, Shingles, Facial (Bell's) Palsy

What are the anatomical locations of the following and the meridians running along or across them:

Brain, Spinal Cord, Sciatic Nerve, Femoral Nerve, Brachial Plexus, Spinal Peripheral nerves

What are the main functions of:

Medulla Oblongata, Cerebellum, Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Cerebrum

You need to know and to be able to explain:

Motor & Sensory divisions of the nervous system; Autonomic Nervous System, its anatomy, and functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. What do you understand by the "Flight or Fight" syndrome?

Why do you think some writers put the nervous system in the Wood Element, some in the Fire, while others describe it as being of the Bladder Meridian?

Do you agree with the inclusion of Epilepsy as a condition of the nervous system? where else might it be placed in oriental medicine?

What would you do if a receiver began having an epileptic seizure during treatment?

What tsubos do think might help? what would influence your decision to use them or not?

How might Shiatsu affect the Nervous System? What other systems are influenced by the nervous, and how? please give specific examples.

Summary

The Intermediate Diploma Assessment Requirement is for you to be able to explain, in everyday language as if to a friend with no knowledge of anatomy, the four following aspects of this system:

• Components and Structure
• How it works
• Interaction with other Systems
• What happens when it breaks down?

For Professional Licence Assessment you may be asked to explain anything from this assignment using anatomical/medical terminology – “as if on the telephone to a Latin-speaking Doctor!”

Module Completion: please have your Tutor validate the following

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETED:__________________date & stamp

TUTORIAL ATTENDED_______________________date & stamp

PRACTICAL ATTENDED:_____________________date & stamp

LEARNING-TREATMENTS...........................attach for stamping

What have you learned about yourself from this Assignment?