HEALTH WARNING: spending more than 3 hours on an assignment can seriously 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

Reading List

A friend asks you if shiatsu can help with:DIABETES

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?

Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Pre-menstrual Syndrome, Seasonal Affective Disorder

What are the LOCATIONS, FUNCTIONS, nearest MERIDIANS and TSUBOS of the following:

Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Thymus, Thyroid, Parathyroids, Pineal, Pancreas, Adrenals, Islets of Langerhans

What is the difference between ENDOCRINE and EXOCRINE glands?

How does the HYPOTHALAMUS control the hormonal system and what is the role of the PITUITARY?

Briefly describe the functions of these hormones and give their abbreviations:

ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE

ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE

PROLACTIN

LUTEINISING HORMONE

FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE

MELATONIN

THYROXIN

CALCITONIN

PARATHORMONE

OESTROGEN

PROGESTORONE

TESTOSTERONE

INSULIN

GLUCAGON

MINERALOCORTICOIDS

GLUCOCORTICOIDS

Explain the relationship of this system with other systems, with examples

How do emotions and stress affect the endocrine system?

What are the benefits of stimulating the thymus gland?

How might Shiatsu affect this system?

Assessment Criteria

The Intermediate 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 Advanced Assessment be prepared to explain:

• Organ/meridian networks from Oriental and Western perspectives
,
• to compare differences and similarities between Oriental and Western
• anything from this assignment using anatomical/medical terminology – “ as if on the telephone to a Latin-speaking Doctor!”
• Evaluate conditions for Shiatsu treatment in terms of:
  Total and Local Contraindications and cautions
  Tsubo functions
  Elemental imbalance
  Related or local meridians
  Kyo or jitsu
  Treatment options
  Aftercare information and advice

Module Completion: please have your Tutor validate this Module in your Course Manual when you have completed your meridian LEARNING-TREATMENTS