A female patient diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in June.
She had been experiencing back pain prior to her diagnosis, but the pain worsened significantly after June, to the point where she would wake up multiple times at night due to the discomfort.

Using pulse diagnosis and abdominal palpation, I focused on gentle contact acupuncture on the abdomen, primarily around KIkai(Qihai /CV6) and Chukan(Zhongwan /CV12).
The pulse was deep and firm, with a slightly rapid quality. Abdominal palpation revealed tightness in the upper abdomen and weakness in the lower abdomen.
It is likely that her body was engaged in a battle between cancer cells and immune cells.

In traditional Japanese medicine, abdominal palpation (Fukushin) is highly valued.
This diagnostic method is central to understanding the body’s internal condition. By assessing the texture, tension, temperature, and sensitivity of different areas of the abdomen, practitioners can identify imbalances in Qi, blood, and organs.

Fukushin is not only a tool for diagnosis but also a guide for crafting precise and individualized treatments. It reflects the interconnectedness of internal organs and meridians, providing insights that may not be immediately visible through external symptoms alone.

This emphasis on abdominal diagnosis is a distinguishing feature of Japanese traditional medicine, setting it apart from other diagnostic approaches like pulse diagnosis alone.
In such cases, internal injury patterns guide the treatment plan, with abdominal diagnosis as the foundation.
Given the terminal stage of her condition, it is often most effective to avoid overthinking and instead focus on gathering Qi deeply within the area behind the navel, known as the Tanden(Dantian).
During treatment, I concentrated on directing Qi into the upper abdomen, which had significant tension, by applying contact acupuncture and transmitting Qi.

Within five minutes of beginning treatment, the patient fell asleep quietly.
I did not touch her limbs or back, nor did I insert needles at any point.

After about 30 minutes of abdominal acupuncture, I concluded the session for the day.

The next day, the patient expressed her gratitude as soon as we met.
She shared that the persistent back pain had eased after the treatment, and for the first time in months, she slept through the night without waking up and awoke feeling refreshed in the morning.

This was a rare occurrence for her in recent months.

Non-invasive acupuncture truly demonstrates remarkable efficacy.
I also felt a strong sense of accomplishment from the treatment.
The idea that acupuncture needles must be inserted to be effective is merely a misconception.
While it is true that insertion can trigger physiological reflexes in the body and produce various effects—a fact that has been scientifically proven—this represents only a small part of the overall mechanism.

The human body possesses far more complex and mysterious functions, making it entirely possible to achieve therapeutic effects without inserting the needles.

For those struggling with cases involving cancer or severe illnesses—where one might initially wonder, “How can acupuncture possibly help?”—it’s important to trust what you perceive through your hands and senses.
By refraining from unnecessary techniques and keeping the treatment simple, it is often possible to achieve excellent results.