Ito Thermie

Exeter-based Naoko Jones received her first Ito Therme treatment from her brother and, after being trained in Japan, has been giving professional sessions herself since 1998. Her husband, and fellow Ito Therme practitioner, RON JONES explains how the treatment came about, how it works and how it could benefit you.

In 1910, a Japanese physician, Dr Kin-itsu Ito began studying oriental medicine in the hope of discovering a simple treatment that could help the many patients for whom the traditional Western medicine of that era offered little hope. His quest continued for nearly 20 years.

It was not until 1929, after a long period of meditation and fasting, that Dr Ito perfected the technique that is in use today. The name Ito Thermie was given by his former medical school professor.

The typical Ito Thermie session is both soothing and stimulating. It is applied directly to the skin, over the whole body and lasts for about 15 minutes. The pleasurable effects of light massage are combined with a unique source of heat that radiates deeply into the body from two small, metal cylinders, or reionki, containing burning incense.

Ito Thermie provides a direct source of energy and support to the natural healing capacity of the body. It is a genuine holistic approach, working on mind, body and spirit to promote harmony and well-being. Ito Thermie has helped many people suffering from a wide variety of physical and emotional conditions. In emergencies or with long-term problems and for the support of good health in general, Thermie is a great tool.

The underlying principles
The primary source of energy for our planet is the sun. All living creatures need heat and heat promotes change. The infrared heat of the Thermie session provides a direct source of this vital energy that the body can absorb to support any of its functions. This could be to stimulate the immune, digestive or hormone system, or to help balance the autonomic nervous system. At the same time, symptoms such as stress, fatigue and muscle tension can be soothed away and tissue injuries helped to heal more quickly. For lacerations and burns, a superb remedy is the blowing technique using just the heat and smoke from the burning incense without the instruments and without any direct skin contact.

The special Thermie incense is made from various natural healing substances, including moxa, pine and loquat. The smoke produced plays an important role by cleaning the energetic field around the body and transporting the beneficial herbs to our lungs and bloodstream. This often results in a feeling of deep relaxation, physically, mentally and spiritually. We can experience a feeling of coming back to ourselves, of coming back home - natsukashi.

Treatment technique
Treatment consists of moving the hot instruments over the body with broad, flowing strokes that are relatively fast but with some variation in tempo. The whole body is covered in this way.
In addition, some pressure point treatment can be used to target particular areas; for example, the muscles running either side of the spine. The active hand that holds the instruments is used to provide supplementary massage and stimulation while the passive hand can be used to reassure the client, gain visceral information from them and also check the temperature of the reionki.

Although the treatment is relaxing, it should also stimulate and tonify. It is important to guard against lengthy sessions, which can feel nice but create lethargy and dependence. The whole point is to activate the self-healing capacity of the body, not to deplete or immobilise it.
The beauty and effectiveness of Ito Thermie lies in its simplicity. A certain level of dexterity is needed to manipulate the instruments, and some experience is necessary to regulate the heat of the burning incense sticks. Beyond this, sensitivity to oneself, to the client and the flow of this unique session at this particular point in time are most important. No two sessions, even between the same giver and receiver, are ever the same.

Things really start happening not during but after the session. There is no need to get worried or serious about affecting a cure. Joy works against sickness and in support of health. Both client and therapist should relax and enjoy the session. The body will take the energy provided and use it where it is most needed. Some practitioners like to study the meridians and points of oriental medicine and integrate this knowledge into their treatment. However, Ito Thermie was not designed as a knowledge-based system - it is a practical, hands-on approach to healing, which anybody can learn.

Thermie is best understood as a co-operation between giver and receiver, rather than an expert therapist treating a passive client. The client has already done most of the work by booking the session and coming to the treatment room. The therapist only has to light the incense and stroke the body. The professional session-giver is not the end of the line, but the beginning. All clients can learn to give their own sessions to themselves and are best helped by regular self-treatment rather than occasional sessions from a professional.

The drawback that some people experience is difficulty in relaxing fully in a self-help process. If this presents a major problem, it can be avoided by setting-up exchanges. Partners, other family members and friends can easily exchange sessions in their own homes.

After receiving her first session from her brother in 1987, Naoko Jones began to treat herself. She was deeply impressed with the results and soon wanted to share this with others. She has been giving Thermie sessions professionally since 1991 and is also a qualified lightpuncture therapist. Ron Jones is a qualified social worker, masseur and Reichian bodyworker. He has been practicing Thermie since 1998. Both Ron and Naoko, pictured left, are licensed instructors, trained by the Ito Thermie Institute, Tokyo.

There are nearly 100,000 Members of the Ito Thermie Association in Japan; Ron and Naoko feel it is the right time to share this valuable process with others living outside of those islands.



Ron and Naoko are available for sessions and training in the Exeter area and can be contacted by telephone at 01392 413289 or by e-mail at info@thermie.co.uk