Needles all over the face! A unique treatment is being done here in the quest for something new

Acupuncture has been practiced around the world for thousands of years, but due to competition in the market, its practitioners often develop their own techniques. Shirakawa Acupuncture Clinic in Tokyo, Japan is one such example.

Needles are inserted all over the body

Here, a lot of needles are inserted into various parts of the body including the face in the name of getting rid of muscle pain, bad luck and even getting rid of the clutches of evil spirits. Reportedly, a session at the clinic charges more than 200,000 yen ($1,400- Rs 1.17 lakh). It is very popular among Japanese celebrities and athletes.

Apart from the pain, they claim to free one from evil spirits

Last month, Japanese actor Masataka Kubota shared photos of himself undergoing Japanese acupuncture at the Shirakawa Clinic on social media, with needles covering most of his face and chest. The photos were marked as sensitive content by Instagram, but the actor described the experience as heartwarming and said it left him feeling at peace. Apart from pain, the technique also claims to ward off evil spirits.

Big celebrities are taking treatment

Kubota’s post went viral. But he wasn’t the first celebrity to post about Shirakawa’s acupuncture technique, known as root acupuncture. A month ago, Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara also shared her experience, saying she didn’t want to post photos of her face because she didn’t want to scare anyone. Some of Shirakawa’s other famous patients include actress Mami Kumagai, singer Hiromi Go, and gymnast Ryusei Nishioka.

‘People cry while getting treatment’

“Most people who get treated by me can’t help but cry. It’s a manifestation of the purification of the soul. These are tears that detox them,” said Yusaku Shirakawa, the clinic’s founder. scmp reports that Shirakawa’s acupuncture technique helps relieve physical ailments such as chronic pain and muscle stiffness, but also addresses spiritual issues, helping patients make better decisions, improving their luck and purifying their souls.

There are about 500 root acupuncture doctors in Japan

If you are wondering if Shirakawa acupuncture is as painful as it sounds, that is a hard question to answer. However, the clinic’s official website states that the procedure involves sharp metal needles so it is bound to be painful. While Shirakawa is currently the most famous practitioner of this acupuncture technique, he is certainly not the only one. A simple Google search reveals that there are about 500 root acupuncture doctors in Japan.