AromaVeda' herbal remedies Courtesy of AromaVeda Spa and Whellness Center

Finding the right health or therapy treatment in Tokyo can be difficult if you don't know where to look. Daneeta Loretta Saft sifts through the providers and practices and offers some level-headed advice on what to consider before signing up.

Sometimes when I am really having a go at Japan, I have to remind myself how darned lucky I am as an English-speaking foreigner living in Tokyo. It truly is an international city with regards to restaurants, entertainment, and even health. We're in Asia, for pete's sake, and I've had acupuncture, shiatsu, Reiki massage, rebirthing, past life regression, aromatherapy, psychotherapy and more - all with English-speaking practitioners.

My first challenge was finding what was available. Before I came to Japan, I had never heard of Reiki massage or rebirthing, so being educated was the first step to experiencing alternative therapies. My second challenge was finding the practitioners. Most of them advertise by word of mouth and any information that is published is decentralized. The good news is that it's a tight-knit community with only two or three degrees of separation, which means that you're only two people away from knowing them all.

The next challenge is assessing their qualifications. Can just anyone hang out a shingle in this town? Yes, so caveat emptor. There are international bodies that certify different alternative healing practices. Find out what those qualifications are and ask your practitioner if they have them. If they don't, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are not good at what they do. (Alternatively, if they do have qualifications, it doesn't mean they are good at what they do.) You can always ask for references from other patients where appropriate or find out if they have any supporting materials, like articles written about them.

Because alternative therapies are, well, alternative, you should know what to expect. Don't expect that the massage therapy you receive here will be like the massage therapy you receive in your home country. Ask what to expect, and tell the practitioner what you hope to get out of the session. A good practitioner will be honest with you by telling you if you are expecting too much or too little. Once you know what to expect, you can ask for your money back if you don't get it. Or at least ask why you didn't get what you expected.

Another thing to be aware of is the cost of things. Because most of these therapies are not covered under the National Health Insurance or other insurance, you'll be paying out of your pocket. Find out how much it is before you get the treatment. Also find out if there is a discount for several treatments.

Below is just a very short list of resources. Start with these, and then ask around. There are many great alternative therapies out there. Take advantage of the experience.

Circle of Light
This forum for personal growth is a good place to start, as a lot of alternative health practitioners in Tokyo are members. It's been around for over ten years. This group hosts speakers (in English) every first and third Sunday from 5:15-8pm in the Aoyama Dojo across from the Brazilian Embassy near Gaienmae station. The entrance fee is JY1000. Coming up is their annual Mind, Body and Spirit Festival, which will take place at Women's Plaza, Aoyama (behind the UN University) from 11am-6pm on October 9 and 10am-4pm on October 10. Admission is JY1000. For further details on the festival and other Circle of Light events, contact Hari Tahil or Petya Lowe at 03-3357-2067 or email plowe@hotmail.com

AromaVeda Spa and Wellness Center
Offers counseling from certified practitioners of Ayurveda - a 5000 year-old natural healing process from India incorporating herbal remedies. Courses are available. They work on an outpatient system.
Villa Royale Suite 310, Yoyogi 4-26-9, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3370-9173. Email aromveda@gol.com, website.

Mimi Pharmacy
This shop has been around for 50 years. Certified pharmacist and herbalist Mariko Fujisawa gives consultation in English and Japanese on Chinese herbal medicine (kanpo). Located near Shibuya station (next to the 109 Building). Call first for an appointment. A consultation takes about 40 minutes and there is no charge.
2-29-21 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3463-6419. Fax: 03-3461-2386

Good Day Books
Near Ebisu station east exit, this bookstore houses new and secondhand books in English on alternative healing practices, psychology, women's issues, spirituality and so on.
1-11-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5421-0957

Book Club Kai
Near Aoyama Cemetery at Gaienmae station. Contains new books and magazines in English and Japanese on a variety of New Age topics.
2-7-30 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3403-9849. Email bookclub@kai.co.jp 

Hotaka Yojoen Holistic Health Center
This Nagano retreat offers exercise, spa, Oriental medical treatment and macrobiotic meals.
7258-20 Ariake Hotaka-cho, Minami Azumi-bun, Nagano-ken. Tel: 0263-83-5260. Fax: 0263-83-6670. Email tamami@coral.ocn.ne.jp  

You can find other alternative health practitioners in the Tokyo Whole Life Pages available from Book Club Kai. This English language catalogue of books, alternative therapy practitioners and "green," environmentally-friendly products, services and businesses is printed annually. It also has a great dictionary of alternative health practices, just in case you don't know what color therapy is.

Daneeta Saft is a Tokyo-based writer and health and fitness acolyte. For further info on this and other health and fitness stuff check out her website at www.healthy-bytes.com