Hirata Zone Therapy with the Ontake Method: Repurposing the Lost Art of Japanese Dermatome Moxibustion for Contemporary Practice

Want a practical moxa method you can use with patients — and teach them to use at home?

Hirata Zone Therapy introduces a powerful system of moxa treatment using the twelve Hirata Zones and Ontake Warm Bamboo moxibustion. Simple, practical, and easy to apply, this book shows acupuncturists, moxibustion practitioners, and bodyworkers how to use rhythmic moxa for symptom relief, whole-body regulation, and patient self-care

Hirata was a medical student by day — and a rebel by night. Critical of Western medicine, he pioneered a holographic system of dermatome stimulation using a heated probe, designed to trigger the body’s self-healing mechanisms and empower laypeople to treat themselves.

Hirata’s first book, published in 1933, was a runaway bestseller. In the West, however, the tools used in Japan to heat the skin were not available, and his system remained little known. Now, nearly one hundred years later, Hirata Zone Therapy has found new life through its integration with Ontake Warm Bamboo, a simple-to-apply moxibustion tool.

Oran Kivity’s first book was Moxa in Motion with the Ontake Method. In this second book on rhythmic moxibustion, he explores the Hirata Zones in depth, decoding the approaches not only of Hirata himself, but also of his more famous exponent, Dr Manaka. Simply written and clearly illustrated, this is the first systematic exploration in English of these ideas, repurposed for contemporary practice.

In this book, you will learn:

• How to load, light, and apply bamboo safely
• The twelve Hirata Zones and their mappings
• The integration of Dr Manaka’s meridian frequencies
• Basic, intermediate, and complex strategies for treating over 200 diseases
• Strategies for home treatment

Hirata Zone Therapy is written for acupuncturists, moxibustion practitioners, Shiatsu therapists, Tuina practitioners, and bodyworkers who want a safe, effective, and clinically practical way to use moxa. Whether you are new to moxibustion or already use moxa in clinic, this book offers a clear and accessible way to integrate the Hirata Zones, Dr Manaka’s meridian frequencies, and Ontake Warm Bamboo into contemporary practice.

Oran Kivity is a British acupuncturist, author, and international trainer with over three decades of clinical experience. He is the developer of the Ontake Method and the author of several books on Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion. He lives in Taiwan, where he continues to practise, write, and teach.

Comes with a free downloadable Hirata Zones Reference Sheet for easy reference in the clinic.