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| (Portrait of Dr. Shinto Yoshiharu) |
Dr. Yoshiharu Shindo (進藤義晴) was a Japanese medical doctor widely recognized as the founder of the Hiyatori Health Method (冷えとり健康法) - a "cold-elimination and detoxification" regimen that has gained massive popularity in Japan and across Asia. Here is a summary of his life and medical career :
Life and Medical Career
- Life Span: Born in 1923 in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan; passed away in 2013 at the age of 90.
- Education: Graduated from the School of Medicine at Nagoya University, one of Japan's most prestigious national universities, where he later earned his Ph.D. in Medicine.
- Clinical Career: Dr. Shindo originally practiced conventional Western medicine as a surgeon and otolaryngologist (ENT specialist). He served as the Head of the ENT Department at the Aichi Prefecture Welfare Association Central Hospital (now Konan Hospital).
The Turning Point in His Medical Philosophy
During his years practicing Western medicine, Dr. Shindo noticed that while modern medicine was highly advanced, it had limitations in completely curing chronic illnesses. Many patients only received symptomatic treatment rather than a cure for the root cause of their ailments.
This realization prompted him to delve deeply into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and ancient medical texts. Through his research, he discovered a profound connection between body temperature, blood circulation, and overall health.
Founding the "Hiyatori Health Method" (冷えとり)
In 1981, after years of clinical observation and self-experimentation, Dr. Shindo officially introduced the Hiyatori wellness method (which literally translates to "removing coldness").
His core philosophy rests on two main principles :
- Eliminating Coldness (冷えとり): He posited that most diseases stem from an imbalance where the upper body is warm while the lower body is cold (disrupting the body's natural thermal circulation). Keeping the feet and lower body warm is the key to ensuring smooth blood circulation throughout the entire body.
- Avoiding Overeating (Digestive Toxins): He emphasized that overeating creates "toxins" that accumulate within internal organs, straining the body's natural healing abilities.
- His Famous Practice: The method advocates wearing multiple layers of socks (typically alternating between pure silk and cotton or wool) to trap heat in the feet and stimulate detoxification through the soles.
Later Years and Legacy
After retiring from the hospital, he opened a private clinic to consult and guide people on how to heal naturally using his method without relying heavily on Western pharmaceuticals. Although initially met with skepticism by the conventional medical community, his method eventually sparked a major wellness movement in Japan, especially among advocates of organic lifestyles and self-healing.
Following his passing, his daughter, Yuki Shindo (進藤幸恵), took over his work. She continues to write books, give lectures, and pass down her father's "Hiyatori" philosophy to this day.
Notable Publications
Dr. Yoshiharu Shindo authored several bestselling books in Japan, some of which have been translated into other languages:
- The Hiyatori Health Method (冷えとり健康法)
- Curing All Diseases with the "Hiyatori" Health Method (万病を癒す「冷えとり」健康法)
- Living Illness-Free by Eliminating Coldness
The Hietori (Cold - Removing) Method in 1983. His approach revolves around thermotherapy concepts, specifically managing body temperature to treat illnesses by balancing the upper and lower body and eliminating accumulated coldness.
Core Principles of the Hietori Method
- Temperature Differential : Dr. Shindo posited that most diseases arise from a temperature imbalance in the body, where the lower body is abnormally colder than the upper body.
- Layered Clothing : Practitioners wear multiple layers of socks (usually natural fibers like silk and cotton) on their feet and leave the ankles bare to allow the cold air and toxins to escape.
- Warm Lower Body : The goal is to keep the feet warmer than the head, which is believed to improve blood circulation and stimulate the autonomic nervous system.
- Detoxification : Shindo suggested that by warming the body, toxins are continuously expelled, thereby improving a wide array of physical and mental conditions.
Modern Thermotherapy vs. Hietori
While Dr. Shindo's method relies on self-administered heat retention through clothing and daily habits, clinical thermotherapy (hyperthermia) is an evidence-based medical procedure often used alongside treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy to destroy cancer cells. The Shindo method is rooted in holistic and alternative health rather than conventional, clinical hyperthermia.
About Coldness Removal (The Hietori Method)
Welcome to the page introducing the coldness removal method in English. This page is made possible by a lovely Japanese girl named Eriko, who is located in Kitakyushu city, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. She started hietori method in 2015 and experienced a drastic improvement in her health of both body and mind. She is impressed with the remedy results and is committed to spread the words about Hietori to the world. Therefore she takes on a role as offering Hietori health information to people overseas in English. Many thanks to Eriko san for the lovely illustrations and very informative writings. I hope you all like it and find it helpful.
Hietori means 'getting rid of coldness from a body, a mind, and a heart' in Japanese. Hietori consists in 2 words, "Hie" and "Tori". Hie means "coldness" and Tori stands for "removing something away" in Japanese. This method is based on an idea: get all of disease symptoms out from a body through removing coldness in the body, then aim for true health.
He used to work as an otorhinologist. While he worked hard for several decades, he gradually came to think that there is a limit in Western medicine to treat and examine mainly a part of body. For the fundamental treatments of diseases, he thought he has to focus on not only the part of body with problems but also the entire body. Then, he came to in his mind Oriental medicine such as acupuncture and moxibustion and herbal medicine.
He combined ideas of Western medicine and Oriental medicine together, then his treatment results went up, and the number of patients increased. However, he did not prescribe any medicine, injection, nor any surgery at all. He was then forced to retire because he did not follow hospital's instructions of charging fees as much as possible.
He was requested by his patients strongly to keep treating them, he then started to work as a general practitioner at his home in Apr 1981. After that, he treated his patients in only Oriental therapies.
In 1983, he got to learn that human body is affected by cold, hot, wind, drying, humidity and so on. He noticed he could recover by taking half body bath and by keeping his feet warm when he was not well. He then recommended his patients to do the same, then effectiveness of his treatments increased more and more.
Dr. Shindo mentions that we have the natural human healing power in our body. However, if there is coldness that disturbs self-healing power, we cannot get back to normal. Therefore, all we have to do is getting rid of the obstruction, coldness, then rely on the intrinsic ability to self-heal.
The way of thinking of Hietori medicine is completely different from general medicine.
The cause of various diseases is coldness. All sorts of illnesses cold be cured by getting rid of coldness in a right way.
Keeping a head cooler than feet is an ancient healthy way in Japan. This way makes a good circulation of entire body, helps speed up metabolism, strengthens immune system, improves a natural human healing power. According to Hietori Method books written by Dr. Shindo, it has good effects to every kinds of diseases such as a chronic poor physical condition, atopic dermatitis, infertility, spot, winkles, a strained back, depression, insomnia, all kinds of cancers, and dementia. It is not too much to say that Hietori Method in a right way works for all kinds of diseases.
Because most of important organs that maintain a life are gathered in upper body. For example, a brain, a heart, lungs, a liver, digestive organs, and the kidney. These are working 24 hours and generate heat, so upper body doesn’t get cold easily. On the other hand, lower body always are colder due to existence of fewer organs.
So, what is "healthy" in a true meaning? There are the guidelines in Hietori Method.
① light complexion, sleek skin
② without spots, moles, and corn
③ hair grows, less gray hairs
④ not get tired easily, and recover quickly
⑤ calm mind
⑥ breath deeply
⑦ move diligently and frequently
⑧ realize what kinds of food you should eat
⑨ not worry about sleep, meal, and evacuation
⑩ not distress about hot or cold weather, and hunger
⑪ not want to wear chemical fiber clothes
⑫ less smell of a body, mouth, and feet
⑬ less dandruff and dirt, and less dirt of under wears
⑭ not to get bit by an insect easily, if so, recover from it soon
⑮ a highly adaptability
In Western medicine, we call a "disease" when it is appeared as some numbers in blood or urine or is formed specifically as a tumor, a polyp, or an ulcer. Western medicine cannot tell although we already have toxins inside our body which will turn into a disease later on.
The "Mengen", Cleansing Reaction
When you are unhealthy, your detox ability is slow to get out waste from your body because your instinct cannot work normally. However, the ability is getting stronger, once your body gradually becomes normal by doing Hietori Method. So, it's possible to happen that you have stronger pain, more serious rash and so on while you are recovering from diseases. These are cleansing reaction in Hietori Method, "Mengen" in Japanese. There are many kinds of Mengen, cleansing reaction. Here are the examples below.
- to vomit
- to have loose bowels
- to spit blood
- to have a fever
- to sweat
- to feel itchy
- to have a rash
- to feel listless and all the other disorders are included in Mengen.
Mengen is a feature that you are recovering from illness, so you should be happy for it. But, once you are worried about your cleansing reactions too much, the symptoms might be worse. Because the worries or impatience will become new toxin. On the contrary, the symptom will stop faster if you accept that with a calm mind. According to Dr. Shindo's patients cases, it stopped approximately 15 days at the longest if they could bear with a calm mind.
Difference between disease symptoms & symptoms of Hietori cleansing reaction.
General disease symptom is a condition that your body is full with toxins, overflowing for your life support.
On the other hand, Mengen is a condition that your body is trying to reduce, and expelling deep toxins inside as your body now has enough energy to do that. It looks the same as disease symptoms, but with less pain or disturbance of daily lives.
Mengen is very important. You need to get over with Mengen, it will naturally stop if you keep doing the right Hietori Method. So, it's very important not to worry about Mengen.
And it depends on individual when Mengen come out, and how it much comes out in what ways. Please take note.
How to Start "Hietori"
About bath
Taking a long half bath is the most important in Hietori method, because waste or toxins from the body dissolve in water .
If you can't do that in your country due to some reasons, foot bath is also okay.
How to take a half body bath :
① Water level: up to around your belly button or your pit of stomach.
② Temperature: 37~39℃ that you don't feel hot. Be careful to keep the water warm when you're taking a long time by adding hot water.
③ Time: At least 20 minutes. If possible, you can take as long as you can. If you have a disease or you are not feeling well, Dr. Shindo recommends to take a long bath as much as possible.
④ Wear layers of socks as soon as possible after taking a bath.
Please note that the temperature and the time is different depends on individuals.
When you cannot take a half body bath, foot bath gives you similar effects. When you do, please wear tops lightly.
①Pour hot water into a bucket up to ankles. It is better to use a towel as a cover so that the water won't cool down soon.
②Temperature: A little bit higher than half bath, but not too hot. Up to you feel comfortable. When the temperature are down, you need to add hot water. It is easier if you prepare it by a electric water boiler.
③Time: At least 20 minutes.
④Wear layers of socks as soon as possible after taking a foot bath.
Check out bath products recommended by Dr. Shindo here: Pine Leaf Bath Salt Powder
About Clothing
There are 3 main points :
1. Wear more layers for lower body than upper body.
→ When you feel chilly, you need to wear layers of socks first. Then, add leg warmers, pants in order, and lastly a jacket. When you feel hot, on the contrary, you need to take off a jacket first. Let's try not to reduce the layers of socks as much as possible even in summer.
2. Wear a loose fitting clothes.
→ Tight clothes press a blood vessel, then circulations will be bad. Also, frictions between skins and clothes caused from moving helps body to detox.
3. Wear natural materials such as silk, wool, cotton, and hemp.
→ Skin always detox as breathing and sweat. Artificial fibers like polyethylene, acrylic, and nylon prevent body from detoxing. Silk is the best natural material for underwear that touch to skin directly. Because silk is great in heat‐retaining, dehumidifying and detoxing. So, it keeps feet warm while absorbing moisture and the waste from a body and discharge them out. Cotton and wool is also good for keeping the body warm and helps sucking out the toxins from the body.
Check out silk products for lower body here: Silk-Cotton Layering Leggings and 100% Silk Leg Warmers
Layering of Socks
①Silk toe socks. (Cocoonfit 100% silk toe socks)
②Wool or cotton toe socks. Wool is warmer than cotton.
③Silk socks.
④Wool or cotton socks.
Why do we need to wear toe socks for 1st and 2nd ones? This is because it is easier to absorb toxins from each toes.
At least 4 layers of socks is necessary and basic. If possible, we can't have too many of them. But, please note that it changes depends on individual symptoms. Dr. Shindo recommend at least 10 layers of socks if you now have illness.
Check out 4-layered socks sets here: Cocoonfit 4-layered socks set in Cotton (Size S / Size L) and 4-layered Socks Set in Wool
While Sleeping
The waste comes out from a body easily while sleeping. Have you ever experienced that you have a cough a lot, get itchy, or go to the bathroom frequently when you sleep ?
Dr. Shindo recommends to use hot water bottle (Yutanpo) during sleep all year. Just one is okay, but the more you use, the more you can detox.
Even in the summer, it's better to use them by wearing tops lightly or less, while using a fan, or an air conditioner.
A ceramic hot water bottle (Yutanpo) is the best to keep warm, but others made from plastic are also okay.
Check out Hot water warmers here: Japan-Made Yutanpo 600ml and Fashy hot water bag 2L.
Moreover, an electric blanket is not good for a body, so please stop to use. Because, an electric heat always warms a surface of a body, and gets rid of water from a body.
Dr. Yoshiharu Shindo who famously founded the "Hietori" (cold-elimination) health method. After decades of practicing Western medicine, he integrated Eastern medicine principles, concluding that a chilly core and blocked toxic pathways are the root causes of most human illnesses.While his teachings focus heavily on physical practices like wearing multiple layers of silk and cotton socks or taking half-body baths, his books are deeply philosophical. He strongly believed that the mind and body are inseparable, and that a "cold mind" (egoism and negative emotions) is just as toxic as physical coldness.His core inspirational philosophies and core messages, translated from his Japanese texts and teachings, emphasize self-healing and personal accountability :
On Mind-Body Connection and Emotions
- "Negative emotions are a form of internal coldness."Dr. Shindo taught that selfishness, greed, anger, and anxiety freeze the body's energy just as much as physical ice. True health requires melting away these rigid mental states.
- "The mind governs the body. If your heart is cold and self-centered, your physical body will inevitably suffer from poor circulation."He urged people to look inward at their relationships and attitudes when trying to heal physical ailments.
On Pain, Symptoms, and Detoxification
- "Do not view a symptom as an enemy to suppress, but as the body's natural effort to push out toxins."Instead of relying immediately on medicine to shut down a fever, skin rash, or cough, he advised listening to the body. He saw these uncomfortable reactions as necessary purification processes ("Menken" or healing crises).
- "The waste comes out from a body easily while sleeping... The more you use warmth, the more you can detox."He advocated for gentle, constant self-care rather than harsh medical interventions, relying on the body's subconscious power to heal itself overnight.
On Personal Responsibility and Self-Healing
- "Your health is entirely your own responsibility - not your doctor’s."Dr. Shindo felt strongly that modern medicine makes people passive. He created the Hietori method to be so simple and cheap (socks, water, and mindful eating) that anyone could practice it daily without needing an expert.
- "The fundamental solution to a hundred illnesses starts simply by removing the cold."He believed nature designed the human body to be self-correcting if given the right environment: a cool head and warm feet (Zukan Sokunetsu).
P/s : The two names Shinto Yoshiharu and Shindo Yoshiharu actually refer to the same person. The difference is simply due to the Romanization of his Japanese name into Latin letters: In Japanese, his name is written as 進藤 義晴. The correct pronunciation of his surname 進藤 in Japanese is Shindō (with the "d" sound and the "o" long vowel). However, when translated into other languages or due to pronunciation habits, many documents sometimes misspell it or simplify it to Shinto.
Dr. Shindo Yoshiharu is the "father" of the unique and famous Japanese health-preserving method called Hiyatori Kenkoho (a method of keeping feet warm to detoxify, prevent, and treat diseases, notable for wearing multiple layers of socks). Therefore, whether you see his name written as Shinto or Shindo in health books, they are all referring to the same doctor with the philosophy that "body temperature is a gift from God"!
In his writings and translated books on health maintenance and immune system enhancement (such as his famous book discussing "All illnesses originate from the body being cold"), Shinto doctor Yoshiharu has a very unique perspective: He believes that a stable body temperature of 37°C is a wonderful blessing bestowed upon humanity by God (or creation).
Shinto doctor Yoshiharu's medical perspective: Rejection of the "gift": He argues that when we live unhealthy lives, allowing our bodies to become cold and causing our body temperature to drop, we are inadvertently "rejecting" this gift of 37°C. Consequences of hypothermia: According to his research, when body temperature drops (even by just 1°C), the immune system is severely weakened, organs function sluggishly, leading to lethargy, fatigue, and even creating the seeds for diseases such as depression or cancer to develop.
Dr. Shinto Yoshiharu have said that : A stable body temperature of 37°C is a wonderful blessing bestowed upon humanity by God.
Maintaining a stable body temperature of around 37°C (98.6°F) is indeed a marvel of human biology. This precise regulation - known as thermoregulation - is a finely tuned balancing act managed primarily by the brain's hypothalamus. Here is how this delicate system keeps the body running smoothly :
- The Control Center : The hypothalamus acts as the body's internal thermostat. It constantly monitors blood temperature and receives signals from temperature sensors in the skin.
- Cooling Down (Heat Loss) : If you are in a warm environment or exercising, the hypothalamus triggers blood vessels near the skin to widen (vasodilation) to release heat. It also stimulates sweat glands; as sweat evaporates, it cools the body's surface.
- Warming Up (Heat Production): In the cold, the body conserves heat by narrowing blood vessels near the skin (vasoconstriction). It also generates heat through involuntary muscle contractions, which is why we shiver.
This constant baseline is crucial because our vital organs, enzymes, and cellular processes have evolved to function optimally at this exact temperature. Even slight deviations, such as hyperthermia or hypothermia, can significantly disrupt metabolism and vital bodily functions.
(Currently, his daughter, Yukie Shindo, is continuing to inherit and run the Hietori Kogera Club to promote this lifestyle to the community).
About Coldness Removal (The Hietori Method)
About Coldness Removal (The Hietori Method)
About Coldness Removal (The Hietori Method)
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