SERVICES / Acupuncture

Illness was spoken of as evil invasion of wind, spirits, stagnation, deficiency or excess of the five elements. The elements have natural balances, and counter-balances, which can manifest as illness in man. Fevers, for example, were known as excess fire, diarrhea and urinary frequency, as down pouring of water or damp, while irritability and inflexibility, was for wood over-growth, and poor digestion, belonged to the earth. These basic governing principles, used for the last two thousand years, are the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The system is astounding; from the properties of herb, to the foods, placement of Feng Shui, nature of each organ systems, to the descriptions of body types (morphology), all shows agreement and consistency according to the five elements. Therefore, the treatments could be consistent in correcting the five elemental imbalances.

Treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese medical theory incorporated geomancy, herbs, acupuncture, Qi-Gong, astronomy/astrology, Tui-Na, diet/lifestyle, and moxabustion to address imbalances of the five elements and eight principles. Each of these modalities can also be categorized into the elements and the three levels of heaven, man and earth.  These treatments fit into the Ba Gua Hexagrams of the I Ching, one system fitting into another one, neatly and seamlessly. These are brief overviews of the modalities available to the traditional practitioners of Chinese Medicine.

Eight modalities and Ba Gua

1. Elemental Fire- Moxa
Moxabustion is the use of heat as a healing modality originating from the north of China where the cold is a constant environmental factor. Medical texts of Ma-Wang-Tui from 168 A.D., was the earliest mention of burning mugwort plants used for cauterization of the skin. Huang Ti Nei Jing mentions the use of moxabustion as the first choice of treatment to move Qi and blood in treating stagnation. It was part of a treatment plan for systemic illness, such as cold in the uterus for infertility. Heat infused into the meridians via the points can clear channels, nourish Yang energy when depleted, and expels cold. Using rolls of cigar shaped mugwort, the practitioner can either reinforce the Qi by pecking motion or reduce by using a sweeping motion. Moxabustion has been expanded to include sunshine, heat lamps, and medicinal substances mixed with mugwort to minimize the smoke. Moxabustion is reported to promote longevity, vitality, and health. In America the use of moxabustion is held over an acupuncture point or burned on the top of the acupuncture needle to infuse heat deeper into the meridian. Direct moxabustion is not usually used due to the burns it causes. Another common instrument of moxa heat is the TDP lamp invented by a physicist named W. B. Gow. In the 1970’s, discovered that ceramic factory workers did not suffer from arthritis, or cancer and appeared to have a longer life span than expected. He researched the factory using a spectrometer. He detected a spectrum wavelength of 2 to 25 micrometer, a frequency of 33 known trace elements and 43 chemicals bonded to a black clay deposit. Today, the TDP lamp is one of the most common methods of transmitting heat treatments in Chinese medicine (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf2/k020851.pdf).

2. Elemental Metal-Acupuncture
Acupuncture was not always made of metal implements. It was thought that the first puncturing device was made of stone called Bian stone. A crude stone with a sharp end to lance boils, released pus from skin, and served to exorcise the evil spirits from the victims. Literature from the early records noted arrows that were used to kill evil spirits, implying a sharp tool. Meridians for the path of Qi within our bodies were first noted in the second century B.C. and mentioned in the Huang Ti Nei Jing as three hundred holes located along lines of the body. These lines and holes differ in the Nan Ching. Modern research using electrical conductivity has verified the presence of these meridian and points were acting as electrical signal transmitters. Dr. Z. H. Cho, the inventor of the PET scan used it to demonstrate the wide impact the sensory feedback of acupuncture has on brain function and hormone release. Today, acupuncture is acknowledged by the World Health Organization as being beneficial in treating over 45 different diseases.

3. Elemental Earth-Foods
Diet is one of the earliest and most primitive forms of natural healing. Most of the world and throughout history, having enough to eat was a diet. There was not a choice until methods of storage, drying, fermenting and preservation were developed. The functions of food, besides caloric, were formally studied along with herbs. The two are so closely related there is little separation except for herbs that are used specifically for medicinal purposes and never casually as sustenance. In the T`ai-Su version of the Huang Ti Nei Jing, there is a chapter on foods characterized into colors as yellow, green, black, red, and white. Flavors were also noted as sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and acrid. The actions of the foods within the body were also specified for hardening, collecting, dissipating, calming, and moistening. The Su-Wen version also added the thermal influence of warm, hot, cool, and cold properties to food. These foods were categorized according to the five elements and Yin Yang qualities. Guidelines were provided to regulate the intake of these foods with appropriate increase during illness or limit according to the symptoms.
 
4. Elemental Wood-Herbs
Herbs were studied as they were applied to wounds and injuries and as for supplying the body with necessary substances for longevity. Ch`in Shis Huang Ti, the first emperor of China heard reports of an herb reported to allow commune with the gods, impart immortality, and even revive the dead. An expedition was sent to the East to obtain this illusive herb, but no further results were recorded. The mythical figure of Shen-Nung was the “Devine Husbandman” and the father of herbs. It was thought that he originated the planting of millet, grain, wheat, barley, and rice. The Chinese were the first recorded civilization that invented the seed drill to retain seeds, the plow, and irrigation. It was Shen-Nung that tasted the different plants and herbs to discover the flavors, actions, and medicinal properties of over 300 herbs. His original works have been lost, but there are references to Shen-Nung in 206 B.C. The categorizations of herbs into functions are not by species or family but rather by energetic properties. Modern investigations of herb functions have verified the chemical properties and actions of over 300 of the herbs commonly used in Chinese herbal formulas. Effectiveness and appropriate use are verified in research in Western and Chinese pharmacology with hundreds of references in the well known database of PubMed.

5. Elemental Water-Tui Na
Tui-Na means to push and pull. The Tui Na modality is categorized as a water element due to the medium of the body being 75% water. This may be lower percentage than average as most Americans are chronically dehydrated. Asian body work was mentioned as a treatment in the medical texts unearth from 168 A.D. at the Ma-Wang-Tui graves. Massage treatment is inseparable from the basic theory of Yin, Yang, Five Elements, internal and external manifestation of organ diseases. Tui Na is the manual movement of the meridian’s Qi and blood to balance the five elements within the organ systems. It is used for trauma, regulate stagnation and release excess. Using over 100 different techniques from tapping, pinching, rolling, kneading, grasping, and pulling to name a few, Tui Na specialists are experts in using their body as instruments. The daily routine of practitioners includes Qi-Gong to protect them and to gather Qi. Herbal liniments are often used to treat blood and Qi stagnation and to facilitate healing.  Tui Na is the theoretical basis for Shiatsu and acupressure, of which Reflexology is the most well known. It is the modality of choice for children and effective for common colic, fevers, and digestive problems.

6. Heaven-Astrology
Consulting the Heavens is a specialty of medicine practice since the beginning of time. The original explanation of disease attributed to unseen spirits that harried the people. Shamans were consulted for divination. The Chinese were the earliest astronomers and plotted the skies long before the Western world discovered the world was round. They theorized the body followed circadian cycles and timed the cycle to various organ systems. They linked women with the Yin of the moon and the menstrual cycle, a fact noted by the Chinese by 206 B.C. in the Huang Ti Nei Jing. Out of a complex integration of the I Ching and the astrology chart of the heavens, came a theory of open acupuncture points according to the person’s sky chart at the time of birth. There are also specific points called Window of the Sky which links heaven to earth, letting spirits in or out of a person, and treating emotional diseases of spirit possession.  Tibetan healers put so much faith in astrology charts that all health and disease is linked to the individual person’s birth charts. Diseases ebb and flow according to the time of the organs, season, stars, individual’s chart, and time of treatment.

7. Earth-Geomancy
Geomancy was better known in America as Feng Shui which means wind and water. Having the perfect location was priceless in real estate, even more so for a farmer to have adequate water and open space for a good harvest. The science of locating a home, a gravesite or a farm depends on several factors. The placement of the mountains to the north, the availability of water to the south, wind breaks on either side, to provide a sheltered yet open area which was an ideal location. Originating during the demonic era, professional geomancers were often consulted to locate just the perfect spot to bury one’s parents, or loved ones. Elaborate measurements and use of compasses detailing hundreds of factors are used to line up the magnetic lines. Consultation of the stars, measuring of the trees and brush, sighting of the flow of the sun across the land are all taken into account before a decision can be made. Sometimes the geomancers would require changes to correct the bad signs or hanging of trinkets to entice the wind and Qi to abound. A good location could bring fortune, peace and happiness to a family whereas a poor location could mean strife, misfortune, and poverty. Early geomancers used reference to spirits, and animals to represent to quality of the positions rather than semantic of seismology. Historically, the Chinese are the first to discover magnetism and invented the magnetic compass. It was also known that there are natural magnetic resonances from the ground that can be detected by people sensitive to energy. As more people are becoming aware of energy healing, they are increasingly aware of energy in the environment. Feng Shui has enjoyed resurgence in America recently since Grandmaster Lin Yun began teaching it in Hong Kong and the United States in 1973.

8. Man-Psychology
Proper relationship to each other was vital to a healthy society, taught Confucius. In many respects, he was correct in that man’s relationship to man can cause great suffering or great joy. The names and titles he formulated for Chinese society still prevails today in Asian cultures all over the world. His was the Yang version to the Yin of Lao Tzu’s Tao to be one with everything. Confucius taught that man was above woman, he was the head of the household with the first born son and subsequent sons after in ranking order. The titles given specified which side of the family and in which birth order you were in relation to another person. Respect and responsibility fell into place accordingly. Propriety in behavior meant that each person had to behave in accordance to the position they held. Fidelity meant being true in speech and in action as the family name and a reputation was affected by each individual’s actions within the society. Benevolence was to have compassion for all. It was not tolerance for misconduct, but an honorable, person to person compassion, irrespective of rank, wealth, education, or cultural background. Confucius taught that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you, on the other hand, if they mistreated you, an eye for an eye applied.

One can argue that this paternalistic view of family dynamic was the stuff of psychotherapy, the source of teenage rebellions, and fosters abuse of power and sexism. Confucius would argue that a lesser man who was unenlightened would lean toward that path but the upright man would strive for honor and correct relationships. He was an optimist who believed the nature of the Emperor would dictate the nature of the people. In believing in the status quo, and the balance of societal control, he depended on the character of the rulers to define the behaviors of the people. If the Emperor was base in behavior and abused his power, he believed chaos would reign in society and a reform must take place.

Kung Fu Tzu was credited with saying: The mark of a benevolent people is that they are reluctant to speak. They know that they themselves could not follow. The mark of a wise people is that they are free from anxiety. They know how they should live, and they live as they know; so they have no cause for anxiety. …Help others to discover their own abilities and virtues; help them find the goodness within their own souls. Help them to suppress that which is bad within them.

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