Acupuncture and Chinese medicine

[Yas]

Fascinating information Seamas! It was very funny to find out how the idea of the qi as energy and the meridians came into existence in the context of Chinese medicine, and that article is very helpful.

I still think that there is more than meets the eye in Chinese medicine that, as you said, might be related to information theory and/or something of the sort, but it's very good to understand it on a more down to earth approach too... after all, we have "flesh and bone" bodies so having a "flesh and bone" system of medicine that actually works is very good.

Dear Seamas what is exactly a micro trauma in this context? What i understand about it, could be all this "bloody marks"after the copping and how painful is to move the day after? Could you be so kind to explain the process than involves this "micro trauma" in our body? And also i have a curiosity questions:Is Kombucha part of the Chines medicine and how beneficial o detrimental is it dealing with candida?

My acupuncturist said the mechanical lifting of tissue accomplished by cupping stimulates the body in ways that parallel the effects of needling.

Micro trauma in the context of acupuncture refers the small amount of damage done to the body by the acupuncture needle. There's some evidence that this stimulates the body's healing response. For example if someone has knee pain we might use 5-10 needles locally on acupuncture points around the effected knee and this theory supposes that the small injuries from the acupuncture needles around the knee calls the patient's body's attention to the knee. Does that make sense?

Recently, I participated in a beginners course of Shiatsu massage. It is Japanese but based on TCM, as far as I understood. The instructor said that Shiatsu worked in a way similar to what you described above, but of course, its therapeutic scope is not that extended since it's mostly very gentle, but it seems to be very good for some ailments. He said that they believe that the pressure we do on some specific points bring our bodies' attention to those points and stimulate the healing process. I think it's an interesting idea and it makes me think of how when we get hurt or feel pain we seem to have an instinct to put our hands on the area and even add a gentle pressure, like when we hurt a toe and immediately grab it as if that would ease the pain

Thanks a lot for sharing Seamas!

 

[Seamus]

Fascinating information Seamas! It was very funny to find out how the idea of the qi as energy and the meridians came into existence in the context of Chinese medicine, and that article is very helpful.

I still think that there is more than meets the eye in Chinese medicine that, as you said, might be related to information theory and/or something of the sort, but it's very good to understand it on a more down to earth approach too... after all, we have "flesh and bone" bodies so having a "flesh and bone" system of medicine that actually works is very good.

Thanks Yas! I appreciate what you have to say here, its exactly the kind of dualistic thinking that I've learned to embrace with Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is a "real flesh and bone" medicine based on nerve blocks, endorphins, increasing circulation, etc. AND it is also an "energy medicine" that effects higher levels of reality in subtle ways.

Dear Seamas what is exactly a micro trauma in this context? What i understand about it, could be all this "bloody marks"after the copping and how painful is to move the day after? Could you be so kind to explain the process than involves this "micro trauma" in our body? And also i have a curiosity questions:Is Kombucha part of the Chines medicine and how beneficial o detrimental is it dealing with candida?

My acupuncturist said the mechanical lifting of tissue accomplished by cupping stimulates the body in ways that parallel the effects of needling.

Micro trauma in the context of acupuncture refers the small amount of damage done to the body by the acupuncture needle. There's some evidence that this stimulates the body's healing response. For example if someone has knee pain we might use 5-10 needles locally on acupuncture points around the effected knee and this theory supposes that the small injuries from the acupuncture needles around the knee calls the patient's body's attention to the knee. Does that make sense?

Recently, I participated in a beginners course of Shiatsu massage. It is Japanese but based on TCM, as far as I understood. The instructor said that Shiatsu worked in a way similar to what you described above, but of course, its therapeutic scope is not that extended since it's mostly very gentle, but it seems to be very good for some ailments. He said that they believe that the pressure we do on some specific points bring our bodies' attention to those points and stimulate the healing process. I think it's an interesting idea and it makes me think of how when we get hurt or feel pain we seem to have an instinct to put our hands on the area and even add a gentle pressure, like when we hurt a toe and immediately grab it as if that would ease the pain

Thanks a lot for sharing Seamas!

Shiatsu can be really amazing, we had a great teacher in our first semester of school who taught us the basics of the meridian/channel system and some of the most important acupuncture points by teaching us a shiatsu routine. The pressure on the acupuncture points stimulate them in much the same way needles do. For some people I think that hands on bodywork like Shiatsu can be MORE effective than Acupuncture and sometimes I don't use needles at all if someone is afraid of them, particularly sensitive to the needling sensations, or if I just think bodywork would be more helpful at that time.

Sounds like a great course, have fun practicing your new skills!

 

[Seamus]

I've been wanting to get some testing done to get some idea of my biochemistry after years of taking supplements recommended on this forum. How can I utilize that lab you mentioned that does hair tissue mineral analysis?

There are a couple of possibilities I need to look into, I'll get back to you on that in the next few days.

Sorry for the delayed response JGeropoulas! I'm putting together an informational website so folks can learn more about the test and the science behind it and why its a good idea to get tested. You'll be able to easily order the test and the associated supplements from the website and I'm planning to launch it between now and Christmas. I was hoping it would be ready to go by now but I'm in the middle of a big move so its taking me a little longer than expected. When its ready I will post the URL here.

In the meantime you (and anyone else who's interested) can PM me and I'll get you set up with a test kit so you can get the ball rolling. I'm offering a discount for FOTCM members and their families and I'll send information about that too.

I hope that's helpful and I'll keep my eye out for any PMs!

 

[Indiken]

@Seamus

Hello,

to what pattern is related a huge desire for sweets?

also,

to what pattern is related sores in the lower lip?

Thank you and be well.

 

[Hi_Henry]

I once had contact with acupuncture while in China. Here is how it happened.

I was making a trip to Tibet via Chengdu,China. However you can not (at least when I was going in 2000) enter Tibet as an individual. You must be part of a tourist party. So I signed up at a tourist beauro and waited till they had enough people to make a group. While waiting I decided to make a trip to Mt. Emei which is one of Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. I hoped on a bus (only foreigner) and journed to the mountain's buddist complex. The stay there was huge story but let me make this brief. I climbed the mountain in December with snow and ice on the paths going up.


Walking on snow and ice IS WORK when going up and down and you don't have spiked hiking boots. When I returned to Chengdu I was completely beat. Every muscle, every bone ached.

While in the lobby of the little hotel I stayed at I saw a note written by some western tourist saying that a very well know acupuncturist had an office in the hotel building. Out of curiosity to try out acupuncture I decided that same day to go to him. He spoke a bit of english while going about his work so a few things were explained. He gave me the "needle treatment" as well as acupuncture massage in certain parts of my head and neck. The whole think took about an hour and half if not more.

When he finished I felt the same way I felt BEFORE I went to Mt. Emei.
NOTHING ached. NOTHING !!!!

Acupuncture is Amazing !!!!

 

[Seamus]

@Seamus

Hello,

to what pattern is related a huge desire for sweets?

also,

to what pattern is related sores in the lower lip?

Thank you and be well.

Hi Indiken, as my teachers told me, and as I tell my patients.... it depends. Any individual symptoms like a desire for sweets or sores on the lower lip could indicate a number of different patterns and it is up to the practitioner to diagnose based on your entire picture including all of your symptoms, what you look like, what your tongue looks like, what your pulse feels like, what points are tender on your body, etc.

That said a huge desire for sweets and sores on the lower lip could indicate an earth disharmony in the five element system, or a spleen/stomach imbalance in the zang fu system. What's your diet like?

I once had contact with acupuncture while in China. Here is how it happened.

I was making a trip to Tibet via Chengdu,China. However you can not (at least when I was going in 2000) enter Tibet as an individual. You must be part of a tourist party. So I signed up at a tourist beauro and waited till they had enough people to make a group. While waiting I decided to make a trip to Mt. Emei which is one of Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. I hoped on a bus (only foreigner) and journed to the mountain's buddist complex. The stay there was huge story but let me make this brief. I climbed the mountain in December with snow and ice on the paths going up.

View attachment 52335
Walking on snow and ice IS WORK when going up and down and you don't have spiked hiking boots. When I returned to Chengdu I was completely beat. Every muscle, every bone ached.

While in the lobby of the little hotel I stayed at I saw a note written by some western tourist saying that a very well know acupuncturist had an office in the hotel building. Out of curiosity to try out acupuncture I decided that same day to go to him. He spoke a bit of english while going about his work so a few things were explained. He gave me the "needle treatment" as well as acupuncture massage in certain parts of my head and neck. The whole think took about an hour and half if not more.

When he finished I felt the same way I felt BEFORE I went to Mt. Emei.
NOTHING ached. NOTHING !!!!

Acupuncture is Amazing !!!!

Wow that is a great story! Sounds like an amazing experience all around, thanks for sharing

 

[Gwenllian]

Recently, I participated in a beginners course of Shiatsu massage. It is Japanese but based on TCM, as far as I understood. The instructor said that Shiatsu worked in a way similar to what you described above, but of course, its therapeutic scope is not that extended since it's mostly very gentle, but it seems to be very good for some ailments. He said that they believe that the pressure we do on some specific points bring our bodies' attention to those points and stimulate the healing process. I think it's an interesting idea and it makes me think of how when we get hurt or feel pain we seem to have an instinct to put our hands on the area and even add a gentle pressure, like when we hurt a toe and immediately grab it as if that would ease the pain

I would love to do a beginner's course of acupressure!

My acupuncturist at the time referred me to the work of Michael Reed Gach, Acupressure Potent Points. I think it's very good for laypeople, who are interested in these kind of healing methods and would like to give it a go themselves.

Acupressure medical taping is also a good alternative. Laura recommended the book Acupressure taping - The Practice of Acutaping for Chronic Pain and Injuries years ago. It is a very thin book with lots of pictures (just like Gach's book), so you can do this at home.

Thanks Yas! I appreciate what you have to say here, its exactly the kind of dualistic thinking that I've learned to embrace with Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is a "real flesh and bone" medicine based on nerve blocks, endorphins, increasing circulation, etc. AND it is also an "energy medicine" that effects higher levels of reality in subtle ways.

I think this topic is fascinating. I used to go to an acupuncturist and she helped me a lot. Also, I listened to a Health and Wellness show about the fascia a couple of times and if I remember it correctly the needles might stimulate the fascia which gets the ball rolling.

 

[Indiken]

Hi Indiken, as my teachers told me, and as I tell my patients.... it depends. Any individual symptoms like a desire for sweets or sores on the lower lip could indicate a number of different patterns and it is up to the practitioner to diagnose based on your entire picture including all of your symptoms, what you look like, what your tongue looks like, what your pulse feels like, what points are tender on your body, etc.

That said a huge desire for sweets and sores on the lower lip could indicate an earth disharmony in the five element system, or a spleen/stomach imbalance in the zang fu system. What's your diet like?

I prefer dry, warm, fried and sweet food. Most of my food now consists of:

- potatoes, wheat pasta and wheat bread, buckwheat,

- pork, cheese, butter,

- beets, tomatoes, lettuce,

- persimmon, tangerine,

- sweets,

I eat 2 meals a day and have frequent snacks,

I have good appetite, frequently overeat and feel emotional pain from not being able to eat,

I tried some time ago a "yin" diet (from book - "Healing with whole foods") and after eating I was experiencing spasms in the spleen.

Some other symptoms: very strong drowsiness, fatigue, depression, shortness of breath on physical exertion, introversion, desire to lie down, sour regurgitation, bleeding gums, cracking and dry joints,

I have experienced earlier feeling of water in the feet, so when I walked it felt like water would be pushed in the feet and also a discomfort in the kidneys. I cannot drink much, because I feel discomfort in the kidneys and ears. I used to drink much sweet drinks earlier.

It used to be a time when I was feeling very cold, but my skin was warm. Now it is better and I feel warmer inside.

I have no knowledge of pulse, so I cannot tell anything of value.

The tongue color in the morning is pale, the coating is thick - most is in the back of tongue, some in the middle, coating color is more gray than white, later in the day the tongue gets more red, sometimes the coating gets some yellow tinge, there big red spots at the back of tongue standing in circular fashion, also front of tongue is more reddish. I remember when conventional medicine doctor of stomach said that my mouth was dry.

I take antidepressants.

Now my goal is to eliminate the desire for sweets and normalize appetite.

My own diagnosis is this:

Earlier the major disturbing symptoms were very, very huge cold inside and constant low grade fever, also strong fatigue.

So I thought that what I lack was primary yang/qi, but there were some signs that is not the case.

I suspect that I have Stomach fire, because - desire to eat and appetite although feeling fatigue, dry feces, no diarrhea, burning sensation in anus after defecation, sour regurgitation, bleeding gums, dry lips with sores. But the tongue is not red and not with yellow coating.

So I press Neiting and Lidui, the major effect is reduced appetite, also there are various feelings of heat in various parts of body surface and some feelings in lips and tongue and colon.

Now I press Neiting and Taibai. Taibai did give strong relaxation and now I am sleepy even more, also somewhat eased the "weight" of muscles, so movement is a little bit easier, also reduced appetite. Also the sores in the lower lip subsided for now.

I think at the root of the problems are the kidneys, maybe some inborn issues. My under eyes all my life were of purple color. I am easily frightened. When I tried pressing for some time Guanyuan, I did experience some serious heat in the body, like I was being burned inside without any perspiration. So I think I have to correct spleen-stomach first, then reduce heat in the body and then try fix the kidneys.

There are many symptoms to tell, I did write what I remember now.

Please, comment if you are able to. Thank you.