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ACUPUNCTURE & INNER ALCHEMY
"Qi cannot travel without a path, just as water flows or the sun and moon orbit without rest."
-- 灵枢 Líng Shū, Chapter 17
-- 灵枢 Líng Shū, Chapter 17
Acupuncture & Inner-Alchemy
Acupuncture is a form of medicine that utilizes physical manipulation of specific points on the body to achieve positive intervention during the course of disease. This therapeutic modality is one of several health care practices that developed in Asia over thousands of years - including: acupressure, moxibustion, herbalism, and exercise/meditation instruction.
Together the above mentioned therapies are often collectively referred to under the umbrella of longevity arts which promote health and wellness - an action often achieved through balancing a person's 氣 "Qì" (ch-EE) or "Ki" (k-EE). 氣 Qi/Ki is a word that has many contextual definitions. In the practice of meditation it is often described as "mystical energy," while when used in a modern medical context it can better mean "functional activity."
Inner Alchemy is the process of identifying and refining the innate aspects of the self for health, longevity, and spiritual progression. It is a life-long process primarily driven by using visualization techniques to develop awareness while maintaining upright posture with regulated deep-breathing (see the FAQ below).
Together the above mentioned therapies are often collectively referred to under the umbrella of longevity arts which promote health and wellness - an action often achieved through balancing a person's 氣 "Qì" (ch-EE) or "Ki" (k-EE). 氣 Qi/Ki is a word that has many contextual definitions. In the practice of meditation it is often described as "mystical energy," while when used in a modern medical context it can better mean "functional activity."
Inner Alchemy is the process of identifying and refining the innate aspects of the self for health, longevity, and spiritual progression. It is a life-long process primarily driven by using visualization techniques to develop awareness while maintaining upright posture with regulated deep-breathing (see the FAQ below).
The Five Spirits
In the historical context of Chinese medicine related to the concept of Spirit, the word 神 "Shén" (which means mind, expression, energy, spirit, and/or deity) led to an understanding that the psyche contains five fundamental and interdependent parts. Often collectively known as the “Five Spirits,” they are described respectively as the: "Awareness," "Willpower," "Intellect," "Ethereal Soul," and "Corporeal Soul." Understanding the differentiation and interrelationships of these parts constitutes a fundamental foundation to begin developing the practice of self-cultivation.
The "Ethereal Soul" is called 魂 "Hún" and is also known as the "Cloud-Soul." It is described as the part-of-consciousness-that-contains-our-dreams-and-memories, as well as frequently being considered an analogue to a concept common to many Western religions of an individual human's "immortal soul." The "Corporeal Soul" is called 魄 "Pò" and is also known as the "Earthbound-Soul" and/or the "White-Soul." The "Corporeal Soul" is understood to be the physical part of the self which can become interred after death, and is thought to carry an imprint of the dominant emotions which constituted whatever temperament that person exhibited during life.
Another definition of "Corporeal Soul" would be: it is the spiritual-essence-of-the-physical-body. In this context regarding "Corporeal Soul," the phrase "spiritual-essence" serves to represent an aspect of physiology which provides some physical-medium for containing and grounding what we recognize as functions quintessential to a living being - both in the context of being an animal and a human. The focus here for understanding the "Corporeal Soul" is as the "body" referenced by the phrase "mind-body" - the part of the self that is predominantly a physical being yet still exhibits what appear to be tendencies and behaviors distinct from (and possibly contradictory to) our conscious thoughts and unconscious dreams.
The above examination of the "Corporeal Soul" is not meant to be comprehensive, and simply serves as an example for illustrating the shape of that process for learning to work with visualization techniques for each of the "Five Spirits." Development of this philosophical concept over time within the history of Chinese Medicine produced a system of correspondences connecting each of the "Five Spirits" to distinct emotions as well as acupuncture points/channels. Learning about (and meditating on) the philosophy surrounding the established correspondences as a patient, in addition to having a trained practitioner apply treatment principles based on that system within clinical settings, constitute the primary ways in which this facet of Inner-Alchemy related to the "Five Spirits" can be applied in the modern context of acupuncture.
The "Ethereal Soul" is called 魂 "Hún" and is also known as the "Cloud-Soul." It is described as the part-of-consciousness-that-contains-our-dreams-and-memories, as well as frequently being considered an analogue to a concept common to many Western religions of an individual human's "immortal soul." The "Corporeal Soul" is called 魄 "Pò" and is also known as the "Earthbound-Soul" and/or the "White-Soul." The "Corporeal Soul" is understood to be the physical part of the self which can become interred after death, and is thought to carry an imprint of the dominant emotions which constituted whatever temperament that person exhibited during life.
Another definition of "Corporeal Soul" would be: it is the spiritual-essence-of-the-physical-body. In this context regarding "Corporeal Soul," the phrase "spiritual-essence" serves to represent an aspect of physiology which provides some physical-medium for containing and grounding what we recognize as functions quintessential to a living being - both in the context of being an animal and a human. The focus here for understanding the "Corporeal Soul" is as the "body" referenced by the phrase "mind-body" - the part of the self that is predominantly a physical being yet still exhibits what appear to be tendencies and behaviors distinct from (and possibly contradictory to) our conscious thoughts and unconscious dreams.
The above examination of the "Corporeal Soul" is not meant to be comprehensive, and simply serves as an example for illustrating the shape of that process for learning to work with visualization techniques for each of the "Five Spirits." Development of this philosophical concept over time within the history of Chinese Medicine produced a system of correspondences connecting each of the "Five Spirits" to distinct emotions as well as acupuncture points/channels. Learning about (and meditating on) the philosophy surrounding the established correspondences as a patient, in addition to having a trained practitioner apply treatment principles based on that system within clinical settings, constitute the primary ways in which this facet of Inner-Alchemy related to the "Five Spirits" can be applied in the modern context of acupuncture.
The Book of Changes
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Another time honored source related to the process of self-cultivation can be found in the content of the 易经 Yijing (also known as the I-Ching, pronounced EE-Jing) "The Book of Changes." This text describes that of all the various inter-related natural phenomena that could be labeled as either Yin and Yang, relationships between things are more completely symbolized through eight distinct images called the "Eight Trigrams." Each image is depicted as a series of three vertically-stacked horizontal "lines" and given a name representative of nature:
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The symbolism of the "Eight Trigrams" conveys an idea that natural patterns of evolution exist which can be observed and are inherent to change. This concept is communicated through interpreting each trigram in a way that highlights the proportional composition of Yin and Yang parts inherent to its identity. In this scheme, a "broken line" is Yin (best exemplified through ☷ the "Earth Trigram" composed of three broken lines) while an "unbroken line" is Yang (demonstrated within ☰ the "Heaven Trigram" composed of three unbroken lines). When comparing broken and unbroken lines, within one trigram or between multiple different trigrams, there is particular significance to be found when considering both the ratio between them as well as their order (from bottom to top).
Schools of knowledge based on "The Book of Changes" tend to focus one's study on examining interactions between people and their environments as well as how all things exert subtle influences on each other to affect change over time.
The "Eight Trigrams" are themselves further combined with each other in the text of "The Book of Changes" to create "Sixty-Four Hexagrams." These hexagram images are more often specifically named to represent social groups and/or interactions. Besides gaining additional insights into identity from their names, the imagery of the trigrams and hexagrams presents a way to track changes of the seasons. This can be seen through the following examples:
Schools of knowledge based on "The Book of Changes" tend to focus one's study on examining interactions between people and their environments as well as how all things exert subtle influences on each other to affect change over time.
The "Eight Trigrams" are themselves further combined with each other in the text of "The Book of Changes" to create "Sixty-Four Hexagrams." These hexagram images are more often specifically named to represent social groups and/or interactions. Besides gaining additional insights into identity from their names, the imagery of the trigrams and hexagrams presents a way to track changes of the seasons. This can be seen through the following examples:
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Charting progression of transformation from before to after completion is why this book is known as "The Book of Changes." Using the parameters of assessing images based on the ratio and order of broken to unbroken lines, as well as considering the individualities of each trigram/hexagram in relation to one another, a practitioner can make many varieties of clinical assessments within a treatment setting. Patients can benefit from "The Book of Changes" by learning a form of self-reflection based on a framework of evaluating social-interactions that has been in existence for over three-thousand years.
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Treatments at Open Mind Holistics often are driven by insights gained from examinations of the trigrams and hexagrams, however patients are always encouraged to ask specific questions or prompt for more information.
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Working on a Mind-Body Level
Stress and disease often are due to a lack of physiological balance, and can also themselves be initial causes. In the practice of traditional acupuncture, such imbalances are described as dysfunctional "qi-dynamic." This is the same as saying "stress disrupts the body's capacity for dynamic functional activity." Stimulating points through needle insertion, heat application, massage, and meditation therapeutically alters the movements of qi to support disease prevention while improving the body's innate healing ability.
Qi/Ki encompasses all the functional processes of the body, including:
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Generally - stimulating an acupuncture point calls our attention and focus to that part of the body as a part of the healing process. Each person responds to needle insertion differently, and accordingly many acupuncturists know multiple styles of needle manipulation in order to accommodate individual needs.
- FAQ -
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE GET ACUPUNCTURE?Many people seek out an acupuncturist in order to treat musculoskeletal disorders, as well as for chronic pain and stress management. In 1979, the World Health Organization published a long list of the variety of conditions treated by acupuncture such as: anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), numerous gynecological problems, early stages of cold and flu, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, asthma, and acid-reflux. Through a 1997 publication, the National Institute of Health states acupuncture can treat a variety of disorders -- including: nausea and vomiting, addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. In 2016 the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health published updated guidelines for those seeking more information.
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?From a Western perspective many explanations are necessary to encompass the breadth of physiological effects of acupuncture. This is due to the wide range of body systems affected within the modern medical paradigm. The following serves as a small portion:
HOW LONG WILL I NEED TO BE TREATED?The course of treatment will always depend upon the individual and the presenting pattern, however generally patients are advised to be treated once or twice weekly (and as often as every day in certain situations) until the illness has resolved. Many acute conditions find resolution within 1-4 weeks while chronic disorders may take anywhere between 6-10 weeks or longer to resolve.
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DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?Often needling can be painless and produces a sense of deep relaxation. A fun fact is that because they are so thin, about 35-40 acupuncture needles can fit into one hypodermic needle. Sometimes a person can feel a slight pinch upon insertion, but this sensation typically fades quickly. Occasionally a point will feel a strong dull ache after needling, this is a sign of therapeutic effect and often fades within minutes.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS A NEW PATIENT?Before the session you will be provided with a form where you can give detailed information regarding your health history, lifestyle habits, and specific concern for reaching out to make an appointment. During your first treatment, you will have an additional detailed evaluation and cover health history verbally through an interview with your practitioner. This will take longer than future sessions as time is given for you to learn the specifics of any relevant and/or new information. At the end a summary is given regarding the initial assessment, treatment recommendations, and pathways to identified goals.
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HEALTH-CARE AND INNER ALCHEMY?Modern medical scientists have become increasingly aware of the correlations between inner alchemy exercises such as mindfulness and deliberate "belly-breathing" with the promotion of well-being. While philosophical implications exist for these practices, their purposes are fundamentally rooted in affecting physiological changes. Through the application of Eastern medical techniques, trained practitioners can alleviate discomfort that often arises during the course of self-cultivation. Whether being re-emergence of pain from a past trauma that had been dormant, becoming aware of blockages in numb body parts that served as self-protection for extended periods, or simply due to using the mind/body in a new way which leads to an undesirable outcome - it is implicit that during the development process - a person will always be periodically confronted with challenging and uncomfortable circumstances. Inner Alchemy can in this way be viewed as forming an essential part of health-care, one which has capacity to holistically address a myriad of concerns.
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At Open Mind Holistics, our acupuncturist, Isaac Hoft, will work to support your physical and mental health through acupuncture, bodywork, moxibustion, and other modalities. In addition to a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, Isaac is trained in many disciplines including Jade Purity Taoist Medicine, Kototama Inochi Medicine, Global Balance Method, and Four-Needle Technique. Isaac is passionate about helping people heal through acupuncture and grow through inner alchemy.
To learn about Integrative Holistic Treatments that combine Acupuncture and Inner Alchemy with Chinese Herbalism and Art Therapy please visit INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC TREATMENTS.
To learn about Integrative Holistic Treatments that combine Acupuncture and Inner Alchemy with Chinese Herbalism and Art Therapy please visit INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC TREATMENTS.
