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Oriental Medicine never separates mind, body, and spirit, and always focuses on the health of an organism - not the disease process. A person's health is influenced by many factors, some of which we can change (like diet and lifestyle), and others, like heredity and climate, have a life of their own. Optimal health occurs when the power of nature can circulate freely throughout one's entire being, regardless of one's situation. The following three factors of Oriental Medicine provide insight to the cause of illness, and offer strategies to restore balance and harmony.
Hereditary Factors
Each person is born with unique strengths and weaknesses formed by genetic and gestational influences. These factors shape one's mental, emotional, and physical constitutions. Chinese Medicine helps the body heal itself by supporting one's constitutional strengths and using that strength to address weakness, illness, and injury. In this way, healing is an expression of one's nature. The book "Between Heaven and Earth" by Beinfield and Korngold is a good introduction to "Constitutional" acupuncture and herbal medicines.
Internal Factors
Chinese Medicine understands that our health is dependent on the circulation of the internal factors of blood, fluids (lymph), and energy (Qi). Blood is made from food and dispersed to all cells, lymph carries waste and promotes healing, and many energies fuel our perceptions, actions, and spirit. This confluence of matter, fluid, and energies are best described by Chinese Medicine's concept of the "Eight Principles", which include qualities of "hot & cold", "wet & dry", "excess & deficient", and "interior & exterior".
Assessment of internal factors describes the health of respiratory, digestive, circulatory and eliminative functions, as well as one's vitality and endurance. "The Web That Has No Weaver" by Ted Kaptchuk discusses treatment of western conditions by the Eight Principle style of Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, herbs, diet and exercise.
Meridian Factors
Just as our breath rises and falls, and the heart expands and contracts, the acupuncture meridians weave and warp from deep organs to beyond the skin, and return to the deep organs. Blockage in the meridian flow may be influenced by constitutional factors, internal factors, and physical stress. I carefully assess musculo-skeletal tension, and use both manual and acupuncture techniques to release chronic tensions, and support optimal posture and movement.
Acupuncture releases a free flow of energy within the meridian system, which moves blood and lymph, and promotes health and healing. Acupuncture meridians and their specific reflex points are a fascinating study that has evolved for many centuries within Asian and European cultures. I would be happy to direct you to a text if you are interested in learning more about meridian therapy.
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bill@drprange.com
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