Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine is a tradition that's origin can be traced back over 5 000 years ago to the ancient Orient. As a tradition, it brings with it not just healing modalities but a philosophy and understanding of reality that may seem to diverge from common Western interpretations. The ancient Chinese had an extremely rich comprehension of how reality functions and also the functioning of the human being, which gave them a profound wisdom to work with beings to balance them and, thus, heal disorders and set people on paths of empowerment, evolution and fulfillment of destiny.
From the outset, the most fundamental principles of Chinese Medicine render notions of reality that are both ancient and ground-breaking. Let us begin with the concept of Qi, translated into English commonly as the vital energy or life force. Qi is seen as one of the most fundamental substances in the body that allows it to function. However, Qi is not substantial, meaning it cannot be perceived by the five primary senses. It is a more ethereal or immaterial substance and this is why it is often mentioned synonomously with energy as many forms of energy also cannot be observed by the senses. Yet, before we reproach ourselves for wandering into mysticism and potentially superstitious realms, one must remember just how much our modern lives depend on energies that are invisible to the eye. Think of radio and television waves for example. These are forces of energy that are a common part of our lives and yet they cannot be perceived. Also, the forces of electricity and magnetism. Again, powerful forces of energy that much of our modern technology embodies and yet they are unseen. Though Qi cannot be observed empirically, it can be felt and this is essential to TCM as most patients participating in a healing journey with acupuncture will quickly become aware of the energy in their body if they have not previously. What is amazing about the ancient heritage of this medicine is that the ancients were not just aware of the Qi but they were able to map out in precise detail how this Qi flows through the human body, nourishing every biological system with vitality and conducting it with grand intelligence. These are known as the channels or meridians and the body, much like the system of blood vessels, is pervaded by them. Extraordinarily, the meridians are not physical but metaphysical, meaning they are ethereal in nature and cannot be viewed as arteries and veins can. There are many theories on how this detailed mapping was rendered, from notions of what must have been the most assiduous of experimentation or others that assert that the energetic mapping of the body was received during multi-dimensional states of consciousness which ancient shamans were able to move into. Whatever the origin, the mapping is astoundingly correct as 5 000 years plus of vibrant healing shall attest. If one is still in doubt, we can only humbly ask that you experience it for yourself for experience is, after all, the greatest teacher.
According to Chinese Medicine, dis-ease/illness occurs when the Qi does not flow as smoothly as it should; i.e. it gets obstructed/blocked (Qi Stagnation), slows or speeds up (Qi Deficiency/Excess), moves recklessly (Qi Wild) or even counter-currently (Rebellious Qi). The job of the Chinese Medicine practitioner is to manipulate the flow of Qi and thus unblock, subdue, invigorate, re-direct or simply smooth out its flow. The inner tradition emphasizes the our qi as the expression of our life. When we get blocked in life on a psychological and spiritual level, the qi can become blocked as well. For the qi to truly flow again, changes in life must be made. This is how we evolve: life continually challenges us in order that we may cultivate ourselves and ever-grow. If we can learn to witness life as a path of gaining wisdom, we realize that all of our struggles actually contain a jewel in their centre. When we understand the nature of the struggle and move through it, we integrate the jewel of wisdom within it and it becomes a part of us, imbuing us with greater vitality and beingness. As William Shakespeare exuberantly attested: "Sweet are the uses of adversity!"
The Qi flows within us along a series of meridians or channels. Much like blood flows through the circulatory vessels of our arterial and venal systems, qi flows through the meridians, which are our energetic our spiritual vessels. In fact, the ancient Chinese translated nerves as literally "wires that conduct spirit". The meridians, like the qi, are part of our ethereal body, meaning they cannot be physically perceived. However, they can be felt. The ancient Chinese were assiduous in mapping the system of meridians in the human body, which is a complex web of intricate channels of a major and minor sort that pervade all of the body. Moreover, they were able to find points on these meridians that affected the flow of qi in distinct ways. There are theorized to be over 360 acupuncture points on the body (the Japanese actually posit it more in the thousands!) and what is profound is that the points not only affect the qi but can have an affect on the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional level. The theory of meridians and acupuncture points in itself is a highly refined spiritual science that helps to integrate all realms of the human being.
"Each acupuncture point is unique in its ability to touch some aspect of being that has been lost to the individual. By 'touching' this aspect of being, the memory of original nature encoded with the point's function may be restored to the patient. Acupuncture points work by harmonizing continuums of unbalanced and extreme expressions into the virtues from which they derive...[harmonizing] the dualities of heaven and earth into a state of primal unity." Lonny Jarrett
The scope of Chinese Medicine is immense and ever-growing because we in the West have only recently adopted it. The more research and practice of the medicine that is done, the more magnificent are the results and potentials.
Upon an initial treatment, most patients feel at least extraordinarily relaxed. A series of treatments is administered to help restore the natural flow of qi in the body. This in turn grants the patient more vitality and clarity to observe their life with ever-restored conscious awareness. The healer as sage aids the patient to look into their life and co-create new paths to flow into that will leave old patterns of stagnation behind and set the groundwork for enduring health and the cultivation of self and destiny. This is the ultimate capacity of medicine because saving lives often doesn't just refer to the well-being of the physical body but the quality of life being lived.
From the outset, the most fundamental principles of Chinese Medicine render notions of reality that are both ancient and ground-breaking. Let us begin with the concept of Qi, translated into English commonly as the vital energy or life force. Qi is seen as one of the most fundamental substances in the body that allows it to function. However, Qi is not substantial, meaning it cannot be perceived by the five primary senses. It is a more ethereal or immaterial substance and this is why it is often mentioned synonomously with energy as many forms of energy also cannot be observed by the senses. Yet, before we reproach ourselves for wandering into mysticism and potentially superstitious realms, one must remember just how much our modern lives depend on energies that are invisible to the eye. Think of radio and television waves for example. These are forces of energy that are a common part of our lives and yet they cannot be perceived. Also, the forces of electricity and magnetism. Again, powerful forces of energy that much of our modern technology embodies and yet they are unseen. Though Qi cannot be observed empirically, it can be felt and this is essential to TCM as most patients participating in a healing journey with acupuncture will quickly become aware of the energy in their body if they have not previously. What is amazing about the ancient heritage of this medicine is that the ancients were not just aware of the Qi but they were able to map out in precise detail how this Qi flows through the human body, nourishing every biological system with vitality and conducting it with grand intelligence. These are known as the channels or meridians and the body, much like the system of blood vessels, is pervaded by them. Extraordinarily, the meridians are not physical but metaphysical, meaning they are ethereal in nature and cannot be viewed as arteries and veins can. There are many theories on how this detailed mapping was rendered, from notions of what must have been the most assiduous of experimentation or others that assert that the energetic mapping of the body was received during multi-dimensional states of consciousness which ancient shamans were able to move into. Whatever the origin, the mapping is astoundingly correct as 5 000 years plus of vibrant healing shall attest. If one is still in doubt, we can only humbly ask that you experience it for yourself for experience is, after all, the greatest teacher.
According to Chinese Medicine, dis-ease/illness occurs when the Qi does not flow as smoothly as it should; i.e. it gets obstructed/blocked (Qi Stagnation), slows or speeds up (Qi Deficiency/Excess), moves recklessly (Qi Wild) or even counter-currently (Rebellious Qi). The job of the Chinese Medicine practitioner is to manipulate the flow of Qi and thus unblock, subdue, invigorate, re-direct or simply smooth out its flow. The inner tradition emphasizes the our qi as the expression of our life. When we get blocked in life on a psychological and spiritual level, the qi can become blocked as well. For the qi to truly flow again, changes in life must be made. This is how we evolve: life continually challenges us in order that we may cultivate ourselves and ever-grow. If we can learn to witness life as a path of gaining wisdom, we realize that all of our struggles actually contain a jewel in their centre. When we understand the nature of the struggle and move through it, we integrate the jewel of wisdom within it and it becomes a part of us, imbuing us with greater vitality and beingness. As William Shakespeare exuberantly attested: "Sweet are the uses of adversity!"
The Qi flows within us along a series of meridians or channels. Much like blood flows through the circulatory vessels of our arterial and venal systems, qi flows through the meridians, which are our energetic our spiritual vessels. In fact, the ancient Chinese translated nerves as literally "wires that conduct spirit". The meridians, like the qi, are part of our ethereal body, meaning they cannot be physically perceived. However, they can be felt. The ancient Chinese were assiduous in mapping the system of meridians in the human body, which is a complex web of intricate channels of a major and minor sort that pervade all of the body. Moreover, they were able to find points on these meridians that affected the flow of qi in distinct ways. There are theorized to be over 360 acupuncture points on the body (the Japanese actually posit it more in the thousands!) and what is profound is that the points not only affect the qi but can have an affect on the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional level. The theory of meridians and acupuncture points in itself is a highly refined spiritual science that helps to integrate all realms of the human being.
"Each acupuncture point is unique in its ability to touch some aspect of being that has been lost to the individual. By 'touching' this aspect of being, the memory of original nature encoded with the point's function may be restored to the patient. Acupuncture points work by harmonizing continuums of unbalanced and extreme expressions into the virtues from which they derive...[harmonizing] the dualities of heaven and earth into a state of primal unity." Lonny Jarrett
The scope of Chinese Medicine is immense and ever-growing because we in the West have only recently adopted it. The more research and practice of the medicine that is done, the more magnificent are the results and potentials.
Upon an initial treatment, most patients feel at least extraordinarily relaxed. A series of treatments is administered to help restore the natural flow of qi in the body. This in turn grants the patient more vitality and clarity to observe their life with ever-restored conscious awareness. The healer as sage aids the patient to look into their life and co-create new paths to flow into that will leave old patterns of stagnation behind and set the groundwork for enduring health and the cultivation of self and destiny. This is the ultimate capacity of medicine because saving lives often doesn't just refer to the well-being of the physical body but the quality of life being lived.
