In order for us to function as an integrated whole, energetic balance must be established on all levels of the Body Mind and Spirit. Not only does Five Elements Acupuncture support the patient to heal, but to move forward in life's journey.
Five Elements Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing that supports the balanced flow of energy within the body. In Five Elements Acupuncture the acupuncturist seeks to understand and support the patient’s unique energetic balance or constitution.
By treating the Causative Factor, the patients underlying constitutional weakness, healing is supported on the most profound level. Chronic and long standing problems often fade into memories.
Five Elements Acupuncture considers the health of the body, mind and spirit to be equally important in overall health. In contrast, symptom based approaches use formulas to treat the current problem but often miss the underlying reason why the individual is sick.
Ultimately, health is not just the absence of symptoms or disease. It is the vitality, clarity and energy we need in the pursuit of a rich and fulfilling life.
What is The Causative Factor?
A fundamental imbalance or Causative Factor describes a breakdown of the natural flow of energy within us. The Causative Factor is the underlying elemental weakness that compromises the patient’s health.
Humans are shaped by their experience. Major traumatic events in our early life influence who we are and how our overall constitution forms.
Early childhood trauma can be damaging to any of the five elements. Consider a baby who does not get the love and warmth she needs from her parents. The Fire Element, which influences our ability to communicate and have meaningful relationships may be damaged or impaired.
In Five Elements Acupuncture the acupuncturist seeks to understand and support the patient’s unique energetic balance or constitution.
By treating the Causative Factor, the patients underlying constitutional weakness, healing is supported on the most profound level.
What are the Meridians?
The Meridians are pathways which orchestrate the flow of Qi or energy throughout the body. The meridian is much like an irrigation ditch. If the ditch becomes full of debris, the water will become blocked and will not reach its destination. Similarly, the meridians can become blocked and the Qi will not flow evenly through the body.
Each of the five elements has its own meridians to carry out its work. The body has twelve primary meridians. Each meridian is like an Official of the Imperial Court and has specific tasks pertaining to our well-being.
It is easy to confuse the western concept of organ with the eastern concept of meridian. An organ is a concrete and discrete physical structure with highly specific physiology. A meridian is an energetic pathway in the body, which may include several organs. Meridians have a sphere of influence in the body but also in the mind and spirit.
Along the meridian are specific acupuncture points. Each point has its own unique properties that can be used to influence the whole organism.
The twelve meridians/officials must work in concert to establish and maintain health.
Structural Acupuncture &
Energetic Blocks.
When you stand, do both feet point in the same direction? When you look in the mirror are you shoulders and pelvis horizontal? Are your left and right sides equally strong, flexible and graceful? Hardly anyone could answer yes to all these questions.
These asymmetries often go unnoticed. Sometimes, they contribute to musculoskeletal problems. The chronic stiffness in the hip may lead to wear and degenerative changes, like osteoarthritis or a lumbar disc herniation.
Often, the physical asymmetry is a reflection of an energetic imbalance between the left and right sides of the body. Through careful measurement we can determine which meridian is blocked (and on which side) and correct the imbalance with moxa or acupuncture. By restoring a balanced flow of Qi to the meridians, the structure becomes more balanced. Chronic problems diminish or disappear.
Sometimes scars (from trauma or surgery) can block the flow of Qi in a meridian. Energetic blocks can affect us on any level of the body, mind or spirit. For example, a shoulder surgery can lead to low back problems. The “bikini cut” scar on the abdomen can later manifest as chronic headaches or depression. Sometimes it is necessary to treat the scar to restore energetic balance to the system.
Montclair, New Jersey 973 509-8464 Upper West Side, New York 212 529-1901
What is Five Elements Acupuncture?
