"In the most ancient acupuncture texts it is stated that if the mental state is at peace and equilibrated the person is less, indeed not all, subject to illness... He or she will be susceptible to no disease, even infections. This proposition is quite absolute."1
The first question that comes to mind after reading this statement is, can this be true?
As an acupuncturist, I would like to think so, but in my experience I have not found it to be absolute. However, in the trends that I witness through my work, I would say that it is more true then less true. The people that I treat who are actively dealing with their emotional issues, tend to have a better relationship with their physical/internal complaints. They have a greater capacity to heal. The more blocked a person is, the more the illness can balloon.
I read that acupuncture is a translation of the Chinese ideogram for "Needles and Fire"
If we interpret fire as the movement of energy, then we get a sense of the power of acupuncture.
Last week I was at the mall and in my casual observations of the people surrounding me, I was clearly aware of which people could benefit from acupuncture. These people seemed stiffer in their movements and more limited in their dynamic nature, almost taking up less space. Acupuncture is not the only way to move energy, there are plenty of other practices. For the purpose of this blog, I am going to focus only on acupuncture.
The most basic way of explaining acupuncture is that it removes blocks. The environment that we live in creates blocks. We are much more sedentary then our ancestors were. There is completely convuluted information communicated to us via the media, our family and educators concerning how to process our emotions. The entire environment, food and water contain toxins.
The nature of unblocking always feels good. That is why movement feels so wonderful. A powerful emotional connection with another human is so rewarding. The beauty of a sunset, a mountain, the ocean, a work of art all nourish that part inside of us that is looking for expansion.
"I've come to think that fourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-conciousness and become fused with other people, experiences or tasks."2
Traditionally humans lived in villages, tribes and small towns. Now we live in seperate houses. We are often too busy working, raising children, accomplishing endless lists of small tasks to find the time to connect with others, nature, Spirit/God. It is a genetic desire for us to want dyanamic expansion and connection. Acupuncture creates balance, opens up blocks and supports all the facets of self. It may not inhibit all disease but acupuncture can inhance the relationship with disease and the converse health.
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1-Requena, Yves, Character and Health The Relationship of Acupuncture and Psychology, Paradigm Press, Brookline, Mass. 1984, Pg 11.
2- Brooks, David, The Social Animal, From The New Yorker, Jan.17, 2011. Pg 26.
