Chinese Acupuncture Before Communism

Most people agree that acupuncture is a medical technique that has been practiced for thousands of years. And most people agree that acupuncture practice originated in Asia, specifically in China. So, over time, the number of acupuncture treatments carried out must be counted in the order of billions!

So it’s quite surprising to find that the acupuncture practiced today by most acupuncturists, and known of by the general public, is a relatively new medical technique, created following the chinese communist revolution of 1949, and known as traditional chinese medicine (TCM).

As with most revolutionary movements, what went before the revolution is consigned to history, discarded in favour of new revolutionary principles. Such has been the fate of classical chinese medicine (CCM), and of chinese acupuncture in particular.

The chinese communist revolution of 1949 was particularly severe in it’s efforts to eradicate the old ways. Books were burned, the intelligentsia silenced, old practices banned and a new communist approach was lauded as evolutionary progress.

Consequently, there is very little that is traditional in the modern chinese acupuncture paradigm. In it’s efforts to wipe the slate clean and create a new world order, chinese communism disassociated itself from a chinese heritage built over thousands of years. CCM was but one casualty of the communist cause.

Stripped of a medical model that had endured literally since the beginning of recorded time, chinese communism attempted to modernise chinese acupuncture to bring it in line with the symptomatic approach of modern western medicine. Gone was the principle of health through balance that distinguishes CCM from TCM.

This radical shift in medical doctrine was underpinned by cherry picking two CCM diagnostic techniques – ‘the differentation of syndromes’ and ‘the eight conditions’ – and presenting them as the basis for medical treatment. These two diagnostic techniques became the pillars, the foundation, for TCM. In this way, communist acupuncture practice could align with the symptomatic medical approach of modern western medicine.

However, time and evolution moves us along, and so it is in the field of medicine. Western medicine is progressing from a symptomatic approach to illness to a genetic understanding of illness. Ironically, what was discarded and rejected by the communist revolution i.e. CCM, becomes relevant in the light of the birth of genetic medicine. The medical model underpinning CCM is an energetic model, a mirror to the emerging genetic model of western medicine. One might say that genetic medicine, with it’s emphasis on the material building blocks of life, is a yin medicine in relation to the yang medicine of CCM which emphasises the energetic forces that create, control and sustain material life.

Despite the best efforts of chinese communism in its aim to obliterate the energetic model at the heart of CCM, this ancient alchemic model has survived intact. In these modern times this ancient knowledge elevates the practice of acupuncture from merely symptomatic treatment of illness to an energetic treatment of illness. In this way, the acupuncturist becomes a master acupuncturist.

The clinical methodolgy and practice of master acupuncture has been published in the latest publication of the prestigious European Journal of Chinese Medicine (pages 33-36). Here is the online link:

https://phoenixtcm.org.uk/the-european-journal-of-chinese-medicine-volume-iv-english/

For acupuncturists who aspire to become master acupuncturists, the curriculum that enables this transition is freely available. Here is the online link:

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://masteracupuncture.co.uk/onewebmedia/article1.pdf&_r=3

happy new year of the wood snake

 

happy new year everybody, the chinese new year begins on January 29th 2025.

It is the year of the 'wood snake' and chinese folk astrology says that people born in this year tend to keep their emotions within themselves, with a tendency to mentalise everyday life.

They are more likely to be introverts rather than extroverts and prefer to be loners rather than interact with others in their lives. Others admire their mental abilities and they can be very persuasive, to the point of manipulation in getting their desires met.

Master acupuncturists are guided by the 'cycles of life' and know this year as a 'yi se'  year.

'yi' refers to the yin of wood element contained within the metal element to form the celestial stem energy for the year. Being a yin celestial stem, this year's energy is in deficiency. Therefore, people born in this year will have a constitutional deficiency of energy.

'se' refers to the yin of earth energy, the terrestrial branch energy of the year. On Earth the yin of earth energy manifests in people as mental agility, hence the correlation with the snake, an animal that can tie others and itself up in knots!

Alchemically, as all master acupuncturists know, a deficiency of celestial stem metal energy produces an excess of fire energy according to the ke cycle of five element theory, whilst the yin of earth energy and the six division of jue yin combine together to balance out the energies of earth and wood.

This alchemical scenario, the interaction between heavenly and earthly energies, creates seasonal harmony throughout 2025 much as in 2024 with the occasional tempestuous upset, especially in the spring season . The potential for extreme periods of short term disturbance, such as hurricane wind, is however never far away.

In this year the advice on health, wealth and happiness might be:

Health

The missing organic energies for 2024 are the kidney and bladder energies. Indeed, there is neither water element or water deep energy throughout the year. The overriding impression is one where a lack of nourishing energy leads to exhaustion and a lack of control.

Fortunately, alchemy reveals the formula that balances this energetic scenario. LU-9 and CO-11 are the celestial stem balancing points. Both are metal meridians and these are their earth points, taking earth energy - of which there is a plentiful amount in this year - to the metal energy, which then feeds the missing water energy of the year.

Wealth

This is a year for creating wealth through mental projects, such as writing, composing, IT. Investing in information technologies, platforms and apps will likely pay off.

Happiness

For master acupuncturists happiness is achieved through harmony, harmony both within and without.

Stimulating the 'four gates' (Colon 4 + Liver 3) on the 8 auspicious days of the year is an obvious way to harmonise in 2025.

Master acupuncturists use BL-23 bilateral with GV-4 to combat exhaustion in this year.

Climate

Jue Yin  dominates the energetic atmosphere on Earth throughout the year but its influence is ameliorated by the strong presence of earth energies. What can easily occur throughout this coming year are hurricanes and tornadoes. With a lack of water energy also for the whole year it is evident that an increase in wildfires is to be expected.

 As we know, every year produces energetic strengths and weaknesses. These are created by the Cycles of Life. These are natural cycles that determine not only the world we live in but also the world within us. 

If you would like to know your own energetic strengths and weaknesses, your personal energy signature, then please contact us at info@masteracupuncture.co.uk

HAPPY NEW YEAR