tong ren

In most people you can see signs of the energy working within their body once you begin treatment. The most noticeable is the face getting more color. The feedback as far as what people are feeling is important, but it's not crucial for them to have any sensations. Tom always says that there are a few percent of people that will never feel anything during the treatments - clinically whether or not the people have strong sensations does not seem to correlate to symptomatic improvement.

Generally when we begin treatment, usually with sky window points or points on the scalp, we are looking for some change in their facial color or a sensation from them (hands tingling, warmth, etc.) that shows the energy is present. After it is present you can proceed to work on the main treatment points for the condition they are presenting with.

We all have had many patients who are not strongly sensitive to energy work - so it shouldn't make you feel like a novice. In fact, Tong Ren is explicitly different from other related arts such as Medical Qi Gong in that your level of qi development (internal energy training) has little to do with the success of the treatments. The main thing is to use the theory and the treatment methods for awhile and you will get results. As the results come, your confidence in the techniques grow, and everything becomes stronger.

Cheers,

Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
Yin Yang House Acupuncture and Wellness Center