point formulas

Gathering the Ki #7 Acupuncture is a type of energy medicine that accesses the meridian system, which can be described as an energetic pathway that carries information to various body functions and organs. Thus, in order to create a shift in our patient’s condition, we contact that pathway at certain places on specific meridians and send messages along that pathway. We describe this as “moving Ki (Qi). The energetic shift can create a physiological change, either quickly or over time. The First Difficult Issue of the Nan-Ching describes “movement in the vessels” and goes on in the Third Difficult Issue to indicate that these vessels may display signs of excess or insufficiency. It later gives us methods for regulating these conditions. The Nan-Ching formulates the basic priniciples used by most Meridian Therapy practitioners, tonifying deficiencies via the Mother-Child relationship and dispersing the excesses accordingly. At some point in time during the reorganization of Chinese acupuncture, the highly evolved system of Qing Dynasty herbal language and diagnosis was superimposed over the meridian system, with points described as having properties similar to those of herbs. This has led to the practice amongst TCM practitioners, of putting together “point formulas” in a similar way that one puts together an herbal formula. Relying on “point formulas” is basically flawed and can lead to mixed results. One must balance the meridians (thus the energetic system) to get at the root cause of the patient’s “imbalance”. This is the advice of the Nan-Ching. There is a strong desire to be able to prescribe specific points for specific problems in much the same way as a medical doctor might, for example, prescribe Celebrex for every patient he diagnoses with arthritis. Many flawed double-blind studies use the same point formula for every patient with the same condition. The results are questionable. What happen to the meridian system in these studies? Inexplicable things like “Ki” are not even in the equation. Good practitioners can get good results, using any type of protocol, even “point formulas.” This is because they understand how to move Ki using their intention and have appropriate needle techniques to accomplish this. Relying on the mechanical function of a point by sticking a needle in it, is the hallmark of a beginner or mediocre practitioner. We know from the classics that Ki, much like rivers, flow in the meridians at varying volumes and at various depths depending on the time of day, time of year, condition of the patient, external and internal influences, and other factors. In Japanese acupuncture we believe that even the points can move due to these factors. A highly developed sense of touch, focus and intention are required to locate areas of excess or deficiency. The patterns that are evident on one patient will be entirely different on another patient with the same “diagnosis”. There must be an energetic connection between the practitioner and the patient. Without this, no point will be effective. One must be able to move Ki. Without this, nothing will change in the patient.