Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Shens origins
Sandra Hill explores the most
intangible of the three treasures
The missing link
Why studying Chinese language
makes sense to Yu Hong Zhang
Pulse feedback
John Hicks makes the case for this
under-rated information source
Lonny Jarrett
What keeps him awake at night?
Why Jing Shen? Welcome to the very first edition
of Jing Shen previously known as
Just as jing and shen Chinese Whispers.
stand alone but We at the College of Integrated
unite as a combined Chinese Medicine, in collaboration with
our designer, Bridget Long, have taken
power, so do TCM full advantage of the summers energy
and Five Element theory come to bring you this dynamic shift in design, layout, size and
together to create the integrated name, making it fully bloom as the beautiful, inviting
publication you now hold in your hands.
style of acupuncture taught Inside you will find more colour, more
here at the College of Integrated pictures, inspiring articles, topical tips for
Chinese Medicine. Our magazine improving your practice plus lots of extras
including (pens at the ready) our famous
is intended to spark ideas, fuel crossword and possibly the worlds first
discussion, and help nourish our ever acudoku.
It is our sincere wish that you are
professional community. uplifted by what you receive in Jing Shen
The sage concentrates his jing and that it contributes to your practice
of Chinese medicine in a positive way. Enjoy.
shen, swallows the heavenly qi,
With much love
and is in touch with the brilliant
radiance of shen. Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen Charlotte Brydon-Smith Lic Ac, BSc (Hons) Editor
December 2006 saw the first of Fairy Liquid into the machines tray. We
two acupuncture degree classes arrived in the morning to find two labs and
graduate from the College of three offices packed entirely with firm white
Integrated Chinese Medicine. foam, studded with stationery and surprised-
The new course requires looking insects, like raisins in a cake.
students to carry out a piece Still, there are different problems in
of original research and submit it in the form researching acupuncture, which the students
of a 10,000 word dissertation a first for most dealt with admirably. Firstly, acupuncture
of the students. is very difficult to research because it falls
As a veteran of six years of genetics between two camps. Like surgery, innovation
research, I felt for my fellow students who comes largely from techniques rather than
missed out on three central joys of science. tools, and this is difficult to control for,
First, scientists are entertaining. My old experimentally. On the other hand, like drugs,
supervisor, a fellow of the Royal Society, would acupunctures workings and results cannot
squeeze a lump of gingerbread and place it on be directly seen, so success or otherwise has
the carpet before visiting dignitaries would to be inferred from changes in the patient,
arrive for dinner. He would remark Oh, that demanding proper controls.
blasted cat! before picking it up and eating it
in front of them. Secondly, science is exciting. although there is much to learn
I had to carry a (harmless) virus in dry ice from about acupuncture from those in
Oxford to Cambridge, via London. As the outer the field, there is also much that
box was plastered with Biohazard! warnings, can be passed on from those new
I put it into a large bin bag and knotted it to it, about standards of rigour
tightly. Unfortunately my Tube carriage was and experiment design
stuck above ground in baking heat for 20
minutes and the dry ice began to evaporate, Additionally, the students couldnt actually
rapidly inflating the bag. Despite my frantic do any experiments. This was in part because
attempts to bite holes in it, it grew to the size of course they could not treat yet, but also due
of a weather balloon, and I found myself alone. to ethical constraints in using patients, which
Finally, science brings you into contact with is, as one might expect, tightly controlled.
the great minds of our age. A labmate of A great benefit of research, however, is in
mine, upon finding that we had run out of buying legitimacy in Western terms. If we
dishwasher tablets, squirted an eggcup full can, despite the difficulties, demonstrate
Sometimes, however, whatever we do, the Assume we are strengthening the Spleen
patient is not able to give verbal feedback in and Stomach. The points we may use might
the form we want. I had a patient who gave be Sp 3 and St 36. One of the best signs that
negative and fuzzy feedback. If I believed the this treatment has been effective is that the
pulse changes, he was getting better, but I other Organ positions improve except for the
had to assume he wasnt. Then, one day, his Stomach and Spleen. They may not all change
partner came in and said how wonderful the and they may change to varying degrees but,
treatment had been for him. When we dont to the degree they do, it reinforces that our
have high-quality feedback, the pulses can selection of that treatment principle has been
become an even more important tool so why appropriate.
not also improve our pulse feedback? This can be counter-intuitive. If we treat the
Spleen, shouldnt the Spleen pulse improve?
Evaluating a treatment via the pulses
Not necessarily. It is much more significant
To evaluate treatment, pulses can be taken that the pulses of all the other Organs
at several key times: improve, which of course demonstrates the
In the case of an empty condition effect of the ailing Stomach and Spleen on
After each point or pair of points is needled the other Organs. In fact, the Stomach and
and at the end of a treatment comparing the Spleen pulses may be better, but probably in
initial pulses with the final pulse change. less obvious ways. We can call this the other
In the case of a mixed condition Organs change.
Before, during and after the clearing of a The second and related aspect is increased
pathogenic factor (assuming the pathogenic harmony in the overall pulses. Increased
factor is cleared before and not at the same harmony is often a quick judgement we
time as the empty condition). make as soon as our fingers touch the wrist.
After needling the empty condition. The pulses just seem more together, more
So we need to consider both these regular and smooth, in harmony and less of a
situations: the empty and the mixed condition. jumble from how they were before needling.
This evaluation seems just obvious and it
Empty condition evaluation
takes some reflection and analysis to say what
Using pulses, how do we evaluate the change exactly makes up the increased harmony.
after needling? There are two main criteria: What is found on reflection is that qualities
The degree of positive change in the pulse disappear from the non-Earth pulse positions
positions of the Organs that have not and as a result all of the pulse positions feel
been treated. more similar. Which actual pulse qualities
The lessening of major qualities and an change may be different from person
increased overall harmony between the to person.
various pulse positions.
The title of your article doesnt even if their primary objective is not to read
make sense, I hear you shout original TCM literature. The overwhelming
and I agree with you. However, feedback from my Chinese language
if you went to the font menu in workshops, for instance, is Things make more
Microsoft Word and changed sense now.
the font from Wingdings to, So back to making
sense!
say, Arial, these symbols would turn into Now lets do a few tasks and see why
making sense! learning Chinese language may be beneficial
Making sense is a vital process in human for the study and practice of TCM.3
communication. We can either make sense
ourselves, which is defined as be intelligible, The memory test
justifiable, or practicable or make sense of Studying any subject requires remembering
something, which is defined as find meaning and recalling names, facts, figures and so
or coherence in.1 on. TCM is no exception. If anything, TCM
This article is more about finding meaning demands more remembering and recalling,
and coherence, with a focus on the learning as many of its concepts and much of its
of Chinese language as a way of making more terminology are foreign, i.e. they dont make
sense of Chinese medicine. sense straight away. Now, here is something
Nigel Wiseman, a strong advocate of we all know: things that dont make sense are
recognising China as the source of TCM, harder to remember than things that do. Take
believes that the study of Chinese language is a look at this combination of letters:
the single most beneficial action that can be
taken to enhance TCM educational standards
W epfo i uat ac tna
in the West.2 Unless you have a photographic memory,
While not everyone would agree with you might find these words hard to
Wiseman, it is more than likely that TCM remember. Even if you did learn them by rote,
students and practitioners who have studied you would probably unlearn it very quickly. If,
Chinese language would agree that it has a however, this combination were rearranged
beneficial effect on their study or practice,
Explanation of names
Points
Literal translation Clinical relevance
It is worth pointing out that in the meaning, however, goes beyond the
character , is a common component also name, symptoms or signs of disease
referred to as radicals used in constructing (note the character for thin):
characters for nouns denoting grassy plants, (bng) / disease, (tng) / pain,
such as: (fng) / mad; insanity, (b) / blockage,
(bohe), (fuling), (jingjie). 5 (zhn) / skin rash, (shu) / thin.
In the West, many equate being thin with
Another common radical is (tree/wood),
being attractive. In China, however, thin is
which is used in constructing the following:
traditionally considered as unhealthy: Youve
(guzh), (gouqzi), (sngzh), put on weight used to be a common greeting
(ppy). and a compliment whereas Youve lost weight
(zh), by the way, means branch, (zi) used to be a comment showing the concern of
means seeds/fruits and ye (y) means leaves. the speaker about the health of the listener.
Knowing how names of herbs are formed, and Language, as this example demonstrates,
better still, how they are pronounced, should
The first in a series of articles stretching and opening continues. But you
focus less on waking all your energy up, and
on Daoist qi gong and energy more on steadily encouraging it to move fully
practices and smoothly throughout your channels, gates
and points, and allowing it to fully express
Over this series I will develop three itself outwards, especially through circles and
main themes: spirals. All this channels your energy away
How to build a clear physical, mental from being agitated and scattered into relaxed,
and spiritual foundation in your practice, coherent fullness, balancing the Fire Element.
leading to balance and openness
Key physical and energetic techniques Key technique
on this road Moving the shoulder blades
Practice tips for beginners and more The continuous movement of the shoulder
advanced students, including how to adjust blades is a key physical technique in tai chi and
your practice in accordance with the season qi gong which affects the entire upper body.
Why is this?
The energy of spring and summer When the body and its energies is free of
Like the natural world around us, in spring blockages (as in a baby), as the arms move,
the body and its energies want to awaken the shoulder blades naturally move. Indeed,
and open up. It is the time of year to ensure the movement of the arms is in large part
this happens, and nothing remains partially activated from the shoulder blade area. This
closed and stagnant. So you want to focus your naturally activates all the tissues surrounding
practice on stretching your tissues open. See the ribs, neck and head, keeping them supple
below for tips on stretching, opening up your and mobile.
breathing, and opening and closing the joints. As we get older, tension builds and the
This liberates energy stored in winter for the movement of the arms often dis-links from
rest of the year, and channels your energy away the shoulder blades which freeze. The natural
from irritability and frustration into action movement around the upper body caused
and life, balancing the wood element. by the arms and shoulder blades working
In summer, the waking, excited energies of together is gradually lost, and these areas
spring expand, relax and smooth out, much become stiff, resulting in stagnation and pain.
like the energy of a mountain torrent matures Particularly problematic is the stagnation
into the smooth, relaxed and expanded which develops between the shoulder blades,
energy of a large river. Your outward growth, as this closes the Heart points there, leading
What is your idea of happiness? What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
Giving everything to living my highest The willingness to not live up to the highest
realisation. Having a clear conscience. I know when under stress.
Which living person do you most admire? What keeps you awake at night?
My teacher, Andrew Cohen. He had an These days I sleep soundly with
awakening to the absolute 22 years ago total surrender.
and has never once moved from it.
How would you like to die?
Most impressive.
Knowing I had done everything I could do
What is your favourite smell? to honour that which puts me here.
The back of my childrens necks just after
What is the most important lesson life
they were born.
has taught you?
What is your favourite book? There is only one. One patient, one ego, one
The one Im currently writing. Its tentatively true self, one practitioner, one parent, one
titled The Absolute Practice of Medicine. child, one lover, one human. Only one.
12 13 14
1 A pulse quality
2 We do this with a needle for a full condition
3 The direction dof Wood
4 Pin yin for Kid 21 ___men (3 letters)
15 7 _______ cup GB 38 (7 letters)
10 An oh yes! point
11 Not a symptom
13 Petit ___ a seizure (3 letters)
acudoku
Our akudoku is a form of sudoku but with
I T letters rather than numbers. Fit the nine
letters of the word ACUPOINTS into the grid
U O C
each letter should appear only once in each
I A S U row down and each row across, and once
in each mini-grid of nine squares.
O T C A
Solution to the crossword in the last issue
C T P A T H O G E N I C
O A R A V A A A A H
P U O I I A I A A N G I N A
N A P E A A C A A R
O T N P T
C
A
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L
E
A
E
A
K
H
A
E
A
S
P
E
A
A
C
C T P H
A
A
R
A
T
Y
E
A
R
A
Y
C
A
L
E
O
A
T
E
R A O A O A A E A R
S C T R E A T M E N T S
Needle technique
To open this series Angie asks after the needle is inserted Giovanni Maciocia
told me that in his opinion needling in the
some skilful needle technique direction of the qi is important. He said,
experts to share their advice When needling and obtaining deqi, before the
actual needle manipulation, the direction of
Needles are the tools of our trade. We can needling is important. If deqi does not arrive,
make a correct diagnosis and plan a wonderful I usually lift the needle very slightly and
treatment but the actual skill of giving an change direction very slightly. It is important
acupuncture treatment lies in our needle to visualize the channel flow when doing so.
technique. So it seems fitting to start this Julian Scott also sees the flow of qi as
series of top tips with some practitioners important. He said I like to be aware of the qi
thoughts about needling skills. I asked various and to get a sense of tonifying and dispersing.
practitioners who have shown a special Twiddling to the right or to the left does not
interest or expertise in how we needle: matter so much, provided that the qi flows in
the right direction.
What is currently most important to Following on from this, Charlie Buck
you about needle technique, and why? states that knowing what is appropriate for
Three of the practitioners who contributed the patient is also important, and that comes
were Charlie Buck whose needling skills from the clarity inside us. He agrees with
seminars regularly feature in our programme Julian that the twiddling is less important.
of CPD events (see opposite), Giovanni Maciocia He says, If there is magic in acupuncture I
who has, of course, written many of our most feel it lies in the way we can learn to stimulate
highly respected acupuncture text books and appropriately to catalyse beneficial change.
Julian Scott, who has recently made a DVD For me its more than just sticking needles
about needle technique. Needle technique in and twiddling a bit. Knowing what is
experts at the College also contributed. appropriate comes from lucid Heart shen. It
Michael Ng is module leader for needle involves recognising that different situations
technique, Billie Wray introduces the students need widely differing stimulation from light to
first needling session and Jill Glover teaches heavy, deep to superficial, moving or still and
needling in the third year of the acupuncture so on. Chinese metaphysics is all very nice, it is
degree course. Finally Jan Stringer, what attracted me in the first place, but I now
acupuncturist and microbiologist, contributed believe I am more likely to achieve mastery
her knowledge of clean needle technique. by deliberate, focused and knowing practice
First, when attending to the patient just than through profound metaphysics. For me
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