A Student Feels the Qi

A student in a moxibustion for practitioners class explains the sensation she experiences during a 14 minute treatment for her shoulder pain.

The ancient classics state feeling a qi sensation is necessary for effective relief of pain. Listen closely for her descriptions of the sensations she feels.

She reports feeling the heat on her skin as “hot, but sort of cool hot,” then she feels a sensation distant from the heated spot and she reports “the energy flow has changed.”

Later she reports feeling the sensation “downward into the muscle.” Further on she feels the sensation “down at an angle towards the center of my spine.” Half way through she report feeling less pain.

Finally she gets up and demonstrates increased range of motion in her shoulder and she reports energy release down her arm.

I call the alternate heating and pressing on an acupoint “Moxa-Pressure” a technique I have taught for over 20 years. Recently, I have improved the method making is easier and safer to relieve pain quickly.

A Book Is Born

I’ve been busy since my last post March 4th. Had a lot to learn about publishing on Amazon’ Kindle, more about that later, but I did it with a little help from my friends. So, I am proud to announce my new ebook Moxibustion for Pain Relief, which introduces an ancient Chinese method of relieving pain that is finding favor with pain suffers today. Moxibustion soothes the acupoints to stimulate circulation and pain reducing hormones. Heating acupoints is a soothing way to relieve pain and it is fast and effective.

Moxibustion for Pain

published on Amazon Kindle

My book covers the history and health benefits of moxibustion, especially the moxa stick first written about in 1717 in China, wherein it was called the Grand Ultimate Divine Needle, or simply, The Magic Needle. The needle magically relieves pain when the burning tip of the needle is suspended over the sore spot; the needle never touches the skin.

Patients often comment, “I find the moxa therapy as beneficial as acupuncture, but less uncomfortable than needles. The moxa feels soothing and relaxing.” See a YouTube moxa-pressure treatment. See a recent post Moxibustion for Pain

The idea for this ebook came while researching a textbook for massage therapists on the use of the moxa stick. I discovered some famous teachers and practitioners who used moxa therapy in China and in the West. This surprised me in view of how little moxibustion is used by acupuncturists today. Yet, acclaimed sages praised it, often noting the burning moxa stick method is quick, safe, and effective in relieving pain. I want to raise awareness of the 300-year anniversary of the moxa stick coming in 2017.

No cure-all for chronic pain has been discovered; however, when one treatment fails to work, I try another. Moxibustion does not relieve all types of pain; however, trying it is a wise practice because most pain can be benefited. Examples and case histories are included in this book.

I have developed and currently teach a moxa-pressure technique that soothes and relieves most pain. Regular treatments have a lasting reduction in chronic pain.

Oh yes I wanted to tell about MY PAIN in publishing my book Moxibustion for Pain Relief, as an ebook on Amazon. It is expensive and that make me want to save money, do-it-myself, but ouch. I have avoided tinkering with HTML code since my first website.

However, I could not publish my book without proper formatting and I knew what that meant because in my youth I programmed with several computer codes. My book would need HTML formatting and I knew I could edit the HTML code myself, but I have avoided coding for the last 20 years. Because of a barrier I firmly planted in consciousness, my coding days were over.

So if I wanted this book published inexpensively, I would have to confront and accept HTML code. At least it’s easy to work with. Coding in the early days of computers was tedious and brain straining as was the rest of the brainwork required as a systems engineer so I was looking forward to no more coding in the healing arts.

However after starting my alternative medical career in 1983, I saw the need to write a relational database to run my office. I knew I could do it but it would be a painfully long time in my life. So when that was over, I said ‘never again.’ Oh well HTML isn’t that bad with a good software editor.

And a book is born; Moxibustion for Pain Relief tells the fascinating story of the spread of the moxa stick from east to west and the benefits this type of therapy can achieve.

Learning Chinese Medicine

Back to school last weekend in San Francisco to study the ancient Chinese medical writings with internationally renowned scholars, Elizabeth Rochat and Ken Rose for a post-graduate program called “Teaching From the Roots.” This weekend we cultivated the qi of knowledge. Future classes promise more in depth study of the acupuncture-moxibustion classics.

We are studying the ancient texts to expand our knowledge of the way acupuncture was practiced two thousand years ago by exploring the Classical Literature of Chinese medicine.

While attending, I have met people who are experts in fields of knowledge that I know very little about. I have been studying the ancient Chinese medical classics since the late 70′s, now I can discuss these writings with others who have interest in their teachings. We are trying to understand how the ancient masters practiced, especially areas of our medicine not much taught these days.

Since the time in ’69 when I first read the Dao De Jing, I have learned to read and write many Chinese characters. Years ago I studied the Chinese characters to help me understand the names of the acupuncture points. Chinese medical terms and concepts are often translated using many different English words. Knowing the symbolism inherent in Chinese characters gives me a better understanding of what that term means.

Discussions are in depth and cover much material new to me. I know a little bit, my fellow teachers know a little also—even the course instructors admit to a deficiency of knowledge that designing and teaching this class will help them gain. So Dear Reader, if you are practicing medicine, alternative or orthodox, and are interested in understanding what ancient Chinese teachers had to say about Chinese medicine, this is the class to join. New people are still joining.

Natural Healing

I am reviewing my interviews and teaching videos taken over the last thirty years.

Here are two interviews, one old and one new.

The earliest video, an interview by Rosemary Broccoli in 1986 is available on Youtube.

Michael Turk answers Rosemary Broccoli’s first question, “Michael, how was it you became interested in Oriental medicine?” More of the interview will be posted soon.

Recently, I was interviewed while demonstrating Moxa-Pressure, a technique I developed to quickly relieve many types of pain.

The following videos of classes are being reviewed for short lessons to publish.

I taught three workshops on Acupressure for Headaches, Points for Pain, and Using Chinese Herbs in 1989.

In 2006, I demonstrated prenatal massage and taught acupressure massage at the Pacific Symposium.

My favorite video in 2007 was a class on the Origin of Chinese Symbolism.

As I publish these videos I will give background information.

Post your questions about health and healing using ancient Asian healing arts.

Feel Your Qi and Relieve Pain

Published in the Lotus Guide. Chico, CA. January 2012

Today qi is commonly referred to as energy, yet qi is a mystery to modern science. In Chinese philosophy, qi is a subtle substance that pervades space; in Chinese medicine, qi is a physical sensation described as the feeling of something strange moving in the body experienced by patients who receive acupuncture or moxibustion.

Scientists and scholars may disagree about the existence of qi, but traditional Chinese medical dictionaries all agree the sensation of qi felt during acupuncture indicates a successful response to insertion. Some scholars discuss the question: Is qi matter or energy? And is that even the question?

What is qi? Is it matter, energy, spirit, or something else? And how will knowing what it is help explain the concept of qi? Sometimes authors look to the Greek words pneuma or psyche. Pneuma is a name for “air inside the body” and psyche is a term for ‘spirit’ used to distinguish between “living and non-living things.” When qi, an eastern concept, is compared to western concepts such as ether, energy, or spirit, these different concepts cannot be substituted for the true meaning of qi in Chinese philosophy.

I will use the Chinese pinyin spelling ‘qi’, rather than try to find a good English word to translate the term qi.

To get a better idea of the term qi, examine its use in the well known 5^th century BCE humorous story from the Liezi that tells about a man from the state of Qi (same sound, different tone and character) who was worried the heavens might collapse and fall into pieces depriving him of food and sleep.

A friend consoled him with, “Heaven is only an accumulation of qi; that same qi is everywhere. Why then do you worry about a collapse of heaven?”

The man said, “If it’s true that heaven is an accumulation of qi, why don’t the sun, moon, and stars fall down to earth?”

His friend replied, “Those bright lights are only shining masses of condensed qi. Even if they did fall they wouldn’t hurt anybody.”

The man continues to question and his friend continues to give answers until a sage declares, “What does it matter? One cannot know when the end will come. Why then worry if the world will be destroyed or not?”

Here qi seems to be a subtle substance found everywhere. This is not the complex theory of qi found in traditional Chinese medicine. A fundamental theory of ancient medicine is the theory of that many types of qi form a complex interacting system found everywhere in the human being.

The next author Xun Zi (312-230 BCE) makes a distinction between qi and life, two agents of change. He then explains the role qi plays in the lives of people and the power people have in controlling the qi in their lives.

Xun discusses the concepts of qi, life, awareness, and judgment stating all can change the world. The subtle qi of water and fire changes things but has no life; furthermore, some living things have awareness but only people possess judgment. Therefore people have qi, life, awareness, and judgment. Judgment is the power to distinguish and influence change.

All ideas and theories are in the head, but the experience of qi is in the body. Patients receiving the traditional Chinese method of acupuncture experience qi regularly. Though the sensation can be uncomfortable, it is a favorable sign. Patients say qi sensations feel like they are radiating, tingly, achy, heavy, and various other sensations. The qi sensation changes with the diagnosis and how the needle is inserted.

Erica D. says, “Sometimes it feels like a small energy bomb shooting sensations like beams toward distant parts of the body.”

 

Acumoxa for Pain Relief

Published in the Lotus Guide. Chico, CA. July 2011

Acumoxa Treatments: Pain Relief Without Needles

Acumoxa quickly reduces chronic pain by soothing acupuncture points with heat, rather than stimulating with needles

What Is Acumoxa?

Acumoxa is a method of treating disease developed by ancient Chinese doctors along with acupuncture and acupressure therapy. Moxibustion is the therapeutic use of heat to treat pain and weakness. The herbs called moxa come from a number of plants; they are processed for easy burning. About 300 years ago, acumoxa became popular with the invention of the moxa stick, called the “grand ultimate divine needle” or “magic needle.” The needle-shaped stick of moxa is held over the acupoints without touching the skin. Applying and removing the heat as needed is easier to teach and use without injuring tissue. Magic needle moxa therapy–noninvasive, nonscarring, and nonblistering–is most effective in relieving muscle pain and arthritis. Acumoxa is not a cure-all some health problems are relieved entirely, while others cannot be helped at all. From China, its popularity has spread to Korea and Japan, where it is a favored method of self-care. Today many smokeless methods of heating acupoints are available.

Acumoxa Today

Chronic pain has become an epidemic that is disabling millions of Americans. New ways to treat pain have not slowed the increase in the number of people suffering. Americans are now turning to ancient Asian methods for self-help methods such as acupuncture and acupressure massage. Acupressure and acumoxa provide many of the benefits of acupuncture–especially pain relief–without using needles.

A History of Healing

Time-tested moxa has been relieving pain and curing disease since the Stone Age. A survey of 33 premodern acupuncture texts–published over a 2,000 year period–reveals a cluster of health complaints for which moxibustion is beneficial; myofascial pain, infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, and female problems.

Conditions Benefited

Myofascial disorders: Arthritis, tendonitis, low back, and sciatica

Infectious diseases; Bacterial dysentery, hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, and UTI

Inflammatory disorders: Bronchial asthma, simple goiter, diabetes, indigestion, acute mastitis, and hemorrhoids Recuperative: Stroke, adrenal depletion, incontinence, prolapsed anus or uterus

OB/GYN: Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, abnormal bleeding, and leucorrhoea

An Ancient Healing Recipe

Printed in the Lotus Guide. Chico, CA. July 2010

When the young woman walked into my acupuncture office, I knew something was wrong. Her complexion was as pale as impending death, her walk was slow and deliberate, and when she sat down she lowered herself as if sitting on a pile of rocks. This initial evaluation informed me of the challenge ahead. The intake form confirmed it, “How long since your last healthy bowel movement?”

“I’ve had unrelenting diarrhea for the last year. It has left me weak and exhausted. The urgent need to relieve myself has interfered with my ability to work. Leaving my station at a moment’s notice is unacceptable.”

The form read RN for occupation, “I see that you’re a nurse. Have you tried Western medicine?”

“I am a nurse and my boyfriend practices alternative healing. It’s not an infection and I’ve visited many natural healers. Nutrition and herbs have not helped me and I don’t want to use drugs to mask the symptoms, but sometimes I use them for temporary relief.”

I asked the usual questions to fill out her chart notes. As I pressed her acupoints to check on the condition of her energy system, a thought came to me. Her medicine would be the oldest formula for difficult problems mentioned in an ancient Chinese classic.

Remembering this recipe does not appeal to some people, I said, “Tell me, for the next six weeks, what are you willing to try no matter how difficult or unappealing it sounds?”

“I will try anything natural that causes no harm.”

“The medicine is something you cook up yourself with common ingredients found in the supermarket. For the next few months I want you to cook these foods for eight hours in ten cups of water and eat the soupy medicine for breakfast and avoid the foods on this list.”

She looked at the list of ingredients for the medicinal soup, “Doesn’t over cooking destroy nutrients?

“No” I replied, “with time, different nutrients are released. Chinese medicinal herbs are cooked for hours.”

“It doesn’t sound very appealing, but I will try it.”

The next week she came in with a fire in her eyes that had been absent the week before. She reported her bowel movements had started to firm up, “Though the porridge didn’t taste good to me, within minutes of eating the first bowl, I felt good inside, better than I have felt in the last year. It feels so good eating the medicinal soup. I don’t want to eat anything else! Is it okay to eat it exclusively?”

“Yes, that’s okay. I’m sure once your internal organs are healthy, your appetite for other foods will return, but be careful with the list of foods I advised you to avoid.”

During her acupressure treatment, the acupoints that report on the internal organs were still sensitive, but I detected an overall energy improvement.

In the following weeks, her bowel movements became easy, painless, and solid; her symptoms of fatigue and soreness faded with each day. Now that going to the bathroom ceased to be urgent, she returned to work with pleasure.

Some of the most difficult health problems can be cured with ancient medicine.

This soupy ancient medicine is also the most popular breakfast in the world. The Chinese call it congee, but it has many names in Asian cultures. Chinese herbalists do not consider it to be like ordinary cooked rice. Extended cooking changes it into something entirely different. Try congee for colon problems:

Raisin-cinnamon Medicinal Rice

1/3 cup rice

3 cups water

1/3 cup raisins

2-3 sticks cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions: Place all ingredients in a crock-pot or a slow cooker. Cook on high for one hour and then lower the heat setting. (The high setting can cause the liquid to evaporate.) Cook 6 – 10 hours. It should be like porridge. Don’t ever stir while cooking. After it is cooked, gently stir for consistency. Patients report it is delicious for a breakfast, snack or dessert.

Chinese herbal medicine is the oldest continuously practiced medical science in the world.