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I've been reading some articles by an acupuncturist named Neil Gumenick, in L.A.
He's discussing the five elements (fire, metal, wood, earth, and water) and how they affect the body, both when that type of elemental energy is in excess and when it is deficient. I particularly liked this snippet from his discussion on "Fire," and one of the important pressure points for that element -- the 16th point on the meridian for the Small Intestine.
Posted without permission -- for more info, go here.
Small Intestine 16, "Heavenly Window"
The small intestine in Chinese medicine is termed the sorter of the pure from the impure. Physically, this organ separates nutrients from the waste in the food we eat. Similarly, the enormous amount of mental and emotional input we absorb daily undergoes an "ordeal by fire" that separates what is useful from what is not. Sometimes mental pollution overwhelms us faster than we can process it, and we begin to view the world as negative and hopeless, a despair that then may affect the body. When the "Heavenly Window" is opened, light can enter and dispel that toxicity. We can begin to find within ourselves the clear space to expand into the joy present in every season - but especially so in the summer.
Ways to tend your inner Fire
Copyright 1997 by Neil Gumenick
He's discussing the five elements (fire, metal, wood, earth, and water) and how they affect the body, both when that type of elemental energy is in excess and when it is deficient. I particularly liked this snippet from his discussion on "Fire," and one of the important pressure points for that element -- the 16th point on the meridian for the Small Intestine.
Posted without permission -- for more info, go here.
Small Intestine 16, "Heavenly Window"
The small intestine in Chinese medicine is termed the sorter of the pure from the impure. Physically, this organ separates nutrients from the waste in the food we eat. Similarly, the enormous amount of mental and emotional input we absorb daily undergoes an "ordeal by fire" that separates what is useful from what is not. Sometimes mental pollution overwhelms us faster than we can process it, and we begin to view the world as negative and hopeless, a despair that then may affect the body. When the "Heavenly Window" is opened, light can enter and dispel that toxicity. We can begin to find within ourselves the clear space to expand into the joy present in every season - but especially so in the summer.
Ways to tend your inner Fire
- Have fun on a regular basis, even if you have to work at it at first. Make it a priority - schedule your fun, if that's what it takes. Don't compromise. Consider fun as important to your well-being as work or anything else you do.
- Give of yourself to others. Take the time to listen. Take the risk of dipping into your own heart and finding what you have to give to others unconditionally - then just do it.
- Live your passion, whether it be the church choir, rollerblading, preserving the environment, or writing poetry. If you don't know what your special passion is, be willing to admit that you don't. Meanwhile, stay amused and don't stop looking. When you find that great interest, dive into it wholeheartedly and enjoy!
- Get physical. Get into your body and out of your head. Love, exercise, dance, run, play. Get your circulation going.
Copyright 1997 by Neil Gumenick
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Last night there was a programme on BBC2 about a scientist looking into alternative medicines and this week it was acupuncture. One of the things I really liked about the programme was that she was explaining the importance of scientific rigour, examining trials, as well as trying it for herself. It culminated in her getting together a number of emminent scientists and experts to conduct their own experiment under as rigorous conditions as possible - using the best MRI scanner in the UK, blind trials (inserting a needle *just* into the skin, and then inseting it to the correct acupuncture depth) and then looking at the scans with the leading researcher into pain.
And they found some radical stuff going on in the brain with acupuncture. Really interesting results, really interesting programme and a joy for its real science.
And for me personally? Feeling of being overwhelmed by mental pollution, as that snippet put it. So now I have some things I can do to make the difference - a reminder that my mental state is actually my *choice* so if I don't like feeling the way I am now, then I can do something about it. Off to practice my Belly Dancing moves in the Ladies... :-D
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4631930.stm
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/pressrelease/brain.html
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-acupuncture4apr04,1,3798014.column?coll=la-headlines-healt -- this article is the most interesting as it goes beyond the pain reduction idea -- for example, a functional mri, which shows indicates which parts of the brain are being activated, showed the part of the brain that controls the vestibular center (balance and nausea) lighting up when a nausea control point was needled.
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And the teacher (who is SO good) keeps giving us little tips - like "look at the bit that you're moving, especially when you are doing rib work, as it then gives the audience 'permission' to look and makes them feel more comfortable."
So feel free to lech...err....appreciate. ;-)
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::starts snapping and whistling, enjoying the show::
More! More!
8-)
Or should that be "Less! Less!"
;-)