Acupuncture

Acupuncture, Allowing the Energy to Flow

Acupuncture has been used for centuries. It is practised based on the principles of ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is about aligning the body with the natural world, as we are one. We are all energetic beings, connected to the rhythms of the planet, energy blocks may be established when we are not in alignment, whether this is a result of what we are eating, thinking or how we are living. These energy blocks, form my perspective, protect the body from what the body perceives as harm, imbalance.

Fine needles placed along acupuncture points are used to unblock this stagnant energy in the body, allowing the energy, “the chi” to flow. The body is connected by meridians, and vessels communicating constantly to keep the body, mind, and spirit connection, the vital force, the chi, flowing. When blocks are presented, the body will present dis-ease unless the causes of these blocks are identified, and healed. Otherwise, the body is in a perpetual cycle of blocking, and being unblocked.

As we are no different than the animal kingdom, this practise is very applicable to all the planet’s creatures. I find when it is explained to our domestic animals what the process is, the animals are very clear where they will allow the needles to be placed on the body, and where they are not. They know we are trying to help them, and they participate willingly.

All my animals (dogs and cats) have always been happy to engage. Again, it matters how it is presented to them, the practitioner’s energy, their intention, and presence. How respectful the practitioner is of the animal’s wishes, their guidance, their communication, and of course, how relaxed I am matters immensely to their receptivity of the session. Each of us play an enormous part in our animal’s healing journeys.

Yin and Yang

These are polar opposites of the energy flows through the body. One cannot function without the other, and to be out of balance in one, means dis-ease is present. Yin represents the fluids in the body, found deep in the body. supports rest. Yang represents the fire in the body, found more on the surface, and supports movement. Acupuncture strives to balance these two forces.

Life Forces

There are three types of energy flows through the body based on TCM principles:

Jing
- This is the physical energy flowing through the body including the blood, and fluids. Derived by kidneys, depleted via sexual encounters, and stress.

Ch’i (Qi)

- This is our life force energy found in our Aura, Chakras, and Meridian Systems. There are four components of Qi:
  - hereditary from Jing
  - nutritive from food
  - cosmic from the air we breathe
  - wei, the circulating immune system, which resides along under the surface of the body
    - Source | Four Paws, Five Directions by Dr. C Schwartz

Shen

- This is our higher self, our spiritual energy.

Energy Meridians

There are ten meridians and four vessels flowing throughout the body connecting all the organs, and glands and communication pathways, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles. And each of these in turn, have many acupuncture points, energy points, along the pathways which is where the needles are placed by the acupuncturist.

Meridians | Each have their own soul

Vessels | Connect and communicate with the Aura

For greater understanding, more information may be found in the Life Force section of the website, regarding the role of all the organs, their meridians, their flow, location in the body, and how they work in the body. It is very interesting, as it all of course comes up via energy healing, and dowsing when working with the body, as an upset body part – unless direct trauma has been experienced, is usually an expression of an unhappy organ, and the corresponding meridian. And usually always linked to toxicity.

All of the above systems need to be operating cleanly, and efficiently in order for imbalance to not be presented.

The Importance of the Pulse and the Tongue

What is important to know, as some practitioners are using needles but not according to the full spectrum of TCM principles I am finding. If they are not checking the pulse, and the tongue, then they are not practising traditional acupuncture, but just manipulating the body. The practitioner must first – before needles are introduced:

Check the pulse of the animal; there are 17 different pulse types which all mean different things. This takes extreme skill, and high sensitivity to read the pulses of each meridian. Depending on the level of skill of the practitioner, the past, present, and future imbalances of each meridian can be read. Extraordinary. This is how sophisticated all our systems are.
For a dog and cat, the meridian pulses may be felt on the inside of the front leg above the paws, directly up and over from the dew claw towards the carpal pad. The meridians are layered, some running deeper than others, hence, the practitioners expertise to identify each. On the right side: The large intestine lung, stomach spleen, and the kidney (Yang) pericardiumare located. On the left side: The small intestine heart, the gall bladder liver, and the urinary bladder kidney (yin) are found.The pulse can also be felt on the inside of the back legs. It depends on the practitioner, and how they work. My advice, is to learn as much as you can on such a visit as it is fascinating what they find, and what one may learn about their animal during such a visit.

Check what the tongue looks like; the width, the colour, whether cracked etc. This provides more information to the practitioner about where to target their needles. There are some great charts on line if one searches for “TCM tongue”. The pulse, and the condition of the tongue will confirm the meridians and acupuncture points where the ch’i is deficient or stagnant.

Based on these two factors, and information from the guardian, the acupuncturist will then place needles around the whole body along the meridians, and vessels to clear the energy fields, allowing the ch’i to flow. They will also tell you what they are finding regarding which organs are under stress as a result of the symptoms being presented, and how to balance the system if the following exists. This is just a sample of the information which may be provided.

ENVIRONMENT | Wind, Dampness, Dryness, Heat

Too much wind in the body (and no this is not about gas) tied to the liver, wind may come from various sources; affects muscles, tendons, bones, responsible for arthritis, twitching, trembling, and even convulsions. l
Too much dampness in the body, equates to too much moisture in the body. This could be a result of too many damp / warm/hot foods being fed impacting the digestive tract specifically the spleen and pancreas, and can lead to phlegm accumulation, (cysts, tumors), mucous, and water in the body; heaviness, especially belly, reluctant to move; chronic stiffness as signs of dampness.
Too much dryness in the body associated with lack of water in the body – itchy skin, coughing, allergies, and constant thirst, are indicators. The organs most affected are the lungs, and large intestines.
Too much heat in the body – associated with too much fire in the body – hot tempers, irritability, restlessness, unable to sleep, heat stroke, acutely vomiting, & diarrhea.

DEFICIENCIES | Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, Essence

Qi deficiency is associated with an organ not running optimally in the body
Blood deficiency where the blood needs help purifying – usually a result of poor nutrition and/or parasites. Note: Poor nutrition is a playground for parasites.
Yin deficiency is associated with the water element, not enough rest, nutritional imbalance
Yang deficiency is associated with the fire element, tired all the time, no energy, lack of get up and go
Essence deficiency is associated with life – tied to the kidneys

The Importance of Feedback with Direction

The practitioner must always provide information about the following:

Where the deficiencies are present in the body
Provide a plan to balance the organs if any are running low; and this does not mean another session, although this still may be beneficial – but why are they running low?
Provide suggestions for changes in the diet
Suggest changes which may be implemented in the animal’s environment
Provide herbal support where needed; example of such herbs found here https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/chinese-herbs

The body should be re-checked within a suitable time frame – usually a week or two to make sure the body is healing / rebalancing with the above implemented. Else the cause has not been healed, and this is still needs to be drilled down, determined, and resolved.

About Food Properties in TCM

All food in TCM, including herbs and spices shown below, have energetic properties which are either: hot, warm, neutral or cold and sweet, salty or bitter. This is very valuable information as to feed an animal, say a canine, food that is energetically HOT in a HOT climate could potentially make them very ill.

Therefore, where the animal lives geographically matters, the season matters, and how they “run” whether hot or cold, matters, when considering diet. As the diet, will have an impact on the organs, and the overall whole functionality of the body.

When there is imbalance in the meridians, diet MUST be looked at closely to access whether this is causing the body to run less than optimally. If the diet tests okay, then the investigation begins as to why the body is not running optimally. The reason must be found so full healing may occur, and homeostasis reached.

This is one of many reasons why we cannot feed the same thing all the time to any animal.

Diet must flow with the planet’s seasons and the changes the animal is presenting as they age. Everything must be considered and adjusted accordingly, as everything moves in cycles, with the planet. And of course, food is always fresh from the Earth never from a processing plant.

Resources

Food charts: https://www.herbsmithinc.com/food-charts/

Food information and explanation of TCM: http://chinesenutrition.org/index.asp

Pulses | https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/diagnosis-chinese-medicine/get/4-pillars-pulse-images-tcm-diagnosis

Tongue | https://pulsetcm.sg/what-your-tongue-reflects-about-your-health/

Chinese System of Food Cures Prevention & Remedies by Henry C. Lu

Four Paws Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs
by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM

Energy Healing for Horses by Holly Davis

Horse Types and Temperaments | The Six Temperaments by Madalyn Ward DVM

Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia

Acupuncture Points, Images and Functions by Arnie Lade

Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements by Dianne M. Connelly, PhD, M.Ac.

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