Psycho-Emotional Acupuncture

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals.”

-The Buddha

The mind-body connection in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is of extreme importance, in fact, there is no clear distinction between the two. The concept of “mind” or “spirt”, called Shen, actually resides throughout the physical body and is what animates us as human beings. It is our conscious awareness.

There are five elements of the mind-body that collectively make up the Shen. Although not comprehensive, the following is the expression of each of those elements:

The Zhi

The Zhi is our will and it resides in the Kidneys. It is our primal urge to exist and propel forward. It is our instinctual nature and when it is weak will may feel a lack of motivation or fear of moving ahead in our lives. Sexual function, and therefore disfunction, is also the domain of the Zhi.

The Yi

The Yi is the intellectual part of ourselves and resides in the Spleen. It allows us to think clearly and function appropriately in an academic or work environment. When the Yi is not in balance, we might notice obsessive thoughts, a racing mind or unsubstantiated worry.

The Po

The Po is known as the Corporeal soul. It resides in the Lungs and connects us to our physical form and the earth. It encompasses all the instincts that we posses from birth and is associated with our immediate needs and desires. On an emotional level, the Po is effected by prolonged sadness or grief and, left unchecked, may lead to various respiratory and breathing difficulties.

The Hun

The Hun is called the Etherial soul. It resides in the Liver and is said to live on after the death of the body. (The Po leaves with the body.) The Hun is our spiritual side. Our waking It is the gap between our thoughts and often felt during meditation or sleep. The Hun likes to be free, to roam. It is responsible for dreaming, goal setting, keeping us on path. When the Hun is not in balance, we might become depressed or develop insomnia.

The Shen

Also known as the mind, the Shen is our waking consciousness or thought and resides in the heart. The emotion most associated with the Shen is joy. A heart that bears a heavy burden or is filled with disappointment and regret will cloud its inherent joy. This leads to anxiety and an inability to concentrate. At its most extreme, an unhealthy Shen can manifest as forms of schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorder.

At Midwest Acupuncture Group we aim to balance the five spirits, peel away old emotional patterns and uncover the abundant joy of the heart. Through individualized treatment plans, we can help shed the burden of chronic anxiety, depression, PMS, stress and the myriad of illnesses they bring about. With the careful combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, the vast majority of our patients have achieved the emotional freedom that comes with a healthy and strong mind-body connection.