The Inner Causes of Disease: Psychosomatics in Chinese Medicine

Part-I: Consciousness, the Mind and Reality

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Mental attitudes (belief systems), play a fundamental role in general health, emphasized by the expression Shen leads Qi.

This module explores the five sections of the psyche, their functions, and acupuncture treatment strategies.

The effects of the Mind over the Body have been clearly emphasized in Classical Chinese Medicine for at least 10 centuries. Mind-sets and mental attitudes influence the human responses to the outer world, manifesting as emotions and classified as the inner causes of disease. Understanding the structure of the conscious and subconscious parts of the psyche and unravelling the psychological mechanisms of “Belief systems” and helping to change these in a regular TCM setting is to treat the “Hidden Roots of Disease”. 

 

Learning objectives: 

1. Understanding the concept of health in Chinese medicine

2. Exploring the structure of the Mind and the Psyche

3. How we perceive the world (the mind and sensory perceptions)

4. Pain the language of the body

5. The five sections of the psyche; parallels with Western psychology

6. Significance, functions and disturbances of Shen, Hun, Yi, Po and Zhi

7. Acupuncture treatment strategies

8. The subconscious and the notion of Gui ≈ Ghost

9. Clinical examples

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Part-II: The Psyche and the Emotions

 

Emotions are perceptions in response to events in the outer world, they play a fundamental role in the health and disease process.

The role of emotions, as internal causes of disease, have been well known in the Chinese medical practice. Emotions having evolved from primary instincts, are human responses to the outer world, and depend primarily on individual mind-sets. The outer world is perceived through the lens of the Shen ≈ Psyche and processed by the Luo ≈ Connecting vessels.  Understanding the energetic impact of the emotions is essential in the treatment management. The treatment of psycho-emotional patterns is part of treating the “Hidden Roots of Disease”. 

 

Learning objectives: 

1. Exploring the function and expression of emotions

2. Emotional manifestation and individual perspectives

3. Concept of the 5 Emotions and 7 Passions: Description, energetic impact, Zang-fu disharmonies and acupuncture strategies for: anger, elation, worry, anxiety, sadness, oppression, fear, shock, love and passion, jealousy, hatred, vengeance, contempt, guilt and shame

4. Diagnostic orientations

5. Role of the Luo vessels and personality disorders

6. Therapeutic strategies

7. Clinical examples; case studies

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Part-III: Impact of Trauma on Belief mechanisms

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Traumatic events play a central role in the development of the psyche and will later constitute the basis of mental attitudes and belief mechanisms.

An important component of the Belief mechanisms is represented by personal life experiences, in particular the traumatic events. When a traumatic experience has been too intense or if it has occurred prior to the full development of the limbic structures, the event is relegated to the subconscious mind. Impressions and emotions are registered by Hun ≈ Ethereal soul, physical sensations and pain are registered by Po ≈ Corporeal soul.

These hidden programs have a major impact on the psycho-emotional expressions of the individual.  Releasing these retained memories constitutes a crucial stage in the treatment of the “Hidden Roots of Disease”.

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Learning objectives: 

1. Exploring the components of the Belief systems: inherited and life events

2. Trauma and the defensive structures of the body

3. The memory systems and the 5 sections of the psyche

4. Extraordinary vessels, psychological issues and Belief mechanisms

5. Life transitions (7 Gates) and psychological impacts

6. Concept of Gui ≈ ghost in Chinese medicine: consequences and treatment protocols

7. Treatment strategies for changing Beliefs

8. Releasing suppressed traumatic memories

9. Self-test for Evaluating the Extraordinary Vessels

10. Psychology and Acupuncture Therapy (PAT)

11. Clinical examples

 

Part-IV: Body memories (retained trauma) and Psychology

 

Early-life traumas or repeated traumatic events are retained in the body and will later manifest as physical or psychological patterns.

The body is both a source and a storage site for the emotions, especially after a trauma. Overwhelming traumatic events are subconsciously retained by “Hun” and “Po”. The reactivation of these subconscious emotional and physical memories, are experienced as a variety of psychological and physical manifestations, quite often un-related to a given situation. These conditions may range from un-explained physical pains or physiological reactions, to emotional or psychological manifestations as seen in phobias, personality disorders, panic attacks or PTSD, just to mention a few.

Furthermore, these subconscious memories contribute to the formation of mental patterns and “Belief mechanisms”. 

Acupuncture strategies for releasing the “Body memories” constitute an important stage of treating the “Hidden Roots of Disease”. 

 

Learning objectives: 

1. Concept of Trauma and the defensive mechanisms: the energetic layers 

2. The defensive role of the Jing Jin ≈ Sinew channels

3. The memory systems 

4. Po ≈ Corporeal Soul, sensations and body memories

5. Concept of Gui ≈ Ghost

6. Concept of “Body Armors”: treatment strategies with the Sinew channels

7. Description (territory; causative factors; physical and psychological manifestations) and treatment strategies for the 7 segments of Body Armors

8. Psychology and Acupuncture Therapy (PAT)

9. Releasing suppressed traumatic memories

10. Treatment and exercises for changing the habitual beliefs and mind-sets

11. Clinical examples