Hypothesis

Needling an area brings the patient's attention to that area, and the slight injury keeps their attention there for a sustained period.

Being aware of different parts of one's body causes certain physiological changes; this is how acupoints bring about changes in the patient's condition.

Recently I've been quite aware of how putting my attention at renzhong results in a general relaxation and deeper breathing.

A poor representative

The "bronze man" statues are often seen as representatives of a high point in the development of acu-moxa.

What do they really show?

To offer a heartfelt sentiment, if acu-moxa was an onion, the bronze statues are no more than the thinnest outermost skin covering tender and juicy flesh.

I really need to be able to explain that better...

气滞 and 气胸

So I am busy preparing for my doctors license exam, and came across this question and answer: 气滞可见。。。闷胀疼痛。

At when reading through the answer I first thought how inappropriate the diagnosis of qi stoppage was in the case of pneumothorax (as I have a very distinct memory of the chest oppression and pain involved). I usually understand qi stoppage as the functional disturbances and pain resulting from blockage of qi in the regular channels. Then suddenly my understanding
turned over . . . what if the qi here meant air? And the blockage meant the air getting stuck in the chest membrane? Then it explains the mechanism and symptoms of pneumothorax perfectly!

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Who's your daddy?

I've often explained the difference between American and Chinese governments this way: Chinese adults expect the government to act in a parental role, while American adults consider the government to be their equal.

This morning's epiphany: In the past, American adults considered the government to be their equal, and God to be their father...

downbeat

A professor of one of my intro classes once asked me if I could tell what was happening with the downbeat in a certain passage of a Brahms symphony. I could recognize it, and could replicate it, and could express how it made me feel, but couldn't explain in words what he was doing.

I can now. Is it worth going to college for that?!?

Pneumothorax - Day 1 (from memory)

I was needling myself in the evening at my reading table - as I often do. I was searching for trigger points in my neck and shoulders, and had found an area sensitive to finger pressure at the base of my neck, within the ring of the left collarbone. The sensation was obviously not that of a 'trigger point', which causes a dull 'good' ache. This was a more urgent aching pain that went straight down deep into my shoulder joint. I am pretty sure that I was pressing directly on the brachial plexus, so there was no good reason to needle it (not that I always get good results from needling what I've identified as mtrps...). I did anyway.

I selected a 0.5 cun (25mm) needle and inserted it. I cannot remember my initial reaction, but when I entered the needle further I had a distinct sensation of the needle meeting resistance, then 'falling into space' after penetrating the resistance.

I did not feel any discomfort, but didn't get any satisfying deep aching either, so I removed the needle a few moments later without moving it much.

About ten or fifteen minutes later, during a heated discussion with my wife, I felt dizzy, and noticed that the left side of my chest and upper back were extremely uncomfortable. My hands and arms were also icy cold (though considering the room was about 15C, this might not be related). It immediately occurred to me I might have pneumothorax, so I went back to my desk and pulled several acupuncture texts down from the shelves. After determining that I did not have the breathing and heart abnormalities associated with severe pneumothorax, I went to the couch and sat there quietly to stay warm.

My symptoms did not get worse, although the tightness in my chest did not go away. I spent the night propped up in a 'lawn-chair' position (and slept very well). When I awoke I didn't feel worse, so I went to work as usual.

In retrospect, I wish I had swallowed my pride and gotten some x-rays of my chest.

I still (day 14?) have occasional discomfort in my left chest, but I don't know if it is related. The discomfort is not affected by my level of activity.