Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Author will begin the presentation with a brief discussion of the encroachment of the dry needle technique into acupuncture and the implications of minimally trained needle therapist effectively practicing acupuncture. The distinguishing feature is that acupuncturists are experts in knowledge as they study, practice and understand a comprehensive health system according to the theories and practices within the curriculum of acupuncture and oriental medicine. Experts in knowledge also include the musculo skeletal realm that is being performed by the dry needler. As experts in knowledge/organ centered consciousness the core of this presentation will revolve around the interpretation of dreams which is structured upon Saam acupuncture/meditation’s three levels of human needs. We will look at how acupuncture and oriental medicine affords the most complete structure to date on the study of consciousness and unconsciousness reflected in dreams. Finding similarities between east and west, we build upon the ground work that was laid by founding fathers of psychology Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung as well as the later theory of John Sarno. The first hint of acupuncture and oriental medicine’s organ centered consciousness is understood through the emotion specific attributes of the five elements and the internal organs. Joy is the emotion pertaining to the heart, worry to the spleen, sadness to the lungs, fear to the kidneys and anger to the liver. Saam acupuncture; meditation and the interpretation of dreams build upon these organ centric themes. A likely departure from mind/brain centered consciousness that may be implicit in current understandings of consciousness.