In the first two articles on Energy Medicine we discussed the differing views of the individual and illness in Western and Eastern thought and medicine.

The Western view is mechanistic-it breaks down the human being into parts (organs), chemicals (proteins, enzymes, hormones, etc.) and fluids (blood and lymph). Treating disease means fixing a chemical disorder (medications) or removing a part (surgery).

Eastern healing or medicine views the human individual as a whole-a unified system of Chi (subtle energy) that fits into a universe of energy. Disease means the person’s energy is out of balance-the goal is to get the person’s Chi back into balance.

By the way, one thing we will discuss in the Webinar will be how fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and other “invisible illnesses” do not fit into the Western model of disease (at least until recently). This is one of the reason many of us were told we were crazy or that what we had was “psychosomatic”, that is, mental problems producing symptoms that have no basis in the Western view. It’s “all in your head”.

Interestingly, the “new” physics or quantum physics confirms that everything in the universe is composed of energy that fluctuates, moves, and connects everything to everything else. Quantum physics (beginning with Einstein’s E=MC2) is much more in alignment with Eastern medical concepts that with Western medicine!

In acupuncture, practiced in Asia for at least 5000 years, thin needles are placed in areas along the energy meridians in order to re-balance a person’s Chi.

In acupressure these same points along the meridians are stimulated not by needles but by the practitioner’s fingers, hands, elbows, or by hand held devices.

There are even examples where acupuncture points are stimulated by the affected persons themselves. A simple example is the wrist bands that can be worn to avoid or reduce motion sickness-the band has a bead that puts pressure on an acupuncture point. Many people have heard about the spot on the hand that can be pressed to help with headaches.

However, some of what we will discuss and demonstrate in the Webinar is a more detailed system of stimulating acupuncture points along the energy meridians that can have a dramatic effect on your pain and health!