Five-Phases Acupuncture

 Chrono-Therapeutics

0. Introduction

Chrono-Therapeutics is probably one of the most subtle and complex aspect of Therapeutics involving Energy.

It involves a thorough knowledge of cycles, both in human physiology and of astronomic mechanics.

The easiest and widest use of these cycles is known as the Chinese Clock.

1. Brief Overview

The Cycles of live play a fundamental function in Illnesses and Health.  Major studies have been undertaken in the West regarding the understanding of these cycles and the relation between them and the apparition of Disease.

Branches of science such as Chronobiology and Psycho-Immuno-Therapy have emerged.  The relationship between body cycles (i.e. Circadian cycles) and the major hormonal are under studies.  Recently the DSM-III has introduced some time-related psychopathologies such as the Seasonal Affective Disorders.  Dr. Mussat[1], in one of his work relates the use of modern understanding of cycles and pathology.  Dr. Manaka[2] has developed an elaborated system of acupuncture therapy based on the opening and closing of specific points according to the cosmological cycles.  Other recent works[3] present the classic Chinese systems involving the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. 

The earliest work on this topic appeared in the 12^th century[4] and was later incorporated into the Zhen Jiu Da Quan.

The techniques available today are gathered under the following tittles:

Zi Wu Liu Zhu: Method of adopting Branches (Zi) and Stems (Wu).
Ling Gui Ba Fa: Eight Techniques of the Mysterious Turtle.
Husband-Wife Selection of points.
Manaka’s Daily (Circadian) Treatments
Manaka’s Ten-Day Biorhythmic Phasal Treatments.
Manaka’s Sixty-Day Cycle Treatments.

The techniques involving temporal cycles probably are part of a field that will grow a tremendous importance within the next few decades.  The contemporary works about this topic joining Western and Chinese understanding are few.  Scientific researches are showing the tremendous importance of cycles in homeostasis. 

This therapeutic domain remains almost virgin to an integration of techniques.

2. The Cycles

The various cycles used in Biorhythmic Therapy are as follow:

The System of Stems and Branches is composed of Ten Stems (Ten-day cycle) and Twelve Branches (Twelve-day cycle).

There is concordance between the two cycles every sixty-day, making a third cycle. 

Within this sixty-day cycle, each day is given a Stem and a Branch, in combination.

Each day is subdivided into twelve bihourly periods. 

Each period is attributed to one stem and one branch.  Each day covers one complete branch cycle.

There is again concordance between stems and branches after sixty-bihourly periods, or five days.

A ten-day cycle of the Stems is thus composed of two [five-day cycle-bihourly period cycles].

Finally, the sixty-day cycle includes twelve of the [five-day cycle-bihourly period cycles].

The term “Chinese clock“ used by some acupuncture lineages is insufficient in itself to understand the underlying mechanism of the Phases or Movements, as used in “Five Phases Acupuncture“  The “Chinese clock“ actually only refers to the daily distribution of the twelve Branches, leaving out the ten Stems.  An incomplete understanding of the integration of movements of the Branches and Stems can only lead to an incomplete understanding of its therapeutic value.

In order to remain simple, only the circadian cycle will be briefly introduced, and this only within the Branches system.  No demonstrations will be provided.

3. The Circadian Cycle.  “Chinese Clock“ within Terrestrial Branches Correspondences

There are twelve branches and twelve vessels.  Each branch (bihourly period) corresponds to a vessel

The correlation between Branches, bihourly periods and meridians allows specific therapeutics.

The following graph illustrates the relation periods-meridians and meridians-meridians:

The energy in each meridian is in culmination during the meridian time.  It then decreases to reach its minimal level at the opposite time, twelve hours latter.  For example, the Arm Shao Yin (Heart) energy is at maximal level between 11 am and 1 pm.  It is at minimal level between 11 pm and 1 am, the Leg Shao Yang (Gallbladder) time.

.  Therapeutic Use

a. Dispersion and Tonification

It rests upon the notion of Dispersion and Tonification points (see later).

Again, if Heart is excess, its Dispersion point (Ht-7) can be reduced during the peak Heart energetic time (11-1 pm).

If Heart is deficient, the Tonification point (Ht-9) can be supplemented at the start of the energetic decline - during the period following the Heart period - (i.e. 1 pm).  This slows the natural energetic decline.

b. Generalized action

According to Manaka, treating the tonification or dispersion point of the appropriate time will have a general effect.  In this case, the needle action is insertion without manipulation.

For example, in case of deficiency of the pulse when a patient comes during Spleen time (9-11 am), the needling of Sp-2 is indicated.

c.  Extension

The Branches System links meridians through couples of opposite bihourly periods.  Thus, Liver (1-3 am) is coupled with Small Intestine (1-3pm).  This implies the possible aggravation of Liver symptoms at both Liver and Small Intestine times.

Thus the necessity of rigorous diagnosis.  This further implies the possibility of treating Liver at Small Intestine time.

For a Liver condition, the Wood point on Small Intestine (SI-3) can be used between 1-3pm.

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The Law of Cure

1. Introduction

This law is used in the Five Elements style of the Worsley lineage.  It is not part of the canonical texts of Chinese medicine.  It has been formulated by C. Herring from his observations made in 1880.  C. Herring later founded Homeopathy in the U.S.A.

2. Definition

2. Principle

When treating, if healing follows a natural order, the symptoms are expelled from in to out, from deep to superficial; in the reverse order of the appearance of the symptoms (i.e. childhood diseases will appear at the end).

For example, a child with skin problems is treated with cortisone.  The skin condition may disappear but if it is only a symptom of a deeper illness, the illness may sink deeper.  The child may then develop respiratory problems (asthma) as a consequence.  The respiratory problem may also disappear under medications but arthritis could develop in the future.

When treating patients with this kind of history, it is important to explain that as a result of the treatment they may experience severe temporary acne.

3. Practitioner dilemma

A practitioner has to be aware of the law of cure since throughout the healing process new symptoms may appear.

4. Note

Some people mention that a temporary aggravation of the symptoms may occur within 72 hours following the treatment.  As much as this may be correct for a pure Five Elements treatment, this may not reflect all possibilities of treatment reaction.  A patient coming for a tennis elbow may actually experience an aggravation of the symptoms lasting five to ten days, time during which the treatment, if correct, should remain the same.

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Reversing the Illness Cycle

Broadening of the Law of Cure

. Introduction

This chapter has for goal to render the reader aware of the subtleties of Chinese medicine.  It is neither informative nor educational.  It is meant as an opening to a bigger picture.

As mentioned above, the Law of Cure is derived from Homeopathy.  As correct as it may be, it does not take into account the underlying mechanisms of human physiology and pathology as understood in Chinese medicine. 

A thorough knowledge of these mechanisms allows the establishment of a predictional system.

This system offers the possibility to infer the various manifestations and evolution of an illness as they may appear during healing or during worsening of symptoms.

This ability to foresee the evolution of disease, treated or untreated, is a characteristic of Chinese medicine

. Requisites

Any inference system presupposes the validity of the starting hypothesis.  In the case of medicine, this starting hypothesis is the exactingness of the diagnosis.

Therefore, in order to master any predictional management of an illness, we must fully integrate the knowledge of physiological and pathological mechanisms as well as the experience required to posit a diagnosis.

. Example

A patient presents a dominant Gallbladder symptom with an annex Stomach symptom.  According to specific laws presented in the works of Dr. Mussat, we obtain an hexagram formed by 6 on top and 5 on bottom.  A specific study, reminding the hexagrammatic permutations leads to two new series of eventual situations, each series constituted by two hexagrams.  As the presenting symptoms of the patient may already advance into a new state, the patient may be somewhere within the two new situations or will evolve to these if nothing intervene.   Knowing the probable evolution of the syndromes, a further questioning may show where the patient actually is and can indicate what the elements at risk are.  In this case, the patient may actually evolve towards lower back pain, kidney distress or depressive tendencies.  If the Jue Yin begins to be more apparent along treatment, it will need to be reinforced.

Still for the same patient, an improvement of the Gallbladder-Shao Yang condition may lead to transient lower back pain of Tai Yang origin.  The illness has moved from Shao Yang to Tai Yang, from the deeper to the more superficial.

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