Patient: Male in mid-forties.
History: Emotional and physical trauma.
Symptom: Acid Reflux
This patient and I have been working together for a couple of years. The focus of
treatment has spanned the gambit; neck and shoulder pain as well as a constant
reorganizing and balancing of his psycho-emotional health. He concurrently works with a very good therapist. We often support aspects of his therapeutic work. It took this client and I sometime to build a relationship of trust, as this has happened, the work has become richer and more exact. Here is one specific example of how amazing internal changes can come from acupuncture treatment and an individual’s therapeutic process.
Acid reflux was a symptom that this client had for a long time, It was not constant. The acid reflux did not seem to be related to what he ate and it did not get worse when he would lay down. At a certain point in time the acid reflux really became persistent and more prevalent. He went to his Primary care doctor, who put him on a low dose of medication. The medication relieved some of the discomfort but he was still suffering. When he described the symptom to me, he hands kept going to an area near his sternum, where “he felt the discomfort”.
We started the treatment. I took pulses, placed a few grounding needles in his feet and ankles. Then I brought my attention to a point right under the sternum on the midline of his abdomen, where he experienced the sensation. I took a moment to speak about the point; the name is Dove Tail or Spirit Transmitter, this is an integration point. I gave him the visual of an actual dove’s tail and linked my fingers to show him how this point brings the layers of physical and emotional work together. I reminded him briefly about the role of the Pericardium in Chinese medicine and how it guards and protects the
heart or the Emperor of the body. As a abuse survivor, the Pericardium plays a very important role in recovery. This acupuncture point has a strong relationship to the Pericardium. I palpated for the point, took a breath and needled slowly. I intended to have a small movement of qi, instead there was a large unexpected powerful force. The clients eyes opened wide in surprise, I asked him to take a deep breath and settle his energy. He rested on the table for sometime, I came back took his pulses again, removed the needles and had him slowly get up. We talked extensively about taking care of himself after the treatment and drinking some water, eating well and resting.
The symptom of acid reflux rarely bothers him any longer. He was able to get off the medication shortly after that treatment. One of the additional reasons the acupuncture worked so well for this patient was because he was actively working on his issues in therapy.
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