Worsley's Five Element Acupuncture

[Guest guest]

Aloha,

 

Adrienne, thanks for joining this group and sharing the situation in which

you practice in Texas. I really liked what your teacher said about treating

Western doctors and their families; to understand and know what Acupuncture

is and does firsthand. This is truly world work...to educate others to

begin to understand the aspects of chi on all levels; how working with the

energetic aspects of ourselves is both an ancient and newly reawakened

practice.

 

In response to the Five Element Acupuncture dialogue...Five Elements is an

English translation of Wu Xing (Wu Hsing)...meaning 5 movements, which is a

description of the 5 seasons and manifestations of chi present in nature

(the macrocosm) and the Body/Mind/Spirit of man (the microcosm). It is a

unique and wonderful way of looking and defining the chi and has it's place

alongside TCM.

 

Having graduated from a Worsley Five Element school, the treatment protocols

are UNIQUE in Dr. Worsley's system. He did not " discover " this system, but

he adopted aspects of different schools of Acupuncture. Influenced, I

believe, by his former training as an Osteopath, he compiled a system based

on natural law. I see Acupuncture being defined more and more to fit

Western symptoms. I have been in seminars with Dr Worsley, when

practitioners ask him how you treat someone with certain presenting

problems. Much to their dismay, his response will often be, " That person is

not in front of me now. " This was frustrating for some, but it taught me

the difference between working with the patient as opposed to working with a

theory in a book I'm applying to a set of manifested symptoms.

 

FIVE ELEMENT ACUPUNCTURE DOES WORK. I have seen these simple treatments

heal and transform lives. The art of Acupuncture is working with the energy

of the person, and the energy of the practitioner also plays a vital role.

Your clarity, beliefs, attitude, and intention are part of the " sacred

space. " One of the greatest contributions that Worsley's Five Element

Acupuncture has made is the aspect of establishing rapport with the patient

to work with the dynamic movement of the chi as it shows up in the

therapeutic situation. In my training, much emphasis and many long hours

were spent working with energy as it manifests within the patient and within

the practitioner in the healing environment.

 

A great book is " In The Footsteps of the Yellow Emperor: Tracing the History

of Traditional Acupuncture " by Peter Eckman. He traces traditional

acupuncture, including Dr. Worsley and many of his teachers. It is a great

historical book about Acupuncture in general. In it, he calls Five Element

Acupuncture " Lemington Spa Acupuncture. " Lemington Spa, England is where

Dr. Worsley established his school and clinic.

 

Really, there are so many systems that have grown out of people's

experience. They are all valid in their own way if practiced with love and

good intention and the axiom, " Physician do no harm. " It seems to me the

universal task we have is helping those who have never experienced the

wonders of Acupuncture--or complimentary medicine--helping them to take that

next step, instead of being at odds amongst ourselves.

 

Janine

[Guest guest]

Janine said:

>

>In response to the Five Element Acupuncture dialogue...Five Elements is an

>English translation of Wu Xing (Wu Hsing)...meaning 5 movements, which is a

>description of the 5 seasons and manifestations of chi present in nature

>(the macrocosm) and the Body/Mind/Spirit of man (the microcosm). It is a

>unique and wonderful way of looking and defining the chi and has it's place

>alongside TCM.

 

This is the wording that I object to " (Five Element) has it's place

alongside TCM " . This implies that the framework of the Five Elements is

not a part of TCM. Not only is Five Elements part of TCM it is part of

traditional Chinese naturalist philosophy. This is what we are taught in

acupuncture school. I began learning the Five Elements in my first week

of acupuncture school, and have not stopped using/studying them now five

years into private practice. But I'm not a " Five-Element " acupuncturist.

>

>Having graduated from a Worsley Five Element school, the treatment protocols

>are UNIQUE in Dr. Worsley's system.

yes. this is true. the treatment protocols are unique.

 

He did not " discover " this system, but

>he adopted aspects of different schools of Acupuncture. Influenced, I

>believe, by his former training as an Osteopath, he compiled a system based

>on natural law. I see Acupuncture being defined more and more to fit

>Western symptoms. I have been in seminars with Dr Worsley, when

>practitioners ask him how you treat someone with certain presenting

>problems. Much to their dismay, his response will often be, " That person is

>not in front of me now. " This was frustrating for some, but it taught me

>the difference between working with the patient as opposed to working with a

>theory in a book I'm applying to a set of manifested symptoms.

 

The first thing we are taught in acupuncture school, and what still is

the basis of most acupuncturists practices who I know, is to see the

person, not the disease. This is not unique to Worsleyan acupuncture.

>

>FIVE ELEMENT ACUPUNCTURE DOES WORK. I have seen these simple treatments

>heal and transform lives. The art of Acupuncture is working with the energy

>of the person, and the energy of the practitioner also plays a vital role.

>Your clarity, beliefs, attitude, and intention are part of the " sacred

>space. "

This is all true, but not unique to Worsleyan Acupuncture.

 

 

>

>Really, there are so many systems that have grown out of people's

>experience. They are all valid in their own way if practiced with love and

>good intention and the axiom, " Physician do no harm. " It seems to me the

>universal task we have is helping those who have never experienced the

>wonders of Acupuncture--or complimentary medicine--helping them to take that

>next step, instead of being at odds amongst ourselves.

>

Agreed.