More BaGuaFa pics - on Depression

[Guest guest]

Attilio

 

Yesterday I uploaded another sequence of photos regarding a recent male

patient suffering from what allopathic medicine calls DEPRESSION. This patient

reported suffering for at least the last several years and has been taking their

meds with zero help.

 

By the way....I am not saying they don;t exist....but the majority of people

diagnosed with supposed clinical depression and axiety....just ain't so. These

are imbalances that can very easily and quickly be moved in the direction of

resolution with BaGuaFa AND appropriate herbal formulations.

 

The first pic shows how quickly the streak of sha was showing on left upper

trap. With just ONE 5 second application of a cup....the area immediately

released purple (old blood stagnation).

 

This patient was also claiming tingling in hands, unclear head, headaches,

light headed at times etc. The usual.

 

He was referred at a home get together by another friend in a desperate

attempt for HELP. I always have my BaGuaFa treatment tools nearby.

 

Upon entering his energy could barely get words out of his mouth; had a

blanket wrapped around his shoulders and sort of shuffled his feet moving very

slowly like being sopping wet.

 

Just this one treatment and instantly his tingling was gone, his mind became

quite active and animated and even argumentative in a debate-way. My friend

who referred him asked me WHY I fixed him. lol.

 

He obviously felt a little uneasy the next day after all the movement of

toxins yet still overall felt 100% like a new person. By the second day he was

his

old self.

 

He obviously needs to make some important lifestyle changes and will need

more treatment but.....you can easily see the results.

 

In the 4th and 5th pictures we can see that there was toxic pus roaming

around in the SanJiao. Not a very healthy condition.

 

Richard

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Rich

 

As part of the process of ongoing biofeedback/diagnostics using both the

QiSha and BaGuan.....the responses pointed inpart in the direction of moving

towards and down the back. At the same time there were other signs of

stiffness/inflexibility. Lastly.....I often treat the whole back - in part to

SEE the

diagnostic feedback and THEN if needed I work deeper.

 

The body rarely lies.....it WILL show us WHERE the stagnation is located if

we will only stop and tae the time to look.

 

Patient showed a tremendous improvement during and after treatment especially

flexibility in the spine. I often stop as I go and have the patient move

around or flex related body areas/limbs. During this treatment I asked him

several

times as I initially worked in his upper back/neck/shoulders how the tingling

was changing as I treated. At times which is obvious and reasonable....it

worsened as I cupped over the affected nerves/vessels but as soon as I released

the cups the tingling improved before to a position better than when I had

started and at the same time....out popped what I call 'sludge'. I learn from

patients and one called it 'rust' which is quite interesting because it some

sense

it IS 'rust'. Consider blood cells and the heme molecule - therefore

IRON.....winding up in a domain (interstitial fluid and/or fascia) where iron

does not

belong!! Just like when iron is subjected to a wet environment. Blood/iron

belongs mostly inside the vascular system....not running free in the

interstitial fluids.

 

The patient has both immediate term improvement and continued long term

improvement over the next day which lasted. Usually they feel somewhat toxic

after

all of this 'sludge' has been released and topically sore in some areas BUT

after 24 hours (usually) they are even as they say......'more better'. lol

 

Yes, the behavior AND the physical complaints --- drastically

changed/improved - right there in the moment as the treatment was progressing.

He went from

water-on the brain (so to speak) - depressed or as I term it (fluid compressed)

to active, talkative, clear minded - able to think and carry on a

sophisticated discussion/debate on Sanskrt teachings. Moving from the monster

back to

normal like from Jekyl to Hyde or is it Hyde to Jekyl.

 

There are many WM and/or TCM diagnosed conditions which can be alleviated by

this kind of Yin treatment. And as always....this is NOT an end-all but

certainly a huge move in the direction of balancing the free flow of Wei, Qi,

Xue

and Jin-Ye.

 

Richard

 

 

In a message dated 10/12/2004 10:00:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

rfinkelstein writes:

I nocticed the dark black/brown spots on the back which are usually

signs of blockages/stagnation.

 

A couple of questions:

 

1) Did you choose to cup along the spine becaue you felt the vertebrae

was stiff/inflexible or do you normally cup the veterbrae for these

type of situations?

 

2) Did the patient show any greater elasticity/flexibilty in the spine

following the treatments?

 

Also, did the patient report any other kind of " release " following the

treatments - near term or longer term. Any changes in overt behaviour?

 

Thanks very much for sharing these photos. They look very similar to

the treatments that I have seen for a schizophrenic person I know who

is undergoing treatment and has had very positive results. His whole

back was as hard and as stiff as a rock.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard,

 

I nocticed the dark black/brown spots on the back which are usually

signs of blockages/stagnation.

 

A couple of questions:

 

1) Did you choose to cup along the spine becaue you felt the vertebrae

was stiff/inflexible or do you normally cup the veterbrae for these

type of situations?

 

2) Did the patient show any greater elasticity/flexibilty in the spine

following the treatments?

 

Also, did the patient report any other kind of " release " following the

treatments - near term or longer term. Any changes in overt behaviour?

 

Thanks very much for sharing these photos. They look very similar to

the treatments that I have seen for a schizophrenic person I know who

is undergoing treatment and has had very positive results. His whole

back was as hard and as stiff as a rock.

 

Regards,

Rich

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard,

>

> Patient showed a tremendous improvement during and after treatment

especially

> flexibility in the spine.

 

Fascinating. It is interesting to note that one of the primary

benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as many kinds of traditional

dancing (e.g. African, Asian, etc.) is to loosen up the back and

spine, which encourages Qi flow. Maybe as pracitioners, we should all

be giving traditional African or Indian dance lessons as part of our

practice - or making the referral. :-)

 

Regards,

Rich

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard,

 

Can you tell me what types of cups do you use? Also, from the looks of

the pictures, it looks like all of the cupping was done in one

session. Is this correct? How much time would one such sesson be?

Thanks again for all of the info. If you are giving any seminars

anywhere, please let me know. I am going to try to build some interest

in such a seminar in the Chicago area. If there are any Chicago area

practitioners who are on this list, who are interested in this kind of

seminar, please get in touch with me.

 

Regards,

Rich

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard,

 

Maybe you already explained that but I didn't see it anywhere; so if you

have I'm really sorry to ask again.

 

Is there a strategic way of where you start on the back and where you go?

And is there a differential diagnosis according to the pattern of disease or

do you do the whole back and see what happens?

 

And if you see a region comes out more purple than another, how do you take

that into account? Do you look what back Shu point it might correspond to

and their related zang fu organs?

 

Do you think this could be used in drug addicts? Or do you think the " detox "

might be too much?

 

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Regards

 

May

 

 

 

On 12/10/04 1:55 pm, " acudoc11 " <acudoc11 wrote:

 

>

> Attilio

>

> Yesterday I uploaded another sequence of photos regarding a recent male

> patient suffering from what allopathic medicine calls DEPRESSION. This patient

> reported suffering for at least the last several years and has been taking

> their

> meds with zero help.

>

> By the way....I am not saying they don;t exist....but the majority of people

> diagnosed with supposed clinical depression and axiety....just ain't so. These

> are imbalances that can very easily and quickly be moved in the direction of

> resolution with BaGuaFa AND appropriate herbal formulations.

>

> The first pic shows how quickly the streak of sha was showing on left upper

> trap. With just ONE 5 second application of a cup....the area immediately

> released purple (old blood stagnation).

>

> This patient was also claiming tingling in hands, unclear head, headaches,

> light headed at times etc. The usual.

>

> He was referred at a home get together by another friend in a desperate

> attempt for HELP. I always have my BaGuaFa treatment tools nearby.

>

> Upon entering his energy could barely get words out of his mouth; had a

> blanket wrapped around his shoulders and sort of shuffled his feet moving very

> slowly like being sopping wet.

>

> Just this one treatment and instantly his tingling was gone, his mind became

> quite active and animated and even argumentative in a debate-way. My friend

> who referred him asked me WHY I fixed him. lol.

>

> He obviously felt a little uneasy the next day after all the movement of

> toxins yet still overall felt 100% like a new person. By the second day he was

> his

> old self.

>

> He obviously needs to make some important lifestyle changes and will need

> more treatment but.....you can easily see the results.

>

> In the 4th and 5th pictures we can see that there was toxic pus roaming

> around in the SanJiao. Not a very healthy condition.

>

> Richard

[Guest guest]

Hi May

 

In a fashion I did.....but let me expand.

 

The differential diagnosis starts and comes from your overall diagnosis along

with the patients complaint, tongue, pulse etc. and then added to what you

begin to find as you use start by using a light touch QiSha (light GuaSha).

 

As to what degree of 'Xue Sha' shows and where......while I am working I do

not necessarily THINK about these things. The process is to stay focused in a

biofeedback way rather than cognating and trying to control or direct. Over

control creates tensions neither you nor your patient needs.

 

After the treatment there is much consideration what Shu points or areas and

why. Of course there are times when the relief sought after (in real time) is

not happening and just like in the patient with the TMJ (almost like lock jaw)

I needed to shift into other thinking such as tendon control point (GB34).

 

At times when I am moving through Back Shu points/areas I perceive both the

response and the implication. Sometimes I WILL specifically go to the shu

points related to zang-fu but not neccessarily. This part of practice is more

the

art-side or should I say subtle side. There are times that it is better to

search out without any thought in mind as to what you might find and therefore

allow the person's body show us by response in part to light QiSha and in part

to

BaGuan (Cupping). The extra cellular matrix (as I consider it the SanJiao)

SEE how the Qi, Xue and Jin-Ye travel. See if they are blocked. If so....move

them.

 

The great thing about BaGuaFa is that YOU can adopt and modify as you treat.

 

As Dr. Holmes said a few days ago....(paraphrased) that it is interesting

that we discuss such a simple technique. Yes, its very simple but as the meaning

goes....if we don't stop to smell the roses we can't grasp their essence.

 

Absolutely a resounding YES......for use in any type of detox such as stop

smoking and drug detox. The BaGuaFa removes a tremendous amount of

nerve/vascular tension thereby relaxing and detoxing the patient. The caution

side is for

the patient to drink lots of fluids to help move out the released toxins. And

if you wish to supplement with herbs.....that is quite appropriate such as

formulas for constipation or formulas to nutrition the lungs etc.

 

As to TOO MUCH.....that is in our hands as practitioners which requires the

same skills regardless what modality we are using. So YES......be careful of

doing TOO MUCH. But that does not negate the VALUE to the treatment. So don;t

overy-worry about TOO MUCH but do pay proper CONCERN about it.

 

As to colors/stagnation which are being released.....Dr. H gave an excellent

list of what to consider.

 

Sensitivity is of the utmost importance. Pay ATTENTION to what you are doing

and be conservative. Pictures I have amassed range from the strong treatments

to the most gentle as with all TCM......differential diagnosis taking into

account as many issues as possible including age, health condition etc. If one

is

too weak or too sick or in danger of aggressive treatment then of course we

need to be even more gentle and conservative than usual.

 

As another saying goes....you got to know when to zig and when to zag which

is something that is difficult to teach via books or this kind of

communication. That would be a prime reason to watch it being done.

 

This weekend I held my first formal training in this for just a few hours. I

performed all of the treatments and I can tell you that working on 10

practitioners in about 2 hours is not something I want or recommend anyone to

do. It

is NOT easy to use the cups the way I suggest. Quite stressful on your dominant

hand to keep pumping. Also creates blisters on your hands and ultimately

calouses. After all these years mine are so caloused that that part doesn't

affect

me anymore. I thought of electronic pumps but I don;t believe they can get

the sensitivity needed to stop pumping when you want within a reasonable price

range.

 

Richard

 

 

Hi Richard,

 

Maybe you already explained that but I didn't see it anywhere; so if you

have I'm really sorry to ask again.

 

Is there a strategic way of where you start on the back and where you go?

And is there a differential diagnosis according to the pattern of disease or

do you do the whole back and see what happens?

 

And if you see a region comes out more purple than another, how do you take

that into account? Do you look what back Shu point it might correspond to

and their related zang fu organs?

 

Do you think this could be used in drug addicts? Or do you think the " detox "

might be too much?

 

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Regards

 

May

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Rich

 

I have used them all....and prefer the simple pump cups with the rubber hose.

The cups made of polycarbonate or glass allow them to be cleaned more

appropriately.

 

Yes....the majority of treatments except certain cases such as in the

sciatica....are in fcat done ALL in one treatment. Sometimes a follow up is

needed

within a few days and other times the only reasons for repeat is 1) I missed

releasing all areas of stagnation or 2) something the patient is doing or not

doing is re-creating the stagnation.

 

Personally I spend one hour in these treatments. In some followups it might

only take 15 minutes or less. At the same time...if I wanted to I can release

the key areas in minutes effecting a very quick response but that isn;t the

complete treatment if there are other areas of nerve/vascular compression as is

often the case. To properly and completely resolve carpal tunnel syndrome as

more appropriately called Multiple Crush Syndrome one has to search for the

sludge compressions ranging from areas such as cervical, to shoulder/upper back,

upper arm, forearm and sometimes also at the wrist. That takes time to do

properly.

 

I haven't planned anything national or international but as previously stated

I would travel if there is interest.

 

Contact me off list for further discussion of that aspect.

 

Richard

 

 

In a message dated 10/12/2004 2:37:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

rfinkelstein writes:

 

 

 

Hi Richard,

 

Can you tell me what types of cups do you use? Also, from the looks of

the pictures, it looks like all of the cupping was done in one

session. Is this correct? How much time would one such sesson be?

Thanks again for all of the info. If you are giving any seminars

anywhere, please let me know. I am going to try to build some interest

in such a seminar in the Chicago area. If there are any Chicago area

practitioners who are on this list, who are interested in this kind of

seminar, please get in touch with me.

 

Regards,

Rich

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Richard,

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I guess what I have to

do now is try!

 

We didn't spend much time in my education on cupping (just very basic

techniques and uses) and none on gua sha; so it will be interesting to

develop that skill for more than back pain.

 

Also I was wondering... I have a patient with Alzheimer disease; very

difficult to the normal questioning on symptoms and changes, because she

often can't remember much and precision is difficult.

 

Acupuncture is helping and Herbs as well, and she searches less words than

she used to, her energy and various aches and pains are gone.

She is 82 so I'm not sure if that would be appropriate but do you have

experience using this kind of technique for dementia?

 

I'm just trying to figure out the scope of use of Ba Gua Fa.

 

Any ideas of books or web site that could be could to get (you are not

coming to the UK?)?

The most detailed booklet I have for cupping is the one that was in my

cupping set box I bought in China. Unfortunately.

 

Thank you again for providing such detailed and useful information.

 

Regards

 

May

 

 

 

On 13/10/04 4:16 pm, " acudoc11 " <acudoc11 wrote:

 

>

> Hi May

>

> In a fashion I did.....but let me expand.

>

> The differential diagnosis starts and comes from your overall diagnosis along

> with the patients complaint, tongue, pulse etc. and then added to what you

> begin to find as you use start by using a light touch QiSha (light GuaSha).

>

> As to what degree of 'Xue Sha' shows and where......while I am working I do

> not necessarily THINK about these things. The process is to stay focused in a

> biofeedback way rather than cognating and trying to control or direct. Over

> control creates tensions neither you nor your patient needs.

>

> After the treatment there is much consideration what Shu points or areas and

> why. Of course there are times when the relief sought after (in real time) is

> not happening and just like in the patient with the TMJ (almost like lock jaw)

> I needed to shift into other thinking such as tendon control point (GB34).

>

> At times when I am moving through Back Shu points/areas I perceive both the

> response and the implication. Sometimes I WILL specifically go to the shu

> points related to zang-fu but not neccessarily. This part of practice is more

> the

> art-side or should I say subtle side. There are times that it is better to

> search out without any thought in mind as to what you might find and therefore

> allow the person's body show us by response in part to light QiSha and in part

> to

> BaGuan (Cupping). The extra cellular matrix (as I consider it the SanJiao)

> SEE how the Qi, Xue and Jin-Ye travel. See if they are blocked. If so....move

> them.

>

> The great thing about BaGuaFa is that YOU can adopt and modify as you treat.

>

> As Dr. Holmes said a few days ago....(paraphrased) that it is interesting

> that we discuss such a simple technique. Yes, its very simple but as the

> meaning

> goes....if we don't stop to smell the roses we can't grasp their essence.

>

> Absolutely a resounding YES......for use in any type of detox such as stop

> smoking and drug detox. The BaGuaFa removes a tremendous amount of

> nerve/vascular tension thereby relaxing and detoxing the patient. The caution

> side is for

> the patient to drink lots of fluids to help move out the released toxins. And

> if you wish to supplement with herbs.....that is quite appropriate such as

> formulas for constipation or formulas to nutrition the lungs etc.

>

> As to TOO MUCH.....that is in our hands as practitioners which requires the

> same skills regardless what modality we are using. So YES......be careful of

> doing TOO MUCH. But that does not negate the VALUE to the treatment. So don;t

> overy-worry about TOO MUCH but do pay proper CONCERN about it.

>

> As to colors/stagnation which are being released.....Dr. H gave an excellent

> list of what to consider.

>

> Sensitivity is of the utmost importance. Pay ATTENTION to what you are doing

> and be conservative. Pictures I have amassed range from the strong treatments

> to the most gentle as with all TCM......differential diagnosis taking into

> account as many issues as possible including age, health condition etc. If one

> is

> too weak or too sick or in danger of aggressive treatment then of course we

> need to be even more gentle and conservative than usual.

>

> As another saying goes....you got to know when to zig and when to zag which

> is something that is difficult to teach via books or this kind of

> communication. That would be a prime reason to watch it being done.

>

> This weekend I held my first formal training in this for just a few hours. I

> performed all of the treatments and I can tell you that working on 10

> practitioners in about 2 hours is not something I want or recommend anyone to

> do. It

> is NOT easy to use the cups the way I suggest. Quite stressful on your

> dominant

> hand to keep pumping. Also creates blisters on your hands and ultimately

> calouses. After all these years mine are so caloused that that part doesn't

> affect

> me anymore. I thought of electronic pumps but I don;t believe they can get

> the sensitivity needed to stop pumping when you want within a reasonable price

> range.

>

> Richard

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/2004 2:57:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

maylucken writes:

May says: We didn't spend much time in my education on cupping (just very

basic

techniques and uses) and none on gua sha; so it will be interesting to

develop that skill for more than back pain.

Richard says: Neither did the majority of students around the world.

May says: Also I was wondering... I have a patient with Alzheimer disease;

very

difficult to the normal questioning on symptoms and changes, because she

often can't remember much and precision is difficult.

Acupuncture is helping and Herbs as well, and she searches less words than

she used to, her energy and various aches and pains are gone.

She is 82 so I'm not sure if that would be appropriate but do you have

experience using this kind of technique for dementia?

Richard says: I have addressed senile dementia, Alzheimers, stroke patients,

tinnitus, etc with BaGuaFa. IF the flow of Qi, Xue, Jin-Ye is obstructed

especially in the upper back, shoulders, and neck are obstructed then the

patient

will definitely receive some level of additional improvement.

 

As example in one stroke patient I specifically remember....his speech and

swallowing was impeded. The MDs additional dx from the stroke was global

aphasia. At intake I already knew the patients vocal cords worked quite well

just

hearing him hack-cough from excessive mucus. His mind unclear, eyes running,

nose

running, mouth running, thick mucus in lungs. He was what I call big-time

'fluid compressed'. MDs additional diagnosis was that he was depressed. While

using liquid herbal formula(s) to resolve the mucus I started light QiSha on the

neck and shoulder of the effected side. The musculature was excessively tight

beyond simple myofascial blockage. The muscles were blocked and malnourished.

I began to work slowly and gently with QiSha at first. By the 4th week his

Zong Qi was no longer blocked by the phlegm and it was strong enough for him to

begin to sound words. Actually as soon as he realized who and what I

was/represented (an obnoxious Orthopedic surgeon) he wanted me to get the hell

away from

him. lol What I did not know was whether or not there was brain damage from

the stroke so I couldn't predetermine if he was going to be able to speak

clearly. Yet he began to speak single words VERY clearly. I told him he was an

SOB and he wanted me to leave - he was to SAY the word NO and he did so I left

that day. By the 11th week he was chattering a mile a minute eating and

swallowing soft foods by himself.

 

Although this is certainly not Alzheimers there are similarities. If there is

no damage to the brain or other internal structures you WILL see added

improvement if the Qi, Xue and Jin-Ye are blocked. I am experientially convinced

that in the majority of situations there wil be some improvement.

 

May asks: I'm just trying to figure out the scope of use of Ba Gua Fa.

 

Richard says: The scope of BaGuaFa is potentially unlimited. When one is

seeking to resolve a local disturbance in the tissue(s) that is very specific

and

the results are immediate and at the same time......the systems of Wei, Qi,

Xue & Jin-Ye travelling through SanJiao is global within the body. Reminds me of

a Cardiologist I know who once said to me that if the problem is below the

heart he doesn't want to know or hear about it. Thats way to compartmentalized.

We should stay open minded and not pigeon-hole or limit the benefits of any

modality.

 

May asks: Any ideas of books or web site that could be could to get (you are

not

coming to the UK?)? The most detailed booklet I have for cupping is the one

that was in my

cupping set box I bought in China. Unfortunately.

 

Richard says: There are way too few books on cupping or Gua Sha and certainly

none on the combined method I developed.

 

Ask me about coming to UK offline.

 

Regards,

Richard