Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Hi there, Here is a little of my experience. I am definitely not an expert on this. My dad drank twice as much as my mother. My mother was an alcoholic, my father wasn't. Being an acupuncturist for quite a while now I am 'starting " to understand which people Acupuncture can help in regard to this. TCM would of helped my dad feel more strong in his spirit, calm his shen and help him feel more part of society, he would of naturally then cut down on his drinking. This would of not been the case with my mum. Even using the 5 Element style, which is aimed toward spirit level problems I may of been able to help my mother feel better but drinking would of undone the work. This is part of the difference between an addict/alcoholic and a heavy user/drinker. A.A. tries to explain that the drinking is a symptom of an underlying spirit level condition. In my experience, there is such a difference with people who have go to meetings and work the 12 step program and those who try to stop by themselves. Yes thanks David, the seminars went so well. It was such a privilege to teach the more sprit level stuff to such talented acupuncturists. I will probably run them again early next year. Gye Hi Gye, I suppose you would have an interesting perspective on this with such a background. I suppose that is why most people with experience in treating addiction to various substances always emphasise the use of psychological intervention, and why TCM practitioners often aim their tx. at the Shen and its related counterparts. Thanks, David White P.S. How did the group of seminars go? I heard some nice feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Gye Bennetts wrote: > Hi there, > > Here is a little of my experience. I am definitely not an expert on this. > > My dad drank twice as much as my mother. My mother was an alcoholic, > my father wasn't. Anne: I can totally understand this, and appreciate your reminder. > Being an acupuncturist for quite a while now I am 'starting " to > understand which people Acupuncture can help in regard to this. > > TCM would of helped my dad feel more strong in his spirit, calm his > shen and help him feel more part of society, he would of naturally > then cut down on his drinking. This would of not been the case with > my mum. Even using the 5 Element style, which is aimed toward spirit > level problems I may of been able to help my mother feel better but > drinking would of undone the work. This is part of the difference > between an addict/alcoholic and a heavy user/drinker. > > A.A. tries to explain that the drinking is a symptom of an underlying > spirit level condition. In my experience, there is such a difference > with people who have go to meetings and work the 12 step program and > those who try to stop by themselves. Anne: Yes, I believe this is true, listening to my patients who have spouses that quit on their own and also from some personal family experience. I really feel the root needs to be addressed or the underlying issue lives on. > > Yes thanks David, the seminars went so well. It was such a privilege > to teach the more sprit level stuff to such talented acupuncturists. > I will probably run them again early next year. > > Gye Anne: Great post, Gye. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Hi Attilio, Gye, & All, Well done to both of you for kicking the habit. In my experience of dealing with addicts (most of them friends or colleagues), I concluded that Disturbed Shen / poor self image was present in ALL cases. Also, I believe that one has to hit the bottom of the circle before one can roll up to the top. In many cases, it took a religious awakening (and surrender to the Creator) to pull some of my friends out of their despair and hopelessness. Best regards, Email: < WORK : Teagasc, c/o 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland Mobile: 353-; [in the Republic: 0] HOME : 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0] WWW : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/searchap.htm Chinese Proverb: " Man who says it can't be done, should not interrupt man doing it " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Interesting discussion, and thanks to those who have been sharing their personal experiences with addiction. Mine was sex addiction - talk about a hard hit on the kidney system! Alcoholism was a part of it too - enabling me to pretend I was blindly making all those stupid choices. I think sex addiction is probably the most invisible - and most accepted (even downright promoted) addiction in Western society (viagra, etc.). It underlies the obsessions with youth and beauty and even fitness - all of which are driven by the desire to remain sexually attractive and functional. For most folks, it really isn't all about health, unfortunately. I " kicked " my addictions with the help of 12-step programs and a strong shift in spiritual focus, and later used Chinese medicine to help restore my health. I believe the various addictive substances likely stress different organs, as do all pharmaceutical drugs. I also believe there are excesses or deficiencies that addicts are trying to balance unconsciously, and in a way that in the long run, doesn't meet the needs they are trying to fulfill. It is indeed a very vicious downward spiral. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine 753 N. Main Street, Suite C-1 Cottonwood, AZ 86326 (928) 274-1373 Anne Crowley <blazing.valley wrote: Very moving, Attilio. Thank you for being so open, so we all can learn. Anne Attilio D'Alberto wrote: > Hi Gye, > > Many thanks for speaking up. I didn't have the guts to be the first one to > state on a public forum that I was a previous drug user. I've taken > copious > amounts of both hard and soft drugs for a decade. My personal poison was > cannabis with a mix of other substances. To be honest, I've been > constantly > stoned for over 8 years. Drugs in the UK are so woven into normal > daily life > of millions of people, its difficult to avoid them. I kicked the habit by > analysing the destructive properties upon my Zangfu, both in their > energetics, emotions and spirits from a TCM perspective. This is why I say > to all those that say the Shen is the root that its is like ice and > underneath the ice is the Kidney! > > Warm regards, > > Attilio D'Alberto > Doctor of (Beijing, China) > B.Sc. (Hons) T.C.M., M.A.T.C.M. > Company Director > The Earth Health Clinic > 0208 367 8378 > enquiries > <http://www.theearthhealthclinic.com/> www.theearthhealthclinic.com > > > Chinese Medicine > Chinese Medicine On Behalf Of Gye > Bennetts > 07 November 2005 07:42 > Chinese Medicine > Drug Use & TCM > > > Hi All, > > Nice to read some stuff about this, as I belive that addiction is a tricky > subject. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol for over 8 years and > have now > been clean this time for over 13. After many years of trying various types > of therapy (including 1 year of weekly of TCM) I can honestly say for > myself > that it is my work in 12 Step fellowships ( A.A. & N.A.) that made the > difference. Until I surrendered and understood that I could not " work > out " > how to get well and listen to others who had - nothing rally stuck. Once I > had that as a base I could use TCM, Therapy, etc and start to make > progress. > I have been in practice as an acupuncturist for about 9 years and am now > part of society, not a burden on it. This is just my experience. > > Gye > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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