Medical Acupuncture
A Journal For Physicians By Physicians

Fall 1999 / Wiinter 2000- Volume 11 / Number 2
"Aurum Nostrum Non Est Aurum Vulgi"

communications

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

     To the Editor: Re: "Five-Element Acupuncture for Husband-Wife Imbalance and Bipolar Disorder," by Dr Charles Moss, Medical Acupuncture, Spring/Summer 1999 (Vol. I I/ No. 1).

     As a long time Five-Element acupuncturist, Board member of the Worsley Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture, and selected participant in J.R. Worsley's Master Apprentice Program, I would like to congratulate and thank Charles Moss for his interesting, informative, and well-written article.

    I do, however, have several points to make. First, there is no need to wait, and in actual practice, you would do the patient a disservice to wait until the next treatment to address the H/W after clearing AE. If AE is found, then drain it and go on and treat the H/W. Treating IV 24 after the H/W treatment is not taught by J.R. Worsley anymore.

     Also, and this is a major point: the Causative Factor or as Dr Moss states, the constitutional pattern, must be subsequently addressed at that time and at future treatments or else the likelihood of the H/W imbalance returning is extremely high. By treating the Causative Factor, one strengthens the entire person and restores the natural flow of energy. There is no way around the need to establish the Causative Factor in patients to do Five-Element Acupuncture effectively.

Robert J. Abramson, DDS, MD
New York, New York

     The Author's Reply: The Husband-Wife imbalance, as well as other energetic blocks such as Aggressive Energy, are best employed within the context of Five-Element acupuncture treatment paradigm. As we teach in the Five-Element Acupuncture for Physicians Training Program, the best results are obtained when the underlying Root (Causative) Factor is identified. This does not imply, however, that the Husband-Wife treatment, if properly conceived and applied, is not a valuable treatment within other paradigms, even if the Root Factor is not clearly identified at the time of treatment. The result of regaining the proper relationship between the Husband and the Wife energetic patterns allows for greater overall stability and responsiveness to well-designed acupuncture treatments.

     The treatment sequence as discussed in the article is the most effective method of correcting the Husband-Wife imbalance. It is necessary to first clear Aggressive Energy to prevent the movement through the systems of this perverse energy. If the Aggressive Energy treatment is positive, and it is early in the treatment course, it is best to not proceed to the Husband-Wife treatment for several days. The draining of Aggressive Energy is a powerful release of perverse energy and can have a dramatic effect on the patient. It is best to allow the person to re-equilibriate after this treatment before proceeding with further treatments. It is only in the situation where the patient has been in treatment for a while, and is reasonably stable, that it is appropriate to do the Husband-Wife treatment during the same visit as draining of Aggressive Energy.

     Dr Abraham's other points regarding the treatment sequence does not reflect our experience in treating patients or teaching this system to physicians. It is our experience that it is necessary to use KI 24 (Spirit Burial Ground) with the Husband-Wife treatment to anchor the effect of the treatment on the spirit level of the patient. Without this deeper connection, it is more likely that the Husband-Wife imbalance can return and require additional treatment. It is also not indicated to immediately treat the Root Factor Officials during this same visit. In our experience, doing the Husband-Wife protocol is enough if it is followed within several days with treatment on the Root Factor.

     In 15 years of teaching Five-Element Acupuncture to physicians, we have seen many of our colleagues be able to incorporate this approach in their practice. Those who have been the most successful have taken the teaching, and through their own experience, explored the ways in which it worked best in their practice. As in any valuable aspect of acupuncture, the most sophisticated and effective approach is that which comes from one's own experience based on a solid footing of knowledge of traditional acupuncture concepts.

Charles A. Moss, MD
La Jolla, California

     To the Editor: Congratulations on a spectacular issue of Medical Acupuncture (Vol. 11, No. 1). I am a Board-certified ENT and medical acupuncturist. I look forward to the next issue of your excellent journal.

Robert S. Mindell, MD
Phoenix, Arizona

(Editor's Note: We welcome and encourage your letters, e-mails, phone calls, and all correspondence to this column.)

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