Five Element Acupressure

By Debra Sommer

Desensitization came into my life after treasuring single parenting for eight years. My son was my life. I worked part time at my acupressure practice, teaching acupressure, and working part time as a dental assistant. In 1993 on Thanksgiving evening in the early morning hours, life as I knew it ended. I came home to find my only child of 16 years dead on my driveway from a motorcycle accident. It was freezing cold that morning. His German Shepherd was lying along his spine to keep him warm; little did she know that he was frozen from the cold. The love and support which I received from my community kept me floating in Grace for months.

 As the layers of shock wore off, I experienced the symptoms of chronic fatigue combined with multiple food and chemical sensitivities. My nervous system had been so energetically fragmented that my acupuncture meridians and energy body were sensitive to everything. I could only eat white rice, cauliflower, and carrots without any symptoms. Wood smoke and car exhaust set me into a major sympathetic response, not being able to sleep for days. I had absolutely no resiliency.

 I was blessed with finding a chiropractor in Santa Rosa who practiced NAET Desensitization which was developed by Devi Nambudripad, D.C., L.Ac., RN., Ph.D. In three months I was eating just about anything I wanted, my energy returned, I was rooted to the earth, and my life started to fall back into some sense of purpose.

 I was determined to incorporate NAET into my practice. At one of Dr. Nambudripad’s classes I met Ellen Cutler, D.C, and M.D. Some of my NAET treatments did not hold. Dr. Cutler also experienced this with some of her clients. Dr. Cutler today has developed a cutting-edge technique of desensitization, enhancing Dr. Nambudripad’s brilliant therapy. BioSet Desensitization addresses the forty percent of our population that is hypersensitive. Today, I am grateful that I have the training and opportunity to offer BioSet Desensitization to my clients.

THE HISTORY OF CHINESE MEDICINE

The great Chinese masters could perceive the meridians flowing throughout the body. They saw where the meridians came to the surface of the body, and how the meridians flowed internally to the organs. The practice of Chinese medicine was passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Through observation of the cycles of nature - day to night, spring to winter, (The Five Element Theory) birth to death - the ancients recognized the natural forces of energy which regulate all life, and even discerned the various systems of the human body: circulatory, which includes lymphatic and vascular; neuro-muscular; respiratory; digestive; urinary and reproductive systems. In ancient China the acupuncturist only received pay if the patient was healthy. Today in China, families daily practice various forms of exercises to stimulate and balance the vital energy within these meridians. The practice of acupressure began as a folk art in ancient China, India and other Eastern cultures over 5,000 years ago, and later migrated to Japan. These cultures still use this hands-on healing art today. It was from the simple finger pressure techniques that acupuncture evolved.

FIVE ELEMENT ACUPRESSURE

Acupressure is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy or chi run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues.

 The acupuncture points are where this chi flows at the surface of the skin, making it possible to change the flow of chi within the entire meridian system. There are also meridians deep in the body that flow directly to the associated organ. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in other parts. Obstructions can manifest from physical, emotional, financial and/or toxic stress; in addition, poor diet, an injury, an illness, or surgery can affect the flow of chi. Over a period of time, a chronic energetic imbalance can manifest into disease. Acupressure treatments can therefore help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians. The nervous system responds by releasing chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and the brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating systems.

THE MERIDIANS AND THEIR ELEMENTS:

 Lung and Large Intestine (Metal Element), Stomach and Spleen (Earth Element), Heart and Small Intestine (Fire Element), Bladder and Kidney (Water Element), Pericardium and Triple Warmer (Fire Element), Gall Bladder and Liver (Wood Element).

 The organ meridians are paired up to form the Five Elements. The meridians usually share functions. For example, the Lung and Large Intestines are both eliminative organs; the Large Intestine eliminates digestive waste and the Lungs release carbon dioxide and other gases.

EXTRAORDINARY CHANNELS

The eight extraordinary channels are their own system, separate from the meridians. The extraordinary channels are, however, accessed through specific points in the organ meridian system. When balanced, they function to maintain harmony and communication between the twelve organ meridians, keep all of our bodily systems regulated, keep the yin and yang chi in the body nourished, maintain psychic functions, emotional balance, and spiritual peace.

THE FIVE ELEMENTS

 The Five Element Theory is a primary relationship in the Chinese System. It relates all energy and substance to one of the elements - Fire, Earth, Metal (or Air), Water and Wood. Each element is associated with one of the seasons. The process of The Five Elements runs through birth (spring), growth (summer), maturation (Indian summer), harvest (fall), and storage (winter). On each meridian there are Five Element Points. For example, on the lung and large intestine meridians, which make up the metal element, there is a fire point, earth point, metal point, water point, and a wood point. The Five Element Points enable the therapist to balance the energy of the five element cycle within each meridian and/or the entire meridian system. In addition, these special points profoundly move energy as well as balance the chi between organs.

 When you receive an acupressure treatment, I will open you up with the extraordinary channel, which is most out of balance. Then I will address the meridian system and the five element system. All specific areas of tension and/or pain will be addressed. Five Element Acupressure is extremely relaxing, centering, and acupressure clears your mind. Treatments can last up to two hours depending on what your body needs in the moment. A series of acupressure treatments are beneficial for permanently bringing the body/mind/spirit to a greater level of homeostasis.

 Michael Reed Gach, founder of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley says, “Chi is the cosmic breath of life. It is what creates and nourishes the human spirit, what gives us energy, and what keeps our engines running. Chi is the force of nature that moves in visible and invisible currents and paths through all matter. Chi connects everything. It creates mountains, keeps rivers moving, and gives trees their uprightness and their diversity in branching toward heaven. The movement of chi can be seen and felt in the landscape and in the elements, as well as in the human body.”

WHAT CONDITIONS RESPOND TO ACUPRESSURE?

 PAIN ANYWHERE - One of the most influential results of treatment for the person lacking faith from inexperience is pain control. INCREASED HEALING - occurs after the trauma of an accident, illness, or a surgery. CIRCULATION - Fresh blood may bring in warmth and oxygen. Lymphatic drainage of organs occurs bringing in nutrients and enzymes to the area returning the congested organ or injured body part to normal healing functioning.

 I have also seen healing occur with acupressure in clients with some of the following conditions: Muscle tension, duration and severity of seizures, headaches, sciatica, back pain, emotional imbalance, high blood pressure, constipation, male & female disorders, digestive disorders, proper fetal position to prevent C-section, toxicity, arthritis, tendonitis, asthma and more.

THE BioSET SYSTEM OF DESENSITIZATION

 BioSET (Bioenergetic Sensitivity and Enzyme Therapy) is a natural holistic health care system that is based on energetic medicine and meridian therapy to prevent and resolve chronic health conditions. BioSET is comprised of three branches of healing: enzyme therapy, nutrition and proper diet; organ specific detoxification; and a revolutionary non-invasive mostly permanent allergy desensitization technique. BioSET desensitization is an acupressure technique which utilizes allergen frequencies and energetics to fully clear and/or reprogram the individual via the nervous and meridian system to any allergen or sensitivity. BioSET balances meridians that have been blocked by allergens which have produced a multiplicity of health symptoms that can become chronic. BioSET benefits the array of digestive problems; type 2 diabetes; Attention deficit Hypersensitivity Disorder, mild cardiovascular problems, inflammation; skin and hair problems; women’s and men’s health disorders, autoimmune problems and side effects of cancer therapy. VISIT: wwwbioset.net

 Debra Sommer, R.D.A., Ac.T. Offers Five Element Acupressure, Meridian Massage, & BoiSET Desensitization. She has been practicing and teaching acupressure in the Southern Humboldt area since 1985. She received her acupressure and teaching certification from Michael Reed Gach, Founder of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California. In 1997 she received certification in the Bioset System of Desensitization to serve those with autoimmune disorders, asthma, and multiple food and chemical sensitivities. She also holds an active license as a Registered Dental Assistant.