Kaptchuk, Placebo, and Acupuncture

Ted Kaptchuk wrote "The Web That Has No Weaver," one of the first books about Chinese medicine in the USA. He's been doing research about the placebo effect, and its relationship with Chinese medicine. Fascinating. Two studies (described here) show that acupuncture is almost twice as effective as optimal mainstream care in treating chronic lower back pain. However, acupuncture and sham acupuncture achieve similar clinical effects... but work in the body in different ways.

"... while both genuine and sham acupuncture equally reduced noxious stimuli, needle stimulation inhibited incoming noxious stimuli with a peripheral-central bottom up somatosensory modulation, while sham acupuncture activated a top-down modulation of pain and worked through the brain's emotional circuitry." (1)

Read the whole article, here:
http://media.virbcdn.com/files/59/FileItem-112513-KaptchukCJIMRESPONSES2010.pdf

See more of Kaptchuk's research, here:
http://tedkaptchuk.com/selected-publications



References
(1) Kaptchuk TJ, Chen Ke-Ji, Song Jun. Recent Clinical Trials of Acupuncture in the West: Responses from the Practitioners. Chin J Integr Med 2010 Jun;16(3):197-203
from
 Kong J, Kaptchuk TJ, Polich G, Kirsch I, Vangel M, Zyloney C, et al. An fMRI study on the interaction and dissociation betwen expectation of pain relief and acupuncture treatment. NeuroImage 2009;47:1066-1076.

Summer Solstice Ceremony

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We harvest and surrender, in Autumn. We rest and dream, in Winter. We plant seeds and create our visions, in Spring. We tend our plants and flower our visions, dancing with fire, in Summer, time of greatest movement and activity. . As we enter this fiery season, let's clarify our intentions and actions. Come welcome summer's brightest blessings with our Summer Solstice Blessingway Ceremony, on the longest day of the year: Saturday, June 22 at @the_mama_cocoon with @intothewild.yoga and I. Jessy's weaving the ceremony container. I'm helping you create something sacred, beautiful, and tangible (it’s a surprise). . Sign up at @venturewellyoga or https://www.venturewellyoga.com/events/summer-solstice-blessingway . Happy Summer Solstice! . Photo story: The dirt road winds on and on, up and over mountain passes. It's getting dark. There are no clear pull-off's, so I pull as far off the road as I can, stuff my pack with my sleeping bag and journal, brush my teeth, then tromp up-hill to sleep. I climb just over the barren hill, out of sight of the road, with no trees overhead, and a clear view of the brightest of stars and Milky Way. The winds start howling around 11 PM, picking up speed until I must anchor myself down with stones, to stop my sleeping bag from noisily flapping in the wind, and prevent my pack's attempts to fly away. The wind renders me practically naked in my old down bag. I shiver in fetal position all night, body curled tight to stay warm, waiting, waiting, watching with bleary eyes as stars march across the sky, Milky Way slowly fades, and Sky finally starts changing color. I weep with gratitude when the Sun finally rises. Every cell of my body sings in celebration as Sun's heat kisses my face, that kiss warming and spreading through my body as its' Fire licks my own internal Fire back to life.

A post shared by Jiling 林基玲 (@linjiling) on Jun 4, 2019 at 5:46am PDT

The Process

The Process

Connective exercises for journaling and walking in nature. Nature connection, plant connection... internal and external connection. 

1. observe
   1. internal (notice thoughts/ feelings arising and passing)
   2. external (fully-embodied sensory observations)
2. engage
   1. gift
   2. inquire
   3. notice
   4. engage/ record (journal/ draw/ move)
3. gratitude
4. share

• oral (word, song)
• written (read)
• visual (share drawing/ movement)

Questions (on emotions)

1. when do you experience this
2. how do you process it
3. 3 actions to transform my current relationship with it

Five Phase 五行 Words

(words to evoke images, felt senses of each Element. experience. savor. )

– 水 WATER –

North. Water. Winter. Fear. Wisdom智. Will志. Kidney. Bladder. Bones. Roots. Groaning. Ears/ Sound. Salty. Cold.

Skill. Resources. Death. Storage. Purpose. Ocean. Rivers. Rain. Lymph. Cycles. Rhythm. Flow. Depth. Regeneration. Possibility. Unknown. Limits. Boundaries. Essence. Adventure. Journey. Travel. Danger. Hibernation. Patience. Darkness. Vastness. Peace. Spine. Teeth. Generations. Future. Sleep. Dreams. Mystery.

– 木 WOOD –

East. Wood. Spring. Anger. Compassion 仁. Dreams魂. Liver. Gallbladder. Sinews. Sprouts. Shouting. Eyes/ Vision. Sour. Wind.

Decisions. Planning. Ideas. Spontaneity. Curiosity. Growth. Birth. Pioneer. Actions. Goals. Creation. Movement. Stagnation. Stuck. Trees. Forest. Courage. Initiation. Dawn. Sprouts. Youth. Competition. Drive. Stress. Frustration. Overwhelm. Organization. Flexibility. Resilience. Balance. Emotions. Alignment. Learning.

– 火 FIRE –

South. Fire. Summer. Joy. Propriety 禮. Spirit神. Heart. Small Intestine. Blood vessels. Flowers. Laughing. Tongue/ Speech. Bitter. Heat.

Love. Passion. Sex. Relationships. Sun. Intimacy. Fun. Play. Dynamism. Wild. Thrive. Desire. Queen. Mind. Intelligence. Humor. Naked. Authenticity. Confidence. Core. Opening. Chaos. Practice. Dedication. Devotion. Celebration. Communication. Excitement. Mastery. Arts. Pleasure. Expression. Focus. Creativity.

– 土 EARTH –

Southwest/ Center. Earth. Mid- Summer. Contemplation/ Sympathy 思. Integrity信. Intention意. Spleen. Stomach. Muscles/ Flesh. Fruit. Singing. Mouth/ Taste. Sweet. Damp.

Food. Digestion. Belly. Family. Honesty. Adulthood. Maturity. Grounding. Stability. Body. Feet. Community. Support. Mother. Gratitude. Belonging. Care. Nourishment. Hunger. Responsibility. Mountains. Stones. Dirt. Soil. Delicious. Comfort. Trust. Cozy. Home.

– 金 METAL –

West. Metal. Autumn. Grief/ Praise. Righteousness義. Intuition魄. Lung. Large Intestine. Skin. Seeds. Weeping. Nose/ Smells. Pungent/ Spicy. Dry.

Transformation. Receiving. Releasing. Authority. Respect. Logic. Old age. Harvest. Alchemy. Sacred. Breath. Utility. Precious. Money. Possessions. Power. Sky. Space. Solitude. Stillness. Transience. Heartbreak. Tears. Father. Men. Regrets. Grudges. Defecation. Shit. Tradition. Admiration. Strengths. Weaknesses. Spirituality. Purity. Giving. Truth. Respiration. Cleanse. Surrender. Ritual. Compost. Hope. Wonder. Awe. Lineage.

Kids Yoga + Art/ Herbs Camps!

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Summer classes for 6-12 year olds! - ART & MOVEMENT CAMP (one week) - June 24-28 Monday thru Friday, 1:30-3:30 45 min Yoga + 1 hr mixed media Art class - HEALTH & WELLNESS CAMP (one week) - July 29-August 2, Monday thru Friday, 1:30-3:30 45 min Yoga+ 1 hr Herbs class - WEEKLY YOGA CLASS - Thursdays at 3:30, for 8 weeks beginning June 27. - For more info: www.HitchcockCC.com/yoga www.HitchcockCC.com/farm-to-table

A post shared by Jiling 林基玲 (@linjiling) on May 19, 2019 at 8:06am PDT

Register here: 
www.HitchcockCC.com/yoga
www.HitchcockCC.com/farm-to-table

Kids yoga

Adult yoga students

don't often come in bearing in hand-drawn gifts,

little felted oval gifts,

knotted yarn bracelet gifts,

or gifts made by their mama's.

Kids do.

I was moved this morning by this little sticker

drawn by a student's mom,

with Monkeyflowers (Mimulus)

surrounding our beautiful state,

which has had a hard year of fire,

followed by an epic spring bloom.

.

Teaching kids yoga is full of surprises.

I go in with an idea or theme,

then mostly surrender.

Sometimes we stay according to plan,

other times not.

Not today.

And it was wonderful.

I laughed so hard during class,

then was nearly moved to tears by the end of class.

.

We closed class by sharing what sea creature we were during shavasana,

along with what we were bringing back into the world,

from the magical basket we wove together, in class.

We had dolphins, otters, a boat, and seaweed

bringing peace, fun, friendship, and the Great Mystery

back into our worlds.

.

Dear friend reading this now,

likely "adult,"

likely logical, contemplative...

what sea creature are you?

What do you bring into the world,

with your arms opening up overhead,

head tipping back in laughter,

to sprinkle down unto our planet?

(have fun!)

Mornings

I rise in the darkness to slip on warm clothes, heat water, pack tea, and head out.

I bike to Jai Rhythm for pre-dawn yoga with Eve, or walk up our hill (behind home) to practice asana solo.

I love this rhythm.

Practicing in community, sweating together under infrared heat to beating tunes and skillfully guided flow sequences, I feel connected and inspired, while learning new teaching and practicing styles. I bike to the Ocean afterwards for tea, journaling, and flashcards.

Practicing solo on the hill, I move in and out of poses, experimenting, flowing, perhaps dancing a little here, drawing a little there, following a formless form. My tea and journal join my practice, as do the dawn chorus songbirds, rising sun, rolling ocean, blooming flowers, and expansive sky.

I am grateful for both.

Current Journey

"This," Dr Stickley said, brandishing his hands as if holding a needle, "is your magic wand. Your key to the universe. Hold it with care." 

"Qi hua," said Dr Zhu, my fellow student at my new school, "What's that in English?" 

"Qi transformation." 

"Qi transformation. That's the key to this work." With a simple needle, you can affect positive change on at least 60% of your patients. If you do it right, it acts fast."

"Only 60%?" I ask. 

"That's a lot!" he looks at me incredulously, "You are helping a lot of people, especially as you continue in your practice, ten, twenty years from now." 

After needling my patient I sit, mind swirling from all the information I'm re-memorizing for board exams, and divergent information/ inspiration from fellow students, teachers, my own students, experiences, life, the world. 

I feel a stillness like after a storm after I complete a treatment, while waiting for the needles to do their work, before I go in to remove them. 

I remember Dr Stickley's passion, the way his eyes lit up and his hands danced, when he told treatment stories.

I remember Dr Bachelor's sweetness, the way he encouraged us to listen to our intuition first, then logic next during diagnosis, establishing clear internal rapport with myself as compassionate practitioner, and external rapport with patient as a very human human. 

At NUNM, I learned beautiful poetic stories of the great Scholar-Physicians as written by Sun Si Miao, and explained by Dr Wilms. 

I remember walking through rivers in Oregon, and along the Ocean in California, digesting information, flipping through flashcard piles. 

There were tears along this road, and I continue to shed tears: gratitude, frustration, more.

What a journey. 

I'm in the third week of a six month board exam preparation marathon. I feel deeply overwhelmed by the mounds of information I must re-learn, while in awe of the heights and depths of this medicine. I remain curious about where I go from here, while committed to my current journey: pass the Boards.