Energetic Problems and Therapies:

 Printer Friendlier Version

Introduction
Quantum Touch
Bio-Energy Healing
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
           Acupuncture
           Chinese Herbal Medicine
           Acupressure Massage
           Medical Qi Gong
           Afternote
Shiatsu
Reflexology
Reiki
Homeopathy
Qi, Jing and Sex
Additional Exercises You Can Perform at Home
           Meditation and Breathing Exercises
           T'ai Chi Chu'an, Qi Gong and Yoga
           Quantum Touch
           T'ai Chi Tapping Exercise
           Cheung Meridian Therapy
           Gentle Cardiovascular Exercise
           Hydrotherapy - Hot and Cold Treatments





Introduction:

This section is dedicated to energetic therapies. When we talk about 'energy', we do not mean mitochondrial function and heat production. We are talking about oriental medicine's concepts of internal energy. The body is comprised of a number of different meridians, each corresponding to a real or imagined organ, for example, the heart, spleen, lungs or triple burner. In addition, the function of the meridian does not necessarily correspond to the function of the organ, for example, the pancreas determines the quality of digestion but it is the spleen meridian that determines this also. The body and life itself is in a sense driven and led by the body's qi or life force, which helps to draw blood around the body. Now of course blood is pumped around the body by the heart, but the functioning of the heart is controlled by the brain (hypothalamus) and the body's endocrine (hormonal system). This endocrine system is heavily influenced and controlled by the body's internal energetic health and balance.

Oriental medicine and various energetic therapies view a CFS sufferer's main problem as that of energetic imbalance, of energetic blockages in the body's various meridians and of low qi levels and often a weak spleen. Whilst some people may view this as an additional root problem, it is a different way of describing the main categories of problems described on this web site. For example, low spleen meridian energy is another way of describing a poorly functioning digestive system, in particular the pancreas. Another example is qi stagnation and qi deficiency often resulting in a drop in blood pressure. Energetic problems have a corresponding biochemical and physiological impact on the body and may render the body sensitive to certain types of infection or toxic build up. Indeed, one or more of the above core problems will have a corresponding energetic impact on the body. An acupuncturist or shiatsu practitioner is able to get a picture of the body's energetic problems by looking at the patient's tongue and feeling the patient's pulse in each hand and listening to symptoms, and perhaps feeling the muscles and their tone through acupressure. Not all energetic therapies use the oriental medicine's concepts (Acupuncture, Shiatsu etc.) of energy precisely, for example Quantum Touch and Bio-Energy Healing. These may not view or perceive the meridians per se, but focus more on energetic blockages in different parts of the body where they are perceived and are worked on through the hands.

In specific cases, energetic therapies will not be enough to cure a person, and require physically resolving certain specific underlying conditions (for example, toxicity, nutritional element deficiencies, harmful organism overgrowth, skeletal problems, extreme stress levels, etc.) or altering a very poor diet before they can work effectively. In many cases, skeletal/muscular/tendon/ligament problems will have a corresponding impact on the body's energetic system, and may slow or prevent recovery of a CFS patient. Some energetic therapies include a physical component or directly affect the muscles and skeleton. Other energetic therapies work solely with energy but have a profound effect on the physical body, muscles and skeleton. Such therapies are discussed on the Skeletal page, but are repeated (word for word) below for clarity and convenience.

There are clearly a large number of energetic treatments, and these cannot all be examined on this page. BlackSpy is only discussing those therapies which he has direct experience of and can personally recommend. This section will expand over time when BlackSpy and WhiteSpy have tried further types of treatment. However, BlackSpy suggests that the individual tries a few different therapies over time and figures out which therapy or combination of therapies works best for him or her. Clearly the success or effectiveness of any energetic therapy is reliant on the skill and attentiveness of the practitioner as well as the willingness of the patient to follow any recommendations made. As a general rule, it is wise to avoid alcohol, sexual activity (solo or otherwise!), stress, dehydration or heavy exercise after a session. So it is wise to take things easy after a session and to drink plenty of water, and not stay up too late. Consuming alcohol (or taking other drugs) and sexual activity (mainly applied to men) drain one's qi and are best avoided or kept to a minimum whilst recovering from long term illness like CFS.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other energetic therapies are often tried by sufferers of CFS or related conditions. Their level of success varies dramatically from person to person, ranging from near cure to no effect whatsoever. This web site strongly recommends energetic therapies as a treatment for sufferers of CFS or related conditions, in conjunction with an overall programme for identifying and addressing all the health issues the person has. For example, TCM in general looks at the energetic state of the body, the meridians and organ energy levels. It seeks to remove any energetic blockages to rebalance Qi or to encourage Qi movement and strengthing of Qi. BlackSpy recommends consultantion with a skilled practitioner of TCM, including acupuncture, herbal medicine and acupressure, to tailor a programme to your body's needs, rather than just purchasing off-the-shelf chinese medicine products yourself in response to your symptoms. In TCM theory, Qi leads the blood circulation.

The trouble with TCM, and energetic therapies in general, is that practitioners are not often aware of the underlying biochemical issues that are causing the problem. The energetic practitioner seeks to treat the energetic effects of the problems (e.g. bad micro-organism overgrowth and digestive disorders, heavy metal toxicity, neurotoxic membrane syndrome, vitamin and mineral deficiency) rather than actually tackle the problems themselves. Although TCM may for example boost the immune system slightly, it may not counterbalance the continuous negative impact on the immune system that candida or parasitic overgrowth can have. And if the body does not have the mineral resources to enable the immune system and hormonal (endocrine) system to function properly, then it is unlikely to achieve a high degree of success if used as the sole source of treatment. Heavy metal toxicity and excessive glutathione conjugates on the intra-cellular membranes may in addition will have a negative impact on the metabolic (mitochondrial) function, hormonal (endocrine) function and immune function, and unless these conditions are treated first e.g. toxins are physically removed from the body (if present), these systems are unlikely to be coaxed into full working order by energetic therapies alone. One has to remove the active cause of the energetic problem before you can really achieve success in tackling the energetic effects the problem has had on the body.

BlackSpy has also noticed that those who are unable to relax, and who are suffering from adrenal burnout and too high adrenaline levels, may not gain as much benefit from energetic therapies as they might otherwise do, until they address the root cause of what is driving the high adrenaline levels. This is often an over excited amagdala region of the brain, which is used to interpret information, i.e. inability to detach oneself from the consequences of stress and indeed the stress itself. Stress about stress and anxiety about becoming anxious can ensue. To break the vicious cycle, it may be necessary to break these neuro associations using NLP, visualisation, meditation and other tools. Unless one breaks the pattern of addictive focus and association, one may not benefit so greatly from energetic therapies.

In addition, a low electromagnetic field in the body or an EM imbalance may result in an insufficient EM field for an energetic therapy to actually work with and influence. This is another reason why in some severe CFS cases, acupuncture or other energetic therapies only have limited success. By stimulating the body's EM field to a sufficient level, an energetic therapy can then be employed later and with considerable success (if required). Please see the electromagnetic page for more information. BlackSpy has noticed that conditions such as stomach upsets (depleted stomach/'spleen' energy/qi) or crashes due to mitochondrial depletion can occur (simultaneously) even when the level of EM stimulation of the body is high, and when the body's EM field has been greatly increased. When trying to increase qi flow using energetic therapies, it is likely that one needs to attend to background factors before it can be truly effective (i.e. nutritional, toxicity and cell membrane health, and electromagnetic factors.)

Some view the free and proper flow of blood and lymph to a particular organ or part of the body as being the same as it's level of qi; and that by stimulating the blood and lymph flow, one will 'remove a qi blockage' and 'increase the qi level of that organ'. Whilst this may be partially true, it would perhaps be a gross oversimplification to hold this as the entirety of Chinese medicine theory. It does not take into account the quality of energy, hot and cold etc.

CFS patients and sufferers of related conditions often confuse energetic practitioners, as they cannot understand what is going on. Practitioners of energetic therapies often tend to be very insular in their thinking, and may have very little knowledge of biochemistry, and believe, with good intentions, that their treatment is can cure everyone of virtually any condition. As this is what they do all day. And more often than not, it will help a little at least. Of course, heavy metal toxicity, amalgam fillings, mercury containing vaccinations, industrialisation and pollution, synthesised chemical products in toiletries, kitchen and bathroom products, cosmetics and as food additives, use of pharmaceutical drugs and medicines, over consumption of sugar and wheat, heavy reliance on processed foods and junk foods, heavy usage of electrical and electronic devices and electromagnetic smog, low nutritional value of crops on account of poor soil quality, and over use of fertilisers, were probably not an issue in ancient China in 3000 B.C. When these medical systems were devised. However, times have changed. A number of more modern types of energetic therapy have sprung up over the last 20 years or so. One would think that these would incorporate more cutting edge and modern holistic medical knowledge. However, this often does not appear to be the case. The practitioners are usually not medically trained and undergo rather short training periods, and so may not know any more about the types of issues discused on this web site than their patients. An article by Jake Paul Fratkin, a TCM practitioner, regarding LGS and TCM can be found at the link below. Please note that BlackSpy does not endorse the use of Nystatin, Nizoral, Diflucan or Sporex, nor is he too keen on some of the tests proposed in this article.

http://www.ei-resource.org/articles/lgs-art01.asp

A wholistic approach is clearly adopted by a (probably small) number of practitioners of oriental medicine. Below is another example of a Chinese herbal-based treatment for bad bacteria (specifically Lyme Disease) and Babesiosis (a Protozoan parasite infection) by Dr Qingcai Zhang's traditional chinese medicine clinic in the USA.

Dr Zhang Lyme Disease and Babesiosis treatment protocol pdf

Dr Zhang Babesiosis treatment protocol flow chart

Jake Paul Fratkin of Natural Solutions magazine supports the use of Chinese medicine to detoxify and support the liver and to address intestinal permeability issues. Caveats have been inserted by BlackSpy in square brackets.

www.care2.com/greenliving/chinese-medicine-for-chronic-fatigue.html

'The key treatments in Chinese medicine focus on regulating and detoxifying the liver and repairing small-intestine inflammation and permeability. This requires specific herbs to move liver qi and blood and to cool any inflammatory heat. As the liver regains its ability to detoxify, poisons exit the body. The symptoms of headache, fibromyalgia, and fatigue [may] gradually disappear [or be slightly alleviated]. Chinese medicine and acupuncture can be quite effective [to some level], especially if the intervention occurs early on in the condition [ - practitioners sometimes left scratching their heads in severe and complex cases]. This holds especially true when an active viral irritant is present, because TCM is quite effective in combating viral illnesses. Detoxifying the liver can be done with a variety of Chinese herbal formulas, including Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan, Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Formula), or Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer) [TCM practitioners are not so knowledgeable in detoxing the actual cells in the entire body - detoxification is sometimes viewed in energetic terms, with a couple of weeks deemed enough to 'detoxify' the body, when in reality this will not have achieved much on a biochemical/cellular level]. Repairing the small intestine epithelium requires spleen qi tonics such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia 6) or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and special formulas that reduce small-intestine inflammation [Please see the Bacterial page for information about TCM herbs to combat parasitic overgrowth]. Of course, treatment of complex syndromes such as leaky gut or chronic fatigue should be managed by an experienced practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine [experienced - meaning multi-disciplined and open minded - the vast majority are not - and achieve limited or no success with CFS patients].'

Although not universally true, the vast majority of energetic practitioners can offer sound dietary advice and how diet relates to one's energetic state and what is appropriate and not appropriate. However, when it comes to obscure or not universally understood medical conditions, such as dysbiosis and high levels of toxificity or cell membrane impairment, and supplements and their functions, energetic practitioners are in general not very skilled or knowledgeable. For exmaple, they may not understand issues surrounding highly processed foods or simple carbohydrates and their effects on harmful micro-organism overgrowth. However, do not let this cloud your judgement when discussing your case history with your energetic practitioner, and give them the benefit of the doubt (innocent until proven guilty!) But as a general rule, you can't expect one person to be skilled in every area of treatment, so one normally has to see a couple of different specialists depending on what types of treatments you are after (i.e. medical/holistic, energetic, skeletal/muscular, NLP coach etc) - although some practitioners ARE multi-disciplined and highly skilled. In some cases you may get sound advice about when to back off a detoxification regime etc. and when to resume again, on account of liver health etc.

Many practitioners of energetic treatments and therapies believe that all CFS patients can be cured without any supplements whatsoever. And that by proper nutrition, sufficient water consumption and clean air, gentle exercise and energetic stimulation, the body will naturally recover. Whilst this may indeed be true for some CFS patients, one can view supplementation in a variety of ways. One can look at nutritional support, i.e. vitamin, mineral and fatty acid support as complimentary to recovery for a certain duration of time of the treatment, but which could stop once the patient has recovered. Or one could look at aggressive supplementation and treatments, for example prolonged use of detoxification supplements, poor diet, inappropriate diet for the individual (e.g. too much raw food or cold energy containing foods), too much physical exercise, too many tasks, prolonged or inappropriate hormonal treatments, colonic hydrotherapy, gallbladder flushes or excessive stress, sadness or anxiety as factors which put a stress on the body and deplete the body's energy levels, thus impeding and prolonging long-term recovery. Clearly a balance has to be reached, and it is wise to reduce the amount of aggressive, energy depleting activities/emotions that the mind/body is subjected to during one's treatment and recovery to maximise the effects of energetic treatments and the flow of energy in the body and the health of the individual organs. Indeed some treatments if received too often may deplete rather than build up the person's energy reserves (i.e. those treatments that redistribute the body's energy to balance meridians rather than actually channelling energy into the body or encouraging the body to build energy). There may be a specific part of a person's overall treatment when the body is energetic enough to participate in additional cellular detoxification and a time when it simply needs a break and to be allowed to properly recuperate.The ability of a person to utilise the additional energy that is received during specific treatments discussed below very much depends on the individual and the person's ability to heal themselves. These treatments are really about helping the body to heal itself, rather than forcing the body to heal or trying to heal the body through external means. Two people may receive the same amount of energy during a treatment, but what happens when they leave the room may differ, and excessive emotional/physical/energetic abuse may indeed negate many of the benefits of the energetic treatment. This is something the individual must identify himself and perhaps something for the practitioner to advise and discuss also. The body may also respond better to one type of energetic treatment or treatments than others. This clearly varies according to the individual.

It has been determined experimentally that physical contact in the right context, for example, touch, hugging, holding hands or massaging helps to reduce stress levels, reduce perceived sense of threat, and to increase relaxation and well being; it can also increase circulation levels, both blood and lymph, both locally and systematically. Conversely, unwelcome physical contact can be stressful for many people. It may well be that any physical therapy that involves massaging or close physical contact may be beneficial for relaxation and wellbeing. How much is the placebo effect, the effect of physical contact, the environment treatments are held in (smells, atmosphere, reassuring technical wallcharts etc.), the personal interaction with the person giving the treatment, and how much is the effect of the actual technique is of course a matter of debate and will vary from treatment to treatment. Of course one does not necessarily need to pay for treatments to get the benefits of touch contact, as one can share pats on the back, hand shaking, hand holding, hugs and other personal physical contact with friends, family and loved ones for free.

There is some overlap between energetic therapies and electromagnetic therapies, and in many cases, an individual may benefit much more from an electromagnetic therapy. Please see the Electromagnetic Deficiencies and Therapies page for more information.

As discussed on this page and elsewhere, energetic therapies and disciplines often use different terminology to describe high level biochemical and electromagnetic cellular problems, translating general biochemical, cellular or organ-related issues into their own language. On example of this could relate to the sensations one experiences after an energetic therapy session. If one feels 'tingly', warm and relaxed, a sensation of 'energy' or 'qi' flowing around the body, this may equate to the release of additional (deficient) neurotransmitters such as GABA and/or Serotonin, which produce a similar if not identical type effect. One could notice this for example, but taking a GABA supplement or an L-Theanine supplement, but the effect would be relatively short lived compared with an energetic therapy session, which may well be stimulating the release of these neurotransmitters for many days afterwards, as well as having a series of other beneficial biochemical effects that would require a wide series of tests to identify. This would make an interesting biochemistry project for an interested party. If we are in fact talking about the same thing or slightly different but interrelated concepts, then clearly we want to address the problems eithe or both discipline identifies if it means improving our overall level of health, but using a more holistic and synergistic approach.

BlackSpy in some respects does not believe that energetic therapies such as Quantum Touch, Bio-Energy Healing and Reiki actually are 'moving energy around' at all, but it merely a way of interacting and communicating with the patient's nervous system to promote more ideal nervous system and hormonal states for healing and biochemical balance - by touch or otherwise. In a somewhat different way to Applied Kinesiological Testing (a.k.a. muscle testing) which is allegedly a way of communicating with the brainstem to 'ask questions' regarding supplements and treatment etc. Many AK sessions end with the person's body feeling more energetically or neurologically organised and in accordance, and energised, much like after an energetic therapy described on this page.

Some strict Christians and indeed some atheists may regard some or all the treatments on this page as 'new age' or even 'Satanic'. This web site has tried to include only those treatments that BlackSpy has personal experience of and has determined empirically that they are of benefit to one's energy levels and general health, as part of a treatment programme and taken at the appropriate time. BlackSpy tries to approach each treatment with an open mind, but expecting nothing (a little scepticism), and to see what happens, and if it was beneficial, to try repeat treatments and notice the effect of treatments and how they fit into the different stages of one's treatment programme. Some treatments, such as Acupuncture, BlackSpy has had on and off since 1993, the reason being that he found it very effective (at certain points), clearing up most of his CFS symptoms in the space of a few weeks (in 1996). However, without a complete understanding of what was going on in his body, BlackSpy did relapse slowly over the next 9 years. Indeed, some treatments, such as Quantum Touch, BlackSpy was recommended and wanted to try, but was a little sceptical as it did sound a little 'new age'. However, BlackSpy was amazed with the results. BlackSpy has tried to be as scientific as possible in reviewing the treatments below, and has avoided anything he considers too 'new age' for inclusion. He understands that some of a strict religious disposition, particularly strict Christians, may regard some of the below treatments as 'spiritually damaging'. BlackSpy has not personally experienced this with any of them, but clearly it will depend to some degree on the practitioner. BlackSpy is chiefly concerned with what works most effectively without any (significant) negative psychological, physical or spiritual aspects. However it is clearly up to the individual what is right for him. A web site below lists 'spiritually damaging' arts (some of which BlackSpy agrees with, except of course those listed below!)

www.spiritual-research-network.com/dangerouspractices.html

It should be noted that Christianity has a history and tradition of followers of Jesus engaging in 'spiritual healing' and even 'resurrection' (according to myth)! Clearly tradition or religious healing practice is safe as long as it is in the past, and becomes an issue when we have to think about it in the present. Most western churches like to forget about this healing tradition, which is more accepted and embraced (as the Holy Spirit) by Evangelical and Charismatic churches, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This is discussed on the Mainstream Religions page in the Religion section. Incidentally, the Vatican regards Teslar technology as beneficial, and this is described on the Electromagnetic Deficiencies and Therapies page.

A web site dedicated to Christian acupuncture is shown below.

http://christianacupuncture.com

An objective Christian view of Acupuncture can be read at the link below. The overall conclusion is that acupuncture is not 'occult', but the practitioner 'might be'.

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/14661.htm

A Christian friend of BlackSpy has stated that Acupuncture is not 'pagan' or 'Satanic' per se, but only if done in the spirit of pagan Gods. The same could be said about any type of therpay or massage, it depends on the spiritual intention of the practitioner behind what he is doing. A Swedish massage could be 'Satanic' in this context. BlackSpy's friend has stated that only God can truly create, or from a Panentheistic perspective, all creation in the universe, related to life and life force, comes from connecting with God in some fashion, or 'using' God. Call this the Holy Spirit, God, vibration, whatever. BlackSpy's friend argues that the 'counterfeit God', i.e. the Christian view of Satan, is unable to create but tries to mimmick creation. So it ultimately depends on what the practitioner's intention is, and to what extent they are truly creating, and to what extent they are mixing up true creation with 'counterfeit creation', or relying on the latter.

back to top

 
Quantum-Touch:



Quantum-Touch (QT) was 'developed' by Richard Gordon from 1978 onwards, upon training with a very accomplished healer Rob Rasmusson. Quantum Touch is a type of energetic therapy which works through light touch and the holding on of hands.

QT works through removing energetic blockages in the body's meridians, and through amplification and resonance of internal energy. In a sense it is like a catalyst to helping the body heal itself. It is however not just an energetic therapy like acupuncture.

The primary principles of QT are resonance and entrainment. Resonance is the interaction of the practitioner's life force energy field with the universal energy field. This results in a significant increase in the vibrational energy of the practitioner's field. Entrainment is the tendency for similarly tuned system to 'lock into phase' with one another so that they vibrate in harmony. The idea of QT is that the practitioner stays at the higher level of vibration and brings the vibration level of the client up to his vibration level. The practitioner maintains this higher level of vibration through visualisation, grounding and breathing. The practitioner visualises energy moving through his body - coming up from the ground through his feet and legs, up the torso, to the top of his head, then down the sides of his head, into his shoulders and then out through his arms, with the energy moving into the hands. The practitioner co-ordinates this visualisation (or sweeping as it is known) with breathing techniques or set breathing patterns - usually nose breathing. Different combinations of breathing exercises may be employed during the course of a session. The practitioner begins by preparing himself by employing these techniques, and then continues them in varying forms during the actual healing session. By simply placing his hands on the client's body or afflicted body region, the practitioner is able to assist the client to 'heal himself' by helping the client to raise his own vibrational energy field to a higher level of vibration (i.e. increased flow of qi and increased 'amount' of qi). The practitioner is also 'healed' by the follow of energy through his body from the universal field - as it passes through, some is absorbed. In addition, by raising his vibrational level, prior to a session, the practitioner is also 'healing himself'.

Energetic blockages are often associated with areas of muscle tension and skeletal misalignment. By removing the energetic blockages, the tissues and skeleton can relax and realign respectively. Dramatic skeleton, muscular and postural changes can happen in individuals through QT treatment. So QT can be used to treat all manner of complaints, not only chronic muscular, skeletal and tendon problems, but also general energetic problems associated with the body's improper functioning. In some patients, a catch 22 arises, which is not unfamiliar with sufferers of CFS. A person may have chronic muscle tension in a certain area, for example, the pelvis, lower back or the neck. This muscle tension causes or is caused by (or both) a severe energetic blockage in that area, which can impact other areas such as the endocrine system or digestion. However, because of the nature of the problem, a purely mechanical therapy is not able to release the muscle tension, and a therapy like acupuncture may not be able to remove the energetic blockage because of the way it is manifested and self-perpetuated physically. And unless the issue is resolved, the person will not see any significant progress even though he is doing all the right things in terms of supplementation and perhaps adaptogenic herbs. A therapy like QT can really help in such instances. A skilled practitioner is able to actually perceive the energetic blockages by just looking at a person standing up or even sitting down. QT is probably the most powerful of all energetic therapies and has been used to cure a number of conditions ranging from CFS to MS and other neurological and auto-immune disorders. The energy put into the body during a QT session usually takes up to 4 days to be fully absorbed and utilised by the body. Some patients may feel very little for 24 hours and then suddenly feel amazing. One can exercise on the day of the treatment, but it is probably not advisable, but to rest and drink plenty of water. Patients vary in their frequency, and may have treatments every week, every month, or just as and when they feel they need one.



There are three levels of QT training, Basic, Supercharging and Core Transformation. At the basic level, practitioners work on putting energy into the body. At the supercharging level, practitioners are much more proficient at putting energy into the body and are able to perceive energy in the patient. At the Core Transformation level, practitioners are able to 'melt and unravel' energy in the body, which could be related to realigning the flow of energy or removing energetic blockages. Even after the basic workshop, any layperson is able to perform some basic QT techniques. QT does not have a concept of good and bad energy as does bio-energy healing, but only energy that is in synch or out of synch with where it should be and what it should be doing. A list of QT practitioners in your country/area is available on the association web site. You may wish to select a practitioner who suits your personal style best, whose background skills you like the sound of, and who has the most experience/skill etc.

Skill in QT is not always a matter of training for 10 or 20 years like in some professions, but may come very quickly in certain individuals. QT can also be performed through 'distance healing' which may seem a bizarre concept to some, but it does indeed work. Try it if you are not convinced! Related disciplines to Quantum Touch can be learnt using the principles of Quanutm touch, including performing a distance healing session by simply thinking of the intended recipient. In some sense QT could be regarded as using one's 'God given power' as its focus is on God and sending 'unconditional love' or as in some part panentheistic (using some Hermetic philosophical principles (and could be considered a type of healing inspired by the New Thought movement). However, BlackSpy is just commenting on its actual physical and medical effects and on his own experiences.

Whilst one can indeed seek a practioner for QT sessions, one can also learn QT oneself fairly easily. This can be accomplished by attending one of the Basic Workshops and/or buying the Quantum Touch manual (which can be purchased from the QT web site) or downloaded here. The basics of QT can be learnt in a matter of hours. This could be an important tool for assisting you in your recovery from CFS or a related condition.

www.quantumtouch.com

www.quantumtouch.com/index.php?p=view_category&category_id=2

Information documentaries on Quantum Theory (i.e. theoretical physics as distinct from Quantum Touch as a therapy) can be viewed at the link below.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

back to top

 
Bio-Energy Healing:



Bio-Energy Healing operates on similar principles to QT in terms of removing energetic blockages, but actually relies on the practitioner putting energy (qi) into body from the surroundings with one hand and simultaneously drawing out 'bad energy/qi' with the other hand, rather than amplifying the energy through resonance. This is how energetic blockages are removed. Bio-Energy Healing relies soley on using the hands to feel the patient's energy and to move energy as described above. Bio-energy healing can also be practiced via distance as well as in person. The concept of bad energy may perhaps mean an energetic blockage or energy 'out of synch' for example hot energy or other concepts from Oriental Medicine or QT. Bio-Energy Healing is often performed in consecutive daily sessions, for example, 5 days in a row, every few months. Exercise on the day of the treatment is not recommended, and the patient should drink plenty of water and rest.

back to top

 
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

back to top

 
Acupuncture:



Acupuncture is a Chinese art that works by placing needles and/or moxibustion cones (heat) onto specific acupuncture points on the body. The points chosen will depend on which meridians are blocked and the nature of the qi in the body (stagant/flowing, hot/cold energy, damp/dry heat etc.) Needles can either be left in for up to an hour and a half, or simply inserted briefly for a few seconds. Sensation may vary, such as a dull pain, a sharp pain or on occasion an electric shock that shoots down the leg and onto the ball of the foot. Sometimes practitioners use electric currents through the needles, and attach a special machine where frequency and amplitude can be adjusted, to increase the effect of the needles. Acupuncture works on the body's different meridians to release energy blockages and thus to promote harmonious flow of qi (or life force) around the body. Each meridian corresponds to a real or imagined organ, for example, the Spleen meridian or the Triple Burner meridian. In addition, the function of the meridian does not necessarily correspond to the function of the organ, for example, the pancreas determines the quality of digestion but it is the spleen meridian that determines this also. Acupuncture sessions need not be monthly or weekly, but the frequency can be adapted according to the patient's progress. Acupuncture may also involve cupping therapy, which is where small glass cups are used and placed onto areas of muscle tension/acupuncture points. They are effective as the practitioner uses a lighted splint and puts it briefly into the upturned cup before placing it onto the body. This results in a lower pressure in the cup and thus a 'suction' effect. They may be placed over points where needles have already been inserted, or alone. Cupping therapy can either involve placing the cups on the points and leaving them there (for upto 30 minutes), or actually running the cup up and down the back which can be quite uncomfortable!

www.tcmbasics.com/introduction.htm

See the link below for an acupuncture point wallchart image.

http://www.orienthall.co.uk/images/acupuncture%20point%20wall%20chart%201.jpg

The identification process in TCM works on the basis of general questions about symptoms, diet and medical history etc., examining the tongue, feeling the different 'pulses' on each wrist (which correspond to the different organs of the body), but also in observing how the body reacts to treatments and how the balance of the meridians changes.

A 'tongue gallery' can be viewed at the web sites below, which explains what characteristics are associated with what type of energetic imbalance.

www.acumedic.com/flash/tongue/index.htm

www.giovanni-maciocia.com/tonguegallery/default.html

Please note that 'Medical Acupuncture' is not the same as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture is practiced in certain British Hospitals, and uses TCM acupuncture points to relieve pain and prevent nausea during medical treatment. It does not work with the concept of 'qi' or meridians etc. and is not intended or used to treat or cure illness or ill health.

www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk

back to top

 
Chinese Herbal Medicine:

A good and experienced acupuncturist will also be proficient in the use and preparation of Chinese Herbal Medicine. This is prepared from a large selection of different Chinese herbs, and particular herbs are chosen according to their primary and secondary (side effect) energetic properties. These should not use animal products. Do not see an acupuncturist who uses animal products as 'herbs' - these often include endangered species and have little or no effect whatsoever - these parts may be full of mould in any case. Optimally, the herbal preparation is balanced to counteract the effect of some of the primary herbs used to treat a specific condition the patient has. The herbs act to rebalance meridians and also to build up energy in the body. Each time the patient visits the acupuncturist, the energetic state of the patient is measured through the tongue, pulse and symptoms, and a new set of herbs is prescribed. Thus the herbs are tailored to the individual and adapts as the person's energetic balance and problems change and resolve. They are tailored also to the particular areas the acupuncturist is working on in his treatments. Herbs are dried herbs, stored in jars, and are given to the patient in paper bags, one for each day.





Normally the contents of the bags are boiled twice for 15-25 minutes in a non-metallic pan and strained each time, and the 'juice' is mixed and drunk (warm) in the morning and evening. It is often convenient to prepare two days herbs at once, and to keep the unused portion in the refrigerator. An alternative to prescribed and individually tailored Chinese herbs is to take ready prepared Chinese herbal powder. This is usually sold in capsule form. Although a wide range of capsules is usually available, so the practitioner can approximate your exact prescription, they are not as strong or as specifically targetted to your energetic needs and so will not be as effective. They are however more convenient, especially when travelling (although you may find it interesting explaining it to customs if there are no labels on the packaging!). It is ultimately up to the individual which path he chooses.

Chinese Herbal Medicine draws on a variety of herbs, fruits and tree barks that are native to mainland China. This is not to say that one could utilise herbs, plants, fruits and bark native to a European country for a very similar effect. However, to devise such a system, one would need to identify the primary and secondary energetic qualities of each herb, as well as it's immediate physical effect on the body, and apply the concepts of TCM when prescribing combinations of herbs for a particular patient. The method used by most Western herbalists creates a kind of 'energetic mess'.



Of the various ingredients used by Chinese Herbal Medicine, those that are commonly used for conditions such as yin deficiency, qi stagnation and low stomach-spleen meridian energy, include Goji berries and Orange peel. One can purchase Goji juice or dried Goji berries (pictured above) from supermarkets or health food stores - they are extremely tasty! Eating a small amount every day may well provide various benefits in certain individuals. Dried orange peel in TCM is boiled along with other herbs. It has been established that citrus fruit peel contains a type of pectin that can assist with heavy metal chelation, and it is not certain whether this is a coincidence and added benefit or something that was 'energetically' established by TCM practitioners.

TCM practitioners generally recommend that one engages in a programme of Qi Gong or T'ai Chi Chu'an together with one's TCM herbal prescriptions, in order to maximise the ability of the body to build up its Jing.

It should be considered that the quality of herbs supplied by or purchased from Chinese Herbalists may vary considerably, depending on how polluted the area in which the herbs were grown (e.g. close to industrial areas where smog is a big problem, close to busy roads - vehicles still using Leaded petrol/gas); pesticides and herbicides, used on the herb fields, some of which are still illegal in Europe and the US, e.g. DDT; containing chemical additives not declared on the ingredients that may be illegal in this country; or even have inadvertent contamination from the manufacturing/drying and encapsulation process for processed herbs. It is perhaps best to ask your practitioner about the quality of the herbs being supplied and if they have any information about their origin.

www.happyherbalist.com/chinese_herbs.htm

Dr Richard Schulze in his Video programme, Save Your Life, argues that many herbs grown outside of the US are not grown to the same standards and are often toxic, polluted or of very low grade with a low concentration of active ingredients. He named in particular herbs from India and China as prime culprits for toxicity. Presumably not all growers from these countries produce the same quality or purity of herbs, but the extent of the problem is not really known. One could argue that the vast majority of tea leaves are grown in India, and should everyone stop drinking tea? Perhaps it is best to stick to Organic tea in any case, but it is perhaps more likely that Tea plantations are more widely regulated and monitored, the market segment being much bigger and subject to scrutiny (and purchases being taste-oriented as opposed to medicinal herbs that can taste as ghastly as they like). There are suppliers and wholesalers of Organic Chinese Herbs now, although not so common, they are out there. Perhaps try to find a practitioner who uses organic herb sources. Organic does not necessarily mean high quality (strong) of course, but it is a starting point.

BlackSpy as an experiment brought along a bag of Chinese herbs along to his practitioner appointment to have his practitioner muscle test (Applied Kinesiological testing) them on him, in conjunction with other herbs and supplements being tested. The Chinese Herbs were tested to be neutral, i.e. 'nutrition' or not particularly wanted by the body - which is disappointing considering they are meant to be a custom medicine treatment tailored to one's exact problems - in contrast with a Licorice Extract from an American supplier which tested positively (at that point in time). One would have thought that a cusom Chinese herbal prescription would muscle test very well, if it was from a reputable source. The only caveat here is that the Chinese Herbalist determines the prescription based on symptoms, the pulse and the tongue appearance and if they detect a problem, they make a judgement call of which herbs to arbitrarily use for the job, factoring in how well the last prescription worked and how to best balance the types of herbs they intend to use for this prescription. This may of course result in the assigning of certain herbs that they body doesn't particularly respond so well to, as opposed to others that it might. Without going through each herb and muscle testing it individually, one would never know. Chinese herbalists do not generally know muscle testing and these two disciplines are unfortunately not generally found in the same practitioner. A bag of herbs containing some herbs that the body needs and others that it does not want may not muscle test positively as a unit. Those cynical individuals who dismiss both muscle testing and Traditional Chinese Medicine may think that this is all academic as they won't be using either method for determining what to take, but there are definite merits with each approach. Although we see some Western practitioners using some herbs that are also used by TCM, it is still a long way from getting the best of both worlds.

Non-TCM herbal supplements, manufactured by European and American companies, clearly vary in quality too. Not all are organic, but as mentioned above, being organic does not necessarily mean high potency of active ingredients. There are other things to consider including fillers, other compounds added, encapsulation and so on. In addition, some manufacturers have more stringent quality testing methods than others. Reputable and high quality manufacturers test each batch of raw ingredients for pesticides and other toxins as well as the end product, whereas others only test each batch of raw ingredients. Vital Nutrients tend to use organic ingredients and test the end product, whereas Jarrow Formulas and Thorne Research only test each batch of raw ingredients, according to T. Michael Culp.

back to top

 
Acupressure Massage:



Acupressure is a Chinese art that works on the basis of massaging acupressure/acupuncture points on the body's different meridians to release energy blockages and thus to promote harmonious flow of qi (or life force) around the body. Each meridian corresponds to a real or imagined organ, for example, the Spleen meridian or the Triple Burner meridian. In addition, the function of the meridian does not necessarily correspond to the function of the organ, for example, the pancreas determines the quality of digestion but it is the spleen meridian that determines this also. Acupressure is normally given in conjunction with Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy. Acupressure is regarded by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as being inferior to Acupuncture, and so a practitioner will rarely give just an acupressure massage in isolation, but in addition to an acupuncture treatment (on the same day or on an alternative day). Acupressure does however have the advantage of relaxing the muscles, and a good hour long acupressure session can be very relaxing and therapeutic. Acupuncture and acupressure do not actually put any more or new energy into the body, but merely redistribute what the body has to level out imbalances and work on blockages. It is therefore unwise to have too many acupuncture sessions too close together or one can deplete the body's qi levels, even though the body is more 'balanced' energetically. The sessions rely on the patient building up their energy levels in between each session, so there is more energy to work with and rebalance. This is why some practitioners only practice Chinese herbal medicine.

back to top

 
Medical Qi Gong:



Medical Qi Gong is related to acupuncture, and is considered to be the forefather of acupuncture. It is still practised by some TCM practitioners, and has grown increasingly popular in recent years. Instead of using a needle or series of needles to remove a blockage, the practitioner uses his own qi, transferred from his hands to the acupuncture point, to remove the blockage. It is thought of as being a more direct and effective method. It does however use the practitioner's own qi, and as a result, healers in ancient China had to practice external Qi Gong exercises regularly in order to be 'overflowing with Qi', so they could then use that excess Qi on some of their patients. It is thought that acupuncture was devised to order to preserve the practitioners' own Qi levels. With today's busier lifestyles, and TCM practitioners able to perform less and less Qi Gong themselves, partly on account of acupuncture being a full time occupation or a business, you can see why many TCM practitioners have favoured acupuncture and acupressure over medical Qi Gong.

www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=31516

Below is a paper (in pdf format) about Medical Qi Gong being used to treat Fibromyalgia patients.

www.qigonginstitute.org/html/papers/QigongFibroJacm2006.pdf

back to top

 
Afternote:

A useful web site examining techniques for recovering from Chronic Illness can be found at the link below, explaining some aspects of TCM in terms of Western Medicine.

www.acu-plus.co.uk/How_to_recover/how_to_recover.html

A good acupuncturist should really go through your entire diet at your first sitting, or give you a diet sheet to fill in, to include everything that you've eaten, drunk and smoked in a week. This gives the acupuncturist a good idea of whether your diet is causing you major energetic problems or not.

Let us consider BlackSpy as a case study. During the early to mid 90s, BlackSpy had frequent bouts of cold and influenza, very bad post-viral fatigue for about one to two months after each bout of the flu. His diet was vegetarian, high in spicy food and he smoked cannabis on a regular basis. He went to see an acupuncturist who was also his Tai Chi Chu'an instructor. This practitioner did not enquire too deeply about his diet, and after many sessions, we got nowhere. The acupuncturist was rather confused.

In 1995/6 BlackSpy went to see an excellent acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist in London called Dr Lee at a clinic called Fook Sang (now unfortunately closed down). He differed from most other acupuncturists in that he demanded BlackSpy fill in a diet sheet, and then circled most of the items on there and gave BlackSpy a list of foods to avoid (excessive heat or cold) which included most processes foods and spicy foods, and anything with artificial additives. BlackSpy was put on a diet of boiled white rice, beans and vegetables, cheese salad sandwiches with butter and white bread and oatmeal pretty much. This varies quite considerably from the anti-candida diet, but was a detoxification diet of sorts. BlackSpy was given a huge, single bag of herbs each week (in opposition to the usual small, daily bag of herbs). The herbs were boiled and consumed in two halves, one half before going to bed, and the other half at 4am(!) It was very extreme, but after just 4 bags of herbs, BlackSpy felt much better and was able to cope with 5 or 6 hours sleep a night and felt energised and amazing each morning, and all throughout the day! He had the option of going to bed early some nights but chose not to! BlackSpy's diet went back to 'normal' although without the spicy food after a few months, and went to see a different acupuncturist again (big mistake!) Gradually his energy levels returned to those pre-Dr Lee. He had stopped smoking cannabis at this point too. Within 18 months he had developed stomach and digestive problems which came and went on and off over the next 10 years, despite having semi-regular acupuncture at a highly respected clinic. BlackSpy never found anyone like Dr Lee again! BlackSpy did find that although he was very good, he never really addressed BlackSpy's toxicity and digestive issues, which plagued him over the following years.

back to top

 
Shiatsu:



Shiatsu is a Japanese art, with many overlapping areas with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Acupressure and Acupuncture, with the same concepts of meridians and qi (see below). It differs somewhat in that the shiatsu practitioner works on the whole meridian rather than just on acupuncture points. The shiatsu treatment can also help to release muscle tension as well as unblock meridians and increase energy flow in weak organs, perhaps like the spleen, stomach, liver, kidney and lungs. The practitioner uses massage, hand and sometimes elbow manipulation, and certain assisted stretches to unblock energetic blockages, to work a specific meridian or meridians and to release muscle tension. Shiatsu does not actually put any more or new energy into the body, but merely redistributes what the body has to level out imbalances and work on blockages. It is therefore unwise to have too many shaitsu sessions too close together or one can deplete the body's qi levels, even though the body is more 'balanced' energetically. The sessions rely on the patient building up their energy levels in between each session, so there is more energy to work with and rebalance.



Shiatsu practitioners promote the Macrobiotic diet. Further information regarding macrobiotic diet and hot/cold energy can be found on the Digestive Disorders page.

back to top

 
Reflexology:



Reflexology practice allegedly dates back to ancient Egypt, India and China, but it was not introduced to the west until 1913, as Zone Therapy, by Dr William Fitzgerald. In the 1930s Eunice Ingham refined Zone Theory into what is now known as reflexology. Reflexology is an internal system of energetic treatment focussing on finger pressure on the foot. Each major organ or part of the body is mirrored on a particular point on the foot. It operates in a similar manner to acupressure or shiatsu massage, but focussing purely on foot points to work on the meridians of the entire body.



TCM also uses acupuncture and acupressure points on the foot, which are used by some practitioners. In addition, certain health products such as Foot Detox Patches are alleged to utilise the reflexology map when promoting toxin release and lymph absorbance from the targetted organs.

back to top

 
Reiki:



Reiki is a Japanese art, with many overlapping areas with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, with the same concepts of meridians and qi (see below). It differs somewhat in that the Reiki practitioner works on the whole meridian rather than just on acupuncture points and just uses the hands to unblock energetic blockages and to increase the energy of particular meridians such as the spleen, stomach, liver, kidney and lungs. Reiki involves very light touch of the palms of the hands, which are placed sequentially around different points on the body. Reiki actually works on the principle of putting energy (qi) into the body, and so although a type of oriental medicine, differs from the other forms in this respect.

Reiki is a generic term in Japanese referring to healing. It is based on the healing system of Dr Mikao Usui in the late 19th Century.

www.reiki.org/FAQ/HistoryOfReiki.html

Reiki is somewhat different and more 'new age' compared with the other energetic practices on this page as it may utilise 'divine beings' called 'Reiki Guides' or 'Ascended Masters' and some liken it to a form of spiritualism. Some people are not comfortable with this and regard the healing as 'spiritually confused' or as a 'mixed bag', although clearly this may depend on the individual.

www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikin6.html

www.spotlightministries.org.uk/reiki.htm



back to top

 
Homeopathy:



Homeopathy was invented by a German in the late 18th Century. It is a system of diluting a plant extract or other compound until its concentration is virtually zero, but it's energetic properties are claimed to still remain in the solution. It uses the principle of treating like with like (akin to fighting fire with fire, energetically speaking).

www.homeopathy-soh.org

Critics of homeopathy state that herbal solutions do not actually contain any measurable concentration of the stated herbal ingredients, and are basically water and alcohol; and compared with strong tinctures of high quality organic herbs, which have the actual properties of the plant(s) in question and arguably more of the 'energy' of the plant in them, they may be ineffective. Critics of homeopathy also point to those preparations that use heavy metals, puss, tumours, faecal matter etc., diluted down, which is meant to 'cure' the patient. Dr Richard Schulze claims that the founder homeopathy even used to suffocate birds as he believed the essence of the bird would go into the alcoholic solution.

www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=547732

'Dr. Samuel Hanhemann (1755 - 1843), a medical doctor, after years of orthodox medical practice became dissatisified with his therapy. He developed his own system, using the same medical drugs of the era, but in very small even invisible dosages. I repeat he used the same chemical drugs, animal parts, herbs, reptiles, insects, metals, minerals, acids, and radioactive material which are still employed by modern homeopathic and medical doctors. He believed that the remedies took on the spirit, especially in the case of the animals, reptiles, and insects. A common practice of his was to suffocate live birds into the alcohol to capture the spirit of the animal into the remedy. This is still practiced today in such homeopathic remedies as Formica Rufa or Myrmexine, used in the treatment of arthritis, which is made from crushed live ants. He did not believe that we could depend on nature to treat disease and illness as stated in his book The Organon of Medicine written in 1810. Some of his fundamental beliefs were recorded in this work. He felt that nature was undependabe as a healing agent, most of nature was unusable in its natural state, and if it did cure disease it was only by chance. He felt the only certain cures were remedies manufactured by the physician. These views are exactly the views of most orthodox medical doctors today, certainly not the views of Holistic or Natural Practitioners.'

www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/homeo.html

Arguments for Homeopathy can be found in this Natural News article, some being more meaningful than others.

www.naturalnews.com/024512.html

BlackSpy has tried a number of homeopathic remedies over the years, by various skilled homeopaths, some skilled in working with CFS patients, and has not ever noticed any substantial effect from them. BlackSpy does know of patients however who have made a full recovery using homeopathic medicine, so keeps an open mind, but remains slightly sceptical.

back to top

 
Qi, Jing and Sex:

BlackSpy would like to discuss the concept of Qi as it relates to sexual activity according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As discussed in the Cheung Meridian Therapy section, there are four types of energy (strictly speaking 3 types, the Three Treasures or Three Jewels: Jing, Qi and Shen). Whilst Qi can be acquired, generated and mobilised from various inputs and activities, food (e.g. carbohydrates), light exercise, fresh air and proper breathing, etc. Exercise helps to circulate your Qi more so than actually generate it.

Jing is much harder to acquire/replenish. Two known methods for generating Jing are Qi Gong and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Internal Chinese martials arts, in performed correctly, are designed to preserve pre-natal Jing and build up post-natal Jing. Chinese herbs are also said to perform such a role in those with energetic imbalances.

Jing is known as Essence or Inherent Chi. This the fixed amount of energy you are both with, and is determined by the health of your parents at the time of conception. Jing is generally stored in the kidneys, known as kidney essence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jing_(TCM)

There are various disciplines, including martial arts, that help to develop your Jing and your Qi. The most effective is believed to be Qi Gong. Second to this, T'ai Chi Chu'an (and probably Yoga) are deemed to be the next effective. After this comes various kung fu styles, the more internal forms are regarded as being superior at developing Qi. These are Ba Gua, Hsing I and Wing Chun; and perhaps also Shaolin Five Animals to a lesser extent. Virtually all kung fu styles help to develop Qi, some relying on external strength more than others. Some styles or disciplines are more physically demanding than others. The physical intensity may depend on the style but also how your train, which particular aspects of the art you are practising and the duration of your training sessions. Clearly doing too much too soon may simply tire you out and use up more qi than you actually create. So a balance has to be struck with your training sessions. More strenuous arts may also not be suitable for those with very frail health (which require a certain level of fitness in order to perform and to build qi), who may be better off focussing on Qi Gung and T'ai Chi Chu'an. The amount one performs depends on what one has learnt and how much one is comfortable doing. There is usually an optimal amount you can do every day, to slowly build up Qi, and beyond this, you may simply be wearing yourself out. This optimal amount may change with time.

Jing is consumed throughout one's life by one's daily activity, and one is said to die when one's jing becomes too low. The rate of depletion of one's jing depends on how well one takes care of oneself. If you look after yourself by eating well (according to various disciplines such as western nutrition and also TCM), sleep enough, not staying up late all the time, not working too hard and generally living a moderate life, then you will continue to replenish your Qi and Blood which helps to protect your Jing from being used up. This will help to conserve and protect your Jing. Your Jing in a sense is your body's reserve which is dipped into only when the Qi and Blood supply is low. In addition to these things, you can keep yourself in tip top shape and health through the practice of Qi Gong and also taking Chinese herbs if applicable to any energetic imbalances you might have.

However, if you fail to eat properly, fail to sleep enough or rest enough, experience stress, work too hard, study too hard, exercise too heavily without days off, experience excessive stress, ingest too many toxins, sexually overindulge, etc.,then these things will tend to greatly use up or lower your Qi and blood levels, and when they become low enough, your body will lose that level of 'protection' and start to use the Qi and Blood from your Jing instead. This is why imbalanced or excessive or destructive lifestyles are extremely draining and unhealthy for the body and your Jing.

Jing is the essence of the Kidney from which yin and yang are derived. Exercise also helps to make yang more available in the body (temporarily). It does not however help to replenish your yang. Yang is generaly topped up by eating particular food types such as red meat, ginger and garlic, as well as taking certain Chinese herbs and using certain acupuncture points.

Semen loss and menstruation/egg production are said to put a particular strain on one's jing. Jing is given to the foetus at the moment of conception. Conception is the fusing together of an egg cell and a sperm cell. The mother only produces/releases one egg per month, whereas the man produces millions of sperm cells. The egg cell is however many times larger than the sperm cell. TCM considers the egg and the sperm to be forms of Jing.

One can look at it from a 'spiritual' angle, that the actual egg produced is more vibrant that other bodily cells and has more 'energy' or 'essence' (Jing) in it, compared to other cells. Indeed it holds half of the life force of a new human life in there - the 'soul'. This would require a significant amount of jing to be shared from the mother to produce. Similarly, the man's sperms are very hardy swimmers and are capable of unfathomable physical feats in relative terms, relative to their size. However, the man does not produce one sperm but millions of sperm cells on a continual basis, and more so if he ejaculates and loses the sperm cells. So perhaps this requires even more of a man's jing to produce. It is possible that when some of the semen is reabsorbed into the body (when stored in the vessels adjacent to the balls) that some of this jing is reabsorbed - perhaps. But anyway, the man must continually produce many individual potential halves of a human being in his sperm.



So whilst the act of sex could be considered similar to other forms of exercise, in the bigger picture, it is likely that it is more than just a case of using up one's Qi and 'blood' so there is less protection for the Jing. There will be some element of actually directly using up the Jing in both ejaculation and menstruation/egg production. Sex itself is a much more complex activity hormonally and in terms of neurotransmitter production than regular exercise. It is no secret that people feel slightly tired after sexual intercourse and climax. More than they would after the equivalent cardiovascular exercise session. This is especially true for men who lose the most jing after climax/ejaculation! This tiredness is more than just the'refractory period' but is Qi/Jing related to some degree also.

For women, menstruation is not optional, but a monthly biological fact (from early teens to late 40s or 50s). The menstrual cycle does however have a built in recover period before it begins again, allowing the woman to build up her blood and jing again. The menstural cycle results in a certain amount of blood and mineral/nutrient loss. Blood is associated with Qi, and it is thus important for everyone, especially, women that their diet is nutritious and that they are able to build up their blood volume (and hence Qi) again in between menstrual cycles. For a woman, childbirth is probably the biggest sexually related factor in 'jing' loss. In addition, having children in close succession may well drain a woman's jing. This is also discussed on the Causes and Effects page, in relation to the preferential diversion of nutrients to the foetus in a pregnant mother and the severe nutrient depletion that can occur when mothers have multiple pregnancies/childbirths in close succession.

Sexual intercourse results in some qi and jing loss from a woman, but not in the same way as a man's ejaculation, as a woman does not have to physically lose a substance containing jing from her body during sexual intercourse. It is unlikely that a woman can recover jing from a man's semen inside the uterus/vagina or if ingested orally. So whilst it is not favourable in health terms to lose more jing than one has to from the body, it is not so critical for a woman as for a man. This can be balanced with the extent that the woman is able to top up her jing, as described above.

A man does not menstruate, and so there is no monthly blood loss and corresponding loss of nutrients and jing this way. However, he does lose some jing during sexual intercourse to some degree, but primarily at the point of ejaculation, where jing is physically lost from the body. Clearly a man will continually produce semen during his life (from early teens to old age, e.g. 70s) regardless of how often he ejaculates, as the body continually tops up and reabsorbs semen, in order to keep the sperm cells fresh and vibrant. However, after ejaculation, the body works harder to replace the lost semen, i.e. it is having to use more of its 'jing' to build up the semen supply again. In other words, regular ejaculation will deplete the jing more than if one does not or rarely ejaculates. Regular ejaculation can also deplete the jing more rapidly if one is not doing much to actually build up the jing in the first place, i.e. taking Chinese Herbal Medicine and/or performing Qi Gong or similar exercises daily. For someone who is very ill (whose jing may be low and/or their protective blood/Qi levels are low and hence providing no protection to their jing), regular ejaculation from a TCM perspective is a very harmful activity - it affects their overall health as well as their sexual health and sexual function (both of which go hand in hand). Anyone with low blood/Qi levels will be more likely to dig into their Jing reserves. One might colloquially refer to it as 'spunking off one's qi'! The exact recommended limits for numbers of ejaculations an adult male should adhere to to ensure that his jing is not unnecessarily depleted varies from TCM practitioner to practitioner. BlackSpy has been told by a number of acupuncturists that 1-2 times a week is probably the limit for an adult male, especially so for one who is in poor health. A web site below examines the recommended 'limits'. Clearly it depends on the individual, and those with CFS or related conditions may want to consider being especially conservative in this manner.

www.altmd.com/Articles/Sexual-Qi-Gong

There may be some advantages with daily ejaculation, for example less DNA fragmentation of one's sperm, compared with individuals who do not ejaculate daily. This is only relevant however when one intends to impregnate a woman. This advantage must be offset against the loss of jing.

Sexual arousal and sexual intercourse or activity that precedes ejaculation will affect one's energetic movement and balance, besides draining one's jing. The yang element is increased and moves much more rapidly and vigorously within the body during arousal and intercourse. However, this additional yang movement and altered balance between yin and yang should only occur for the duration of sexual activity. The increase in movement and mobilisation of the yang element (produced from Jing) is not so significant in gentle sexual activity compared with vigorous sexual activity. The same could be said of exercise in general.

After sex or sexual arousal is over, the body should return to the state of balance or imbalance it was in prior. Some people's constitutions, however, cannot deal very well with the increased yang in the body or the intensity of yang created during sexual arousal or sex. This can make any kind of sexual activity an overwhelming experience during or afterwards (depending on intensity and duration) as it can upset the balance within their bodies even more. Indeed, this may be especially exaggerated if mitochondrial function is especially poor, when the actual sex act itself can be enough to totally deplete a person's reserves. Jing is the essence of the Kidney from which yin and yang are derived so further depletion of Jing from ejaculation will affect the general Kidney function more severely.

Sexual intercourse cannot be considered to be like any other form of exercise. It may well be tempted as it releases endorphins and makes us feel much better than regular exercise normally does. Sex acts to mobilise and scatter your Qi and Yang element (temporarily) in the same way that normal exercise does, however sexual intercourse does still use up your Jing, for both men and women, even if the man doesn't ejaculate. Avoiding ejaculation just reduces the amount of jing one uses up during sex. Exercise in general does not have this impact on the body, although extreme feats of athletic prowess that put a big strain on the body are highly likely to force the body to reach into its reserves and use up its jing, e.g. long distance marathon running a few times a year, or taking part in long expeditions such as extreme mountain climbing or polar exploration. This is not intended to discourage people from athletic feats, heroic acts or exploration, but merely that this kind of thing will takes its toll on the body and one's health/lifespan, and so in the interests of health should not be done frequently, perhaps just as a one off experience. At one extreme there is leading an uneventful life, which the Chinese traditionally consider to be optimal, and at the other extreme we have the macho western style action hero (who usually doesn't live very long). Where one finds one's personal balance is up to the individual, but clearly cultivating one's Jing will provide damage limitation and allow one to be more adventurous and still relative healthy than the next person who may burn himself out over a period of time with the jing cultivation exercises. It comes down to how long you want to live, what quality of life you want now and also in your latter years, and how much 'fun' you want in the interim. 'Fun' and long life are not incompatible. Bodily abuse or overstretching can be better tolerated with high levels of Qi, Blood and Jing.

Some TCM practitioners believe very strongly that Jing can be somewhat depleted by constantly thinking about sex, or with any sexual arousal even without ejaculation. This could be because the energy and the spirit is not centred or focused, and also because the yang activity generated during arousal is so great that it does consume some Jing from the body. As one's Jing is what your Kidney yin and yang is derived from, it is logical to assume that anything that uses up a lot of yin or yang in the body will have a knock on effect on the body's overall Jing supply.

A man can therefore choose to preserve his jing (related to sex) by reducing the amount of sexual intercourse he engages in, and to a lesser extent by not ejaculating every time he engages in sexual intercourse, or to learn how to separate orgasm from ejaculation. The latter two activities may be learnt/trained through practices like tantric sex or sexual qi gong. These practices may also be used to prolong the sex act for many hours, rather than the shorter durations normally associated with ejaculation-based sex. These may not be for all. Many people want to have sex and simply assume ejaculation is required or necessary, as it is the normal 'conclusion' of events, but this does not necessarily have to be so. One may even practice sex but without a climax, in which case a recovery period is not really necessary afterwards and one can pick it up any time as it were. This is of course not tantric sex in any sense but does preserve one's semen. The practices of tantric sex or sexual qi gong are usually performed in a controlled manner and may not generate as much yang as 'traditional' sex, or if they do, there are perhaps methods of channelling the excessive yang away from the body and influencing its effects so one does not end up draining the body of as much Jing; and to use up less jing during non-ejaculative sex. In any case, these activities should probably not really be learnt without also cultivating one's jing with various internal martial arts and exercises, such as energetic-based meditation, Qi Gong, T'ai Chi Chu'an and even Kung Fu (and perhaps other types of yoga). Jing cultivation and minimising Jing loss should be one's first priority. If one wishes to pursue an interest in the 'energetic arts' of sex, then that should come second.

Some critics of tantric sex or sexual qi gong suggest that the practice of preventing ejaculation at or close to orgasm by pressing the point between the anus and the balls does not actually prevent 'ejaculation' completely. They argue that as semen is mobilised from the scrotum prior to the point of orgasm, then some of it may simply end up in the bladder rather than coming out of the penis, and so the Jing is still lost. However, it depends on exactly one goes about sexual practices and how close one comes to orgasm, if one reaches orgasm, and whether one has trained the body not to ejaculate (or pass semen into the bladder) during orgasm.

Whilst sexual activity (solor or with a partner), even without ejaculation, may have some beneficial effects on the body, in terms of stress relief, neurotransmitter and hormone production, it may still be draining energetically for those who are chronically ill (as mentioned above), and result in hyper-excitability or a state of excitation which may be the opposite of what a person requires to quieten down their mind and normalise their neurotransmitter production for the promotion of healing. Sexual activity can be an excuse to prevent one from quietening one's mind, from detaching from one's stress and (other) addictions, and be an item in a long list of activities that the conscious mind wishes to engage in to prevent the aforementioned quietening and relaxation. Sex can become an addiction and/or a routine, where it loses the fun element. In addition, frequent and daily (or more often) ejaculation for some men results in less satisfying (and harer to achieve) organisms than less frequent ejaculations provide (e.g. once or twice a week). Assuming one is ejaculating during sex. Any fun activity, when we become fixated on it or dependent on it, has all (or at least most of) the fun squeezed out of it.

Of course, as discussed above, it depends how healthy one's blood and Qi levels are, which provide a protective buffer for one's Jing in day to day activity; and indeed it depends on how much jing one has to start with, and how old one is; and what one is doing to top up one's Jing. At a young age one can dip into one's jing frequently if one is pushing oneself or living an imbalanced lifestyle, and not notice any significant effects until perhaps one's early 30s, when lowered jing is more noticeable. One's jing is used up throughout one's life, as mentioned above, but one can choose to try to protect and conserve it as one sees fit. We are all biologically programmed to die, but to reproduce in the time that we are alive. However ageing does not have to mean becoming ill, frail, mentally degenerate, and become more immobile and miserable, and one can maintain good mobility, health and cheer into one's old age, and in many cases embarrass teenagers and people in their 20s who are in much worse health and state of fitness. Youth is often wasted on the young!

Many of us come to rely on sex or orgasm as a way of releasing tension and forgetting about stresses and pains etc. This is fairly normal. Some people additionally rely on smoking, drinking, drug use, comfort foods, working out etc. Whilst certain forms of exercise can be quite healthy, most of the aforementioned strategies are unhealthy and also put excessive strain on our blood and Qi. Those who are too reliant on any of the above go into a cold turkey and experience a mental rollercoaster ride and excessive stress if they try to abstain initially, which is draining of one's energy and Qi, and often leads them to give up and go back to their previous habits. In the case of sex and/or masturbation, one may simply not be used to doing without it, and this has resulted in an addiction and also in lack of mental discipline, at the expense of other methods of relaxation which promote wellbeing and health with no downsides. One should ideally be able to take or leave sex without having one's libido control one's thoughts, and fill one's thoughts with sex if one has not had an orgasm for a certain number of hours or days. It is also not conducive to mental calm and clarity. If one is to cut down on an activity such as orgasm that may be draining for a less than perfectly healthy body, then one must find other ways of tackling the root causes of the stress that the sex/masturbation was used to relieve; and also find other healthier ways of calming the mind and releasing stress. It is good to cut someone out of one's life temporarily just to see how dependent one is on it, and how stressed one really is underneath it all. This can point to a more positive and constructive way forwards. Ultimately it depends what you want out of life, and many people are content to not really want to think about stress, and just assume it is an involuntary response, and use sex or drinking as a distraction. No one is being forced to examine this issue. Ultimately you make your choices and live with the consequences, whatever they may be.

Critics of the whole concept may point to the fact that those who are unwell and in poor health, especially those who tend to survive day to day mainly on adrenaline (i.e. cases approaching or at adrenal 'burnout'), may find that once one has climaxed, that adrenaline levels may perhaps drop, resulting in a feeling that one has 'lost' some of one's energy. However, clearly the sex act itself can be physically demanding and enough to deplete the mitochondria of ATP in those individuals with poor metabolic functioning. This also does not explain why those with chronically low mitochondrial function and cardiac issues (possibly diastolic cardiomyopathy) may experience heart palpatations afterwards (after ejaculation but not after non-ejaculative masturbation) for many hours until the body has had time to recover either hormonally or in mitochondrial terms. Maybe this is on account of the additional mitochondrial burden the orgasm places, as it is very energy intensive/demanding, even if one doesn't realise it. However the type of sensation afterwards is different from heavier exercise, which results in a feeling of weakness and fatigue as opposed to palpatations like an ejaculation (in such individuals).

For those male patients with particularly chronic CFS, BlackSpy would not recommend any ejaculation at all, if possible, for months at a time if at all, until a partial or full recovery is achieved. With Qi stagnation and Qi deficiency, the last one thing one wants to be doing is ejaculating regularly or even infrequently as it may affect one's sleep pattern and indeed one's 'jing', and not allow the body to build up any jing in between. Building up jing is of vital importance in such patients - it is of the highest priority. CFS patients should avoid all activities/mind states/excesses that sap one's jing. Overdoing things and crash/recovery cycles may be using up one's Jing as one regularly overextends one's limits (low Qi/blood for protection). With this in mind, such male patients may wish to avoid stimuli that make them sexually excited, or maintain a slight distance from this, to avoid 'temptation' - as an emergency precaution!

BlackSpy personally finds it better for health reasons and to generally feel better to avoid ejaculation and retain the semen in his balls. Whilst ejaculation is certainly very pleasurable, it feels like he has lost part of his body afterwards, and that he is running on one or two cylinders less afterwards for 12-24 hours until he has build up the semen again. He has always felt this way, even when he did not have CFS, but then again his health has never been 100% in the past, clearly much better at some times than others. Mid afternoon sex involving ejaculation he found was disasterous in terms of energy levels, causing him to want to have a long sleep.

back to top

 
Additional Exercises You Can Perform At Home:

As discussed on the Stress Management page, there are a number of exercises you can do yourself to increase your qi flow and internal calm which is required for proper qi flow.

back to top

 
Meditation and Breathing Exercises:



The first of these is meditation. This can help a person to relax and feel good about himself. There are many different types of meditation from various disciplines available. A meditation can take many forms, and usually involves sitting on a chair which a straight posture but relaxed, or sitting on a few pillows on the floor, cross legged or in the lotus position if you can achieve this without discomfort. The whole purpose of meditation is to focus on your breathing and to calm the mind. To employ proper diaphragm breathing, whereby you initiate a breathe by pushing out your lower addomen, and filling the bottom of your lungs before you start to lift your rib cage. To exhale, you would lower your rib cage, and finally push your abdomen in to squeeze out all the air from the bottom of your lungs.

The mind is rarely clear and free of thoughts. Our environment is full of constant stimulus (work, talk, travel, computers, television, music etc), but at the same time, many areas of our lives are understimulated, e.g. our senses, our bodily awareness, awareness of the environment around us, feeling etc. Our conscious minds are filled with thoughts, often complete garbage. We are rarely in control of our own minds and able to control our moods, and are subject to a seesaw of emotion and random thoughts. Rarely are we able to clear our mind of thoughts and interrupts and feel what is actually going on in the here and now. And to experience any peace or relaxation. If you try to sit still and no have any thoughts, you may not be able to do it. This is the lack of control. Through regular practice and discipline of meditation, it is possible to clear the mind of this 'white noise' and retain more calm, composure and clarity. Studies show that sensory deprivation (dark, silence) for extended periods of time result in (temporary or permanent) underactivity of the brain's central executive. This affects our ability to process information and in some cases can be used to influence/interrogate/brainwash. However, short periods of sensory deprivation can be very useful tool in meditation. This is why meditation often takes places in a quiet room, with one's eyes closed, sitting still. Being able to 'step back' from the world is useful in remaining objective, getting perspective and also optimising one's mental health. Studies show that those who meditate are happier more of the time than those who do not. Whilst it takes up one's time, it is at least worth making a slight effort to be significantly happier in one's day to day experience, is it not?

• Japa meditation is a style where you chant a word or phrase to your self (silently or aloud) over and over again during your meditation. This is taught by many instructors and described in many books including Dr Wayne W. Dyer's book as listed in the psychology bibilography page. There are overlaps with Perfect Meditation described below.


• Happy organ meditation. You go through each organ in the body, and imagine that organ feeling excellent great and having a 'big smile on its face'! Imagine it vividly for one organ, then when you are satisfied it is 'happy', move onto the next organ. And so on. Also imagine your blood pressure increasing if it is indeed a little low, and each organ functioning perfectly, and imagine/visualise qi flowing through your body. Try this each morning upon waking.


• Another style is counting the breaths. As you inhale, you can also try expanding the muscles in your back to get the maximum inhalation. This is very good for focussing the mind and achieving proper oxygenation of the body. The mental focus can either be on a count (for example, count 1,2,3 on the inhale, then 1,2,3 on the exhale; then increasing to 1,2,3,4,5,6 after a time, then finally to 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9).


• Other styles can involve the visualisation of a scene or being somewhere, so example, floating in clear waters on a beautiful tropic island beach, or floating in the clouds, a religious figure or icon, or anything you choose.


• Another type of visualisation is where you imagine breathing in a pure white light on the in-breath and a thick black smoke on the out-breath (containing all bad energy, bad thoughts, bad toxins).


• Another type of visualisation is where you imagine breathing in Qi through your nose, down your throat and collecting it up in your belly (below diaphragm) and anus - a bright white light or energy. As you exhale, imagine pushing this energy through your perineum, up the back of your spine, up your neck, over the top of your head, down your forehead and down your tongue which is connected to the roof of your mouth. Repeat. Some limited practice of this exercise (short duration, regularly) is said to promote Qi flow, whereas excessive practice may result in energy imbalances potentially, according to TCM. As can be seen further below, William Cheung has a version of this exercise that is the other way around.

www.altmd.com/Articles/Qi-Gong-Sitting-Meditation


• Another style is where you imagine an invisible but impenetrable shield around your body.


• One type of meditation uses technological aids to promote a deeper state of meditation, and specific brain wave frequences. These most commonly use binaural beats and are very powerful entrainment and meditation tools. Please see the Brainwave Entrainment & Binaural Beats page in the Psychology section for more information.
• There are many other forms of meditation. Maybe this is something you may want to investigate or research.