Harmonizing
Dear Patient,
In year one of acupuncture school we learn the Ba Fa or Eight Methods. These are our treatment principles. We formulate a diagnosis, decide on a treatment method, then choose the appropriate acupuncture points, herbs, and other modalities.
Sometimes the choice is obvious. If a patient is deficient, we Tonify. If they have excess cold, we Warm. Sometimes we’ll combine methods—if they’re both deficient and cold, we Tonify and Warm at the same time. But some situations call for more nuance. That’s when we use the Harmonizing method.
Harmonizing isn’t so straightforward. It may involve supplementing one aspect of the body and reducing another. Picture a music producer in a studio at a sound mixing board, turning knobs and sliding levers up and down. That’s Harmonizing—making subtle changes as you go until the sound is just right.
Chronic health conditions often call for this method. They’re challenging to treat and manage, because everything in the body is in a constant state of flux. That is the nature of being alive. The levels never stay in perfect alignment.
But remember that we start with a diagnosis. It’s good to know where the disharmony is before you start adjusting the levels. The body tells you. You just have to tune in and listen.
Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist