localprofiles Bastyr Center for
Wu Hsing Tao School Acupuncture for the Soul
uses needles to increase energy flow throughout the body, but we may not have heard of Traditional Five Element Acupuncture. This method addresses the underlying constitution of the person receiving treatment. The Five Element system is taught
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at Wu Hsing Tao School, which maintains an enrollment of about 40 students and emphasizes intellectual, emotional and physical wellness. Through coursework in psychology, the school also prioritizes understanding the self. “The Five Element system actually treats the patient’s core imbalance,” says Kristin Bach, an acupuncture student and staff member at the school. “By treating the core, the symptoms begin to disappear. Compared to other styles of acupuncture, Five Element Acupuncture also addresses more emotional and psychological imbalances.” When Bach began receiving Five Element Acupuncture
treatments more than five years ago, she experienced not only physical healing, but a profound shift on emotional and mental levels, as well. “The most immediate benefit I received was the ability to quit smoking,” she recalls. “Soon, things I never dreamed possible started to become possible. I changed to an organic, whole foods diet; began a regular exercise and yoga routine; became more in tune with nature; and started on a spiritual path of meditation. My friendships and intimate relationships have grown deeper and stronger, and I am able to process my emotions in a healthy way.” “Five Element Acupuncture treats the body together with
the mind, and it re-empowers the natural healing mechanisms of our system,” Program Director Dirk Hein advises. “Some of our most responsive clients are people who have suffered trauma, those whose conditions have become chronic, and those who are not responding to other types of health care.”
Wu Hsing Tao School is the only Five Element Acupuncture school in the Northwest. For enrollment, call 206-324-7188 or email
Admissions@WuHsing.org. Also visit
WuHsing.org. For treatment at the Student Clinic, call 206-729-2598. See ad on page 7.
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SeattleAwakenings.com
ost of us are familiar with acu- puncture, the ancient art that
F
Natural Health Chinese Herbal Medicine Eases Allergies
or those whose allergies persist despite conventional treatment; who experience negative side effects such as
drowsiness, dizziness or restlessness from antihistamines; or who have chronic allergy-related issues, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may provide effective help. In China, herbal medicine is considered a powerful form of therapy used to treat most health conditions, including allergies. Herbal formulas are customized to each individual patient and can be taken as a tea, a capsule, or a powder dissolved in water. Due to their long history, the workings of these classic herbal formulas are well-understood by licensed practitioners. Weiyi Ding, M.D. (China), a registered nurse, licensed
acupuncturist and clinical faculty member at Bastyr Cen- ter for Natural Health, notes, “I see many patients who are simply not r e sponding well to Western medical treatment for allergies. They find that CHM and acupuncture treatments help clear up chroni- cally runny noses or constant sinus headaches without side effects.” “Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
don’t talk about allergens. We talk about four elements— wind, cold, heat and dryness—that can invade the body,” advises Allen Sayigh, a licensed master acupuncturist and the manager of Bastyr’s Chinese herbal medicine dispensary. “The goal of allergy treatment is to expel those factors through the use of herbs.” Sayigh says TCM practitioners prescribe herbal formulas based on the patient’s unique “presentation.” That means 100 patients might be prescribed any of 100 different variations of herbs. Sayigh says those who come in before or at the onset of
allergy season can receive treatment that goes to the root of the problem, so allergies don’t recur or are less severe. “If we treat the person in advance, we’re attempting to regulate their qi (pronounced “chee,” meaning life force) and strengthen their ability to ward off those environmental influences,” he explains.
For more information, contact the Bastyr Center at 206-834- 4100 or visit
BastyrCenter.org. See ad on page 19.
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