This began to change in the 16th century with the Cartesian philosophy of separation of mind and matter and body, the self and the universe. Since this time, man has looked at the body, mind, health, and environment in isolation, ignoring the impacts to the whole and interconnected implications.

 

The good news is that we are finally starting to see this come full circle.

 

Asian Bio-Energetic Therapy is founded on some of the core principles and concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, so it’s useful to understand a little bit about these concepts, to better understand ABET.

 

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Basic Concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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There are several foundational principals and concepts in TCM, some of which include:

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• Human beings are a micro cosmos; a small universe within the larger universe.

• The body is treated as a whole.

• Solve the root cause and the symptoms will disappear.

• Disease is an imbalance or blockage of energy.

• There is a relationship between human activity and the natural environment. Everything is connected and the best way to live is in harmony with our immediate environment and the universe.

• The body has a natural ability to heal, self-regulate, rejuvenate, and rebalance.

• The body uses electrical impulses to function.

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Many of these concepts were influenced by Tao philosophy.

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Meridians, Qi, Acupoints, and Yin and Yang

 

Modern and quantum science now confirms and accepts that everything is made of energy, including our bodies; this knowledge has been known for thousands of years in countries such as China, India, Tibet, and others.

 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, our bodies have networks of highways or channels in which energy flows. These energy channels are called meridians. Other cultures refer to meridians by different names, such as nadis in India, sen in Thailand and channel, vessel, or meridian in China and Japan.

 

The meridian channels form a network which interconnects all parts of our body, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While these channels are present in the subtle body and invisible to the naked eye, advanced technologies, such as PET scans, can now measure this energy scientifically via our electromagnetic frequencies.

 

The energy flowing through these meridian channels, known as our vital life force or universal life force, is referred to as Qi (pronounced “chee” also written as Chi). Qi flows through our bodies, and through all life, e.g., trees, water, air, animals, our organs, etc. Qi is known as prana in India, Ki in Japan, and bio-force in the West. Qi is the difference between life and death; without it, we would not exist.

 

Qi primarily comes from two sources. We inherit Qi from our parents at birth. Have you ever heard the expression that somebody has a strong or weak constitution? This can be viewed as the inherited Qi. Qi is also derived from substances in nature such as the food and water we consume and the air we breathe.

 

According to the Neijing, the purpose of the meridians is to transport Qi and blood, and to circulate Yin and Yang to nourish the body, mind, and spirit. They also carry and transmit information and respond to stimulation. Simply put, meridians regulate energy functions of the body and keep it in harmony.

 

A blockage in the meridians causes a blockage in energy, resulting in disease, ailments, and pain. A blockage can be caused by a physical, emotional, or mental trauma, such as a sporting accident; bad lifestyle habits, such as junk food; and the environment, such as pollution.

 

There are places along the meridian lines where energy and Qi collects and rises to the surface of the body. These places are referred to as acupressure points or acupoints: there are 365 primary acupoints.

 

As an analogy, I think of the London underground tube/subway system (you can think of any subway system) where the different lines, such as the Bakerloo, Victoria, and Jubilee, would be your meridians, and the exit points or gates, where everyone comes to surface, would be your acupoints. Any blockage on just one tube line in London, could disrupt and cause chaos across parts of the system or the entire system. This is the same in your body.

 

Just like the exit gate of London’s tube system can be manipulated to control or direct the flow, these acupoints can be manipulated and stimulated to increase or decrease the flow of energy and Qi in the meridians. You’ll find this is what acupuncturists do with needles.

 

Additionally, to correct or fix a problem on one tube line, you may first need to correct a problem on another because they are interconnected. This is the same with your meridian lines and imbalances in the body, as it’s all connected.

 

This is part of what ABET practitioners do. They work to find any weakness or imbalance along your meridians and acupoints using the O-ring test and then help restore balance by using various techniques such as, a special Tibetan breathing technique, using the Piezo activator device, magnets, and moxibustion.

 

ABET practitioners also assimilate information about you, your ailments, lifestyle, environment, etc. and with their TCM knowledge, they help you restore your balance and energy, promote self-healing in your body, and help you feel better.