Patient 3: Treatment 1 (Wood)

Patient: Female, age 62

Element: Wood

Number of years coming for treatment: 14

Number of prior treatments: At least 4 each year

Main problem today: Can’t focus on one thing at a time. Needs to get her flat cleared and cleaned for a visitor, but finds herself instead putting up a picture on the wall. Worried about whether she will be able to continue her freelance work. Hair loss a continued problem.

Time of last treatment: 5 months ago

Treatment given:

1 Bl 38 (43) I have always remembered that JR Worsley said that this point brings energy to every cell in the body (and therefore, I believe, will help hair growth). I used 7 moxas for this treatment, but this is a point which can be used over several treatments with more moxas each time to revitalise the blood if this is needed. It is therefore excellent for patients undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy. For these patients I increase the number of moxa cones as follows: 7 in first treatment, then 14 the next treatment, then 21, 28, 35, 42 and I finish on 49. You can then re-start again from 7. This is a rare case in five element acupuncture of using the same point treatment after treatment. Treatment can be given as frequently as every 3-4 days if a patient is in the middle of chemo- or radiotherapy.

2 GV 12 Body Pillar: She looked as though her emotional backbone was crumbling, and I think this will help her stand emotionally more upright.

3 GB 40 and Li 3 (source points on Wood)

At the end of treatment: As she left, she said: “I do feel much better” in a surprised voice.

Time of next treatment: I told her to phone me for a treatment in winter. She always needs to be told exactly when to come, leaving the decision to me.

Proposal for next treatment: GB 20 Wind Pond: I have found my Wood patients love this point. I think it must help them turn their heads with more flexibility and “see” better, giving them some of the vision to look forward that they crave.