Cincinnati Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other parts of the world for at least 3,000 years.  It is arguably the oldest continually practiced form of healing in the world today.

Acupuncture is a holistic, non-invasive healing modality that uses small, thin, sterile pins to regulate and harmonize the flow of electromagnetic energy in the body to facilitate the natural healing propensities of the body and to promote optimal health.

Acupuncture helps the body to heal itself.

There are many different styles of acupuncture.  At our Cincinnati acupuncture practice, our primary treatment method utilizes the Extraordinary Vessels.

Created by Daniel Atchison-Nevel, the Non-Somatic Extraordinary Vessel (NSEV) system of healing works with the Eight Extraordinary Vessels.

The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are primordial fields within us that represent at a fundamental level how we relate to ourselves and to the world around us. They are the principle vehicles with which we seek to achieve greater harmony with our selves and with the world.  As pathways they are separate and distinct from the 12 meridians commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. These 12 meridians are the rivers of energy within us and the extraordinary vessels are the great seas or reservoirs of internal energy that feed into these rivers.

The NSEV acupuncture tradition encompasses not only all aspects of clinical treatment but is also a complete philosophy of health that integrates mind, body and spirit. It addresses an individual’s core functional patterns to achieve optimal health.

I am a Senior Certified Practitioner in the NSEV system and this is the principle system of acupuncture that we practice here at Caldwell Family Wellness.   I regularly teach NSEV workshops to other acupuncturists, healthcare providers, patients, and interested laypersons.

Here is a brief description of each of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels:

1. Yang Wei means “Outer Gate.”It is the context in which we find ourselves.  It is the outermost part of us, our primary interface with the external world.   The Yang Wei is involved with protection, boundaries, and surface tension and its sphere of influence is the neck and shoulders.  Common conditions we might treat with the Yang Wei include: headaches, neck and shoulder stiffness, airborne allergies, and mood swings.
2. Dai—The Dai is our persona, it is how we express ourselves in the world.When the Dai is constricted and we can no longer freely express ourselves it manifests as tension just below the surface.  Its sphere of influence is around the waist and down and around the inside of the shoulder blades. Common conditions we may treat with the Dai include: TMJ, fibromyalgia, depression, painful periods, quick temper, and auto-immune diseases.
3. Yin Wei means “Inner Gate”.  It is the Vessel involved with assimilation and processing of all that we experience.  Its sphere of influence is down and around the lower border of the rib cage.   Common conditions we may treat with the Yin Wei include: eating disorders, anxiety, depression, vomiting, morning sickness, loss of appetite, and irritable bowel disease.
4. Chong – Chong means “Womb.”It aids in incorporation and integration into the deepest level of our being.  The Chong is the province of the mystical and spiritual states of consciousness.  Common conditions we may treat with the Chong include: menstrual disorders of all kinds, infertility, postpartum issues, and abdominal pain.
5. Du – The Du is the storehouse of all the Yang energy in our bodies.It flows along the spine and is involved with the functional aspects of our nervous system.  The Du gives us the capacity to focus and the determination to push forward in life. Common conditions we may treat with the Du include: low back pain, insomnia, headaches, and neck pain.
6. Yang Qiao – The Yang Qiao is involved with access and distribution of yang energy throughout our bodies.The Yang Qiao helps us move gracefully through transitions in life.  Common conditions we may treat with the Yang Qiao include: drug withdrawals, migraines, shoulder pain, hypertension, and headaches.
7. Ren – The Ren is the storehouse of all the Yin energy in our bodies.  It is the Mother energy within us and gives us the awareness of our interconnection with all beings. Common conditions we may treat with the Ren include: immune support, chronic upper respiratory infections, infertility, hormonal imbalances, hot flashes, and stiff neck.
8. Yin Qiao – The Yin Qiao is involved with the access and distribution of yin energy throughout our bodies.Like the Yang Qiao, it helps us move gracefully through transitions in life.  Common conditions we may treat with the Yin Qiao include: irregular or painful ovulation, incontinence, eye aches or pains, and arm or leg tremors.