April 25th, 2013

I got home after school and the first thing that my mom asked me to do was help her find a painting to hang in the house, so naturally I agreed to it. So I started to sort through all the pictures we had downstairs in our house (this is relevant I promise) and as I got further into sorting through the paintings, my dad comes downstairs and asks my mom to do moxibustion. The reason my dad asked is because he has stomach cancer and Dr. Song recommend using moxibustion to stimulate his qi. Moxibustion is another treatment in conjuction with acupuncture, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to work more on my hours.  So I immediately asked my parents if I could watch while sorting through the paintings.

There were no objections, so I carried on while paying attention to what my mom was going to do. First thing my mom did was set up the room, so basically she opened the window, covered the massage table, and got the herbs, gloves and a lighter. Next my dad got the table and rolled up his pant legs, since my mom is no doctor there were red dots placed on specific points on his legs that Dr. Song marked. Once settled in, my mom proceeded to burn the herbs, which smelled… interesting the least to say, and placed them over the indicated points. Basically this is what happened for the next hour, my mom would move to different points on the body and when the spot was warm enough my dad would tell her and she’d move on. It wasn’t particularly exciting, but it was still cool in mind to watch and see how moxibustion works. 

April 24th, 2013 #2

Dr. Song came in the next hour to give me a massage or acupressure rub, however you choose to see it. Acupressure essentially is focusing in a specific point or area and using the practitioner’s hands to “rub” it. Before Dr. Song began she removed all the needles and disinfected each point with rubbing alcohol. She first started with the point between my eyebrows; she used both her thumbs to massage the point. She basically used her hands and arms to massage all the points that she placed needles in. As she massaged she would discuss the names and functions of each point. It was hard to focus, but I had a general idea of what each of the points did. Once she finished I felt so much better; I was relaxed, yet full of energy. It was about 6 when we finished, so I bid her goodbye and left for home. 

April 24th, 2013 #1

I arrived at Dr. Song’s ready to start my hours, but feeling tired. After I settled down I proceeded to crack open the book Dr. Song gave me when I started my hours and started to read. I was reading Chapter 4: Qi, Blood and Body fluid. I started out pretty well, I was able to get through the first eight pages, but I started to fall asleep. Dr. Song noticed so she told me to go lie down in one of the rooms, so she could treat me. I couldn’t pass it up, so I got myself ready. Dr. Song started with me facing up and focusing on the area around my eyes. First she placed two needles at the top of my nose just about where my eyebrows begin. Next she placed needles directly above my pupils above my eyebrows on both sides of my face. Following those, Dr. Song placed two more needles on both sides of my face directly below my pupils on my cheekbones. These points are great for eyesight problems, stress and moving the qi in the bladder and liver organs.

            Once she got done with the points on my face she placed various needles on my head. Some are for centering my qi, others are used to relieve stress, improve memory, help eyesight problems and other internal functions of the zang fu organs. Last she moved onto my arms. The most important point she emphasizes every time she does acupuncture for me, the yang lo point. This is an especially important point because this point aids in eyesight problems, stress relieving, stomach problems, memory aid, moving qi through the liver (one the most important organs in the body) and so much more, that I’m forgetting now. After she fixed all the needles to make sure they were properly in place and secured she left me to sleep. 

April 3, 2013 #4

This next hour is brought to you by the Kidney!

The Kidney:

1.) Stores essence and dominates development and reproduction

2.) Dominates water metabolism

3.) Receives chi

4.) Dominates bone
5.) Opening to the ear

April 3rd, 2013 #3

The next hour consisted of me learning about the lung. 

The lung is responsible for:

1.) Dominating chi and controlling respiration

2.) Dominating dispersing, skin and hair

3.) Dominating descending and regulating water passages

4.) Opening into the nose

April 3, 2013 #2

My next hour consists of learning about the spleen.

The spleen is responsible for:
1.) Transportation and transformation
2.) Controlling Blood
3.) Domination of the muscles and four limbs
4.) Opening to the mouth and manifesting on the lips

April 3, 2013 #1

Greetings from the office of Dr. Song! I am here again to learn from the wealth of knowledge that is Dr. Song and the textbook she gave me. To start off the hour I started reading about the liver.

The liver plays an important role in the health of our body. The four major functions it performs are: 

1. Storing blood

2. Maintaining the free flow of qi/chi.

3. Controlling the tendons and manifesting in the nails.

4. Opening to the eye