Understanding ‘The Point’ Through Storytelling
Part 1: The Acupuncture Point for Calm
Spirit Gate (Heart 7- Shen Men)
Recently, we were asked to talk about acupuncture for the lovely Breathe magazine – a beautifully illustrated wellbeing magazine that’s available here in the UK and across the world.
Our Founder of Treat, Rebecca Geanty is well-known for her storytelling. Often during sessions with patients she uses metaphor to describe how the acupuncture is working. Breathe magazine was keen to hear from Rebecca about the abstract nature of how acupuncture actually works.
So over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a different ‘story’ about acupuncture to explain how it works. This week it’s all about the Shen Men point (Heart 7) in acupuncture and how that point can help us to feel inner peace and calm.
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy with a rich and ancient history, here storytelling is used to demystify how acupuncture works…
Spirit Gate (Heart 7- Shen Men)
Metaphor: A Resting Dog
In acupuncture, the Shen Men point represents the spirit, mind and emotion. When a needle is used at this point it offers the patient calm and relaxation. Stimulating this point is thought to have a tranquilising effect on the mind and emotions, making it a useful point for reducing anxiety, stress and insomnia.
If we were to use metaphor and storytelling to explain how the Shen Men point works, we could say that it’s likened to an ‘inner dog’, one that is restless. In Chinese medicine, the Shen Men resides or lives in the ‘blood of the heart’ at night, and it is thought that this type of energy closes into itself each evening, like a dog settling in its bed.
If the blood of the heart is depleted by emotions or other causes linked to the blood such as lack of iron, then the Shen Men will not close down into the heart, like a restless dog getting in and out its basket. Once this energy point is balanced, it’s as though your inner dog is content and curled up in its basket at rest.
If you’d like to hear more of these great examples, and to learn more about how Chinese medicine can help you, Rebecca will weave in helpful tips and information into your acupuncture session, depending on what you need.
About Treat
Treat is a Norwich-based Health & Wellbeing Clinic. Founder and acupuncturist - Rebecca Geanty started Norwich Acupuncture Rooms in 2011. Offering a cross section of therapies and a community multi-bed clinic. Today Treat therapists offer over 50 different health, wellbeing and beauty therapies. https://www.treatnorwich.co.uk/
