“Supporting Healthy Energy and Eliminating Evil Factors” and Psychotherapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Bo-hua Zhang

Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Jinan 250014,Shandong Province,China

Abstract

Key words:support healthy energy and eliminate evil factors; homeopathic psychotherapy to eliminate evil factors; support healthy energy psychologically; psychotherapy

Introduction

In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）,there is a pair of basic contradictions in the disease process,that is the struggle between vital qi and pathogen.If the excess of pathogenic qi is present and the vital qi is restrained,the patient’s condition will aggravate.For vital qi and pathogen,vital qi is the determinative factor for the recovery of the disease.However,in the presence of excessive pathogenic qi,vital qi is unstable.Therefore,eliminating pathogen is also strengthening vital qi[1].Psychotherapy also conforms to this principle.Expression and catharsis of constrained or unwell mood is regarded as expelling pathogenic factors psychologically; when the pathogenic factors are eliminated,vital qi is stable and peaceful,or potential power and resources for independent growth are released,which can be regarded as strengthening vital qi.

Homeopathy is the Prerequisite for Eliminating Pathogenic Factors Psychologically

The so-called psychological pathogenic factors refers to psychological activities that disrupt the spirit of the clients,such as certain cognitive and emotional activities,which cause the client’s displeasure,like having a fish bone stuck in their throat.These unwell feelings or experiences can be expressed through behavior,language,affective response and so on.For example,a trembling whisper can express fear; a shrill voice can express anger[2].Eliminating the pathogenic factors psychologically refers to the expelling of psychological experience that is rejected by the client and adverse experience that affect the client.Therapist should create conditions and follow the client’s potential to let the spit out the fish bone stuck in the throat,that is,to express the psychological conflict.The focus is the expression of the feelings due to psychological conflict,and homeopathy is to use the changing trend of psychological activities with a certain energy to mobilize the mental activity and to eliminate psychological pathogen,through a manner of getting more effects with less effort.

Eliminating pathogenic factors psychologically in conformance with the client’s needs

In psychological clinics,clients often have strong emotional fluctuations,which are manifested by their eagerness to talk.This evidence shows that eliminating the psychological disorder that is regarded as an obstruction by clients is a common need of clients.In psychological clinics,some clients often have frequent hesitations and concerns,or refuse to tell key issues due to fear of being a fool or shyness,or are only obsessed with details.Among them,some clients actively seek help,while some clients are not active due to psychological distress.They are all expecting to eliminate the pathogenic factors psychologically,and lead to a healthy and happy life,which are the common needs of psychologically vulnerable people.

The psychological pathogen of the clients can be understood dialectically.The worry （heart evil） that clients are getting rid of is a reflection of the basic needs of self-realization and the pursuit of happiness.In fact,the needs of the clients are also the basic needs of human being.As state in the Plain Question Shanggu Tianzhen Chapter,the needs of human being are described as leisurely mind with less desire,peaceful emotion without fear,working body without fatigue,smooth vital qi,follow their desires,and meet their needs.If a person pursuits the tranquility and happiness and leads to a leisure and content life,his/her body is not easy to age,his/her vitality is not easy to dissipate,ultimately live up to 100 years.This description means that,people are willing to live in tranquilization and peace （leisurely mind with less desire）,have an even temper （peaceful emotion without fear,working body without fatigue,smooth vital qi）,hope everything turns out alright （follow their desires,and meet their needs）,lead to a happy,comfortable,contented life （pursuing the tranquility and happiness,and leading to a leisure and content life）,have healthy body and longevity,even at advanced age （live forever,maintain healthy）.

Eliminating pathogenic factors psychologically in conformance with the client’s rejection

TCM treatment often follows the tendency of disease.As stated in the Plain Question Yinyang Yingxiang Dalun Chapter,at the initial period,a disease can be immediately cured by pricking; at the severe stage,a disease can be subsequently cured by pricking after the conditions begin to decline.Therefore,superficial pathogens require issipation,endosthenic syndrome require purgation.The disease in the upper portion is treated with emesis method; the disease in the lower portion is treated with dredging method.This idea also serves as the reference of psychotherapy.The clients have a strong desire to reject their uncomfortable experience （psychological pathogen）,that is the client’s rejection experience.This performance is the most obvious at the initial stage of psychotherapy.In the clinic,the clients describe their psychological pathogen,like having a fish bone stuck in their throat and no way to vent.Despite of psychological resistance,the clients are not willing to have a fish bone stuck in their throat.They just vent in a slow,exploratory and conditional manner.

Homeopathy Methods for Eliminating Pathogenic Factors Psychologically

Eliminating pathogenic factors psychologically means a direct or indirect clearance （expression） of emotional stagnation （fish bone stuck in the throat）.Direct expression refers to direct verbal expression without a medium.Indirect expression refers to using an object as a medium to symbolically express their emotional stagnation.Regardless of direct or indirect,the process of clearance （expression） requires a clarification of the problems to repair psychological trauma.

Analogy method

The analogy is a mode of thinking in TCM theory[3].It refers to describing the nature of one thing with the characteristics of another specific thing and phenomena.As stated in the Plain Question Linglan Midian Lun,the classification and division of labor in the ancient official position system serve as a metaphor for the functions,priority and cooperative relationship of the internal organs.Another example is Yang Shang-shan’s commentary on Plain Question Baoming Quanxing Lun,which specifies that,when the salt is packaged in the container and the fluid is leaked out of the container,the salty is recognized through the observation of the fluid.The hissing sound indicates the exhausted strings of the lyre and harp.The falling leaves indicate the decayed wood.These three signs of decay figuratively demonstrate the severity and duration of a disease.In other words,the salty leakage,the hissing sound and the falling leaves are used as a metaphor for the severity of the disease.

The comparability originates from that,the same voice inducts each other and the same sensation attracts each other.That is,different things with similar phenomena can be comparable through their image and performance,which indicates the inherent similarity.

When human emotions have a similarity with external objects,the emotion can be recalled by the image,which is the same voice inducts each other and the same sensation attracts each other.Another example is the proverb,a benevolent man enjoys the mountains and a wise man enjoys the water.The benevolent man has generous,tolerant,sedate personality,like the mountains; the wise man has simpleminded,flexible and adaptable personality,like the water.When the emotions match external objects,they will be stimulated,and negative mental capacity accompanied by emotional distress is accordingly vented.

Body movement for depression-relief

Physical exercise can eliminate harmful emotions,regardless of systemic exercise,partial exercise,and even finger movement,which all have such effects.For example,Taiji Cloudy Hands posture assigns the thought of eliminating pathogens on the action of waving hands,which accordingly discharge the turbid pathogen.Another example is kneading plasticine,which is a favorite activity of children.Plasticine is soft and moistening with great plasticity,and it is thereby widely accepted by children.Due to the softness of plasticine,a piece of plasticine can be kneaded at will into different shapes through different hand movements,so children can play freely with their emotions.In the process of kneading playticine,the problem of children’s emotions can be expressed.

Massage-collaborative expression of spirit and body for depression-relief

Function of the Governor Vessel:The Governor Vessel travels along the middle line of the back,and its channel qi mostly intersects with the three Yang meridians of hands and feet,and has the role of commanding and supervising the channel qi of Yang meridians in the whole body.Therefore,Governor Vessel supervises all Yang qi of the whole body and is the sea of Yang meridians.Governor Vessel travels along the spine,enters and scatters in the brain,also involves the kidneys,and it is closely related to the brain,bone marrow and kidneys.Therefore,the Governor Vessel is closely related to the mental state of a person.The internal organs of the body are dominated by the meridian qi of the Governor Vessel,so the functional activities of the internal organs are related to the Governor Vessel.

Relative to Yin qi,Yang qi represents body functions and is manifest,ascending,excitatory,exuberant and strong.The Governor Vessel is the sea of Yang meridians and affects the excitability and robustness of human heart and body.Massage on the Governor Vessel can warm the kidneys,reinforce Yang,and make a weak body strong; it can regulate one’s mental state,invigorate the spirit and have a sedative effect （e.g.pinching the philtrum can treat the syncope）.

In the psychotherapy,massage can produce an upwelling body sensation.During massage manipulations,a person may feel feverish and excitable,or have a sense of upwelling qi.

Role of massage on the Governor Vessel on depression-relief

Method:along with the travelling of Governor Vessel on the back,push up or percuss and tap with the slightly bent palm.

Objective:By use of the upward trend of qi movement generated by upward manipulations on the Governor Vessel,massage can reinforce the degree of excitement of the spirit and body; even if the upward trend of qi movement induces vomiting or coughing,which are also a catharsis of mental capacity.

Mechanism:Some symptoms have two meanings of the spirit and body,namely the somatosensory unity of the spirit and body.For example,vomiting has the physiological meaning:rejection of physiological foreign bodies or unacceptable things; and the psychological meaning:rejection of psychologically exogenous pathogen.Huang ⋆⋆ is a patient with vomiting,who physically vomits or even retches after ingestion; the psychological meaning is to reject the disgusting people or things.The upward trend of qi movement generated by upward manipulations on the Governor Vessel serves as a catharsis （rejection） of mental capacity accompanied by emotional distress.

Body graffiti for depression-relief

Clients are allowed to draw the outline of the body at will on the paper using colored pens,then comprehend the sensitive site of the body,and color the corresponding site of the body on the paper using different colors.If clients have a heavy sensation of head,they feel that gray or black color is appropriate,and are allowed to color the head of the body on the paper.People often describe their body feelings as “like……”.For example,the heaviness of head is described as “like being pressed by the pot lid”,and the head of the body on the paper can be painted with a “pot lid”.Body graffiti helps to focus on the feeling of body.During the painting,the patient’s perception of the corresponding sites of the body will be clearer and imagination will appear.Once the emotional gate is opened,this method can eliminate the pathogenic factors psychologically.

Gentle expression by monosyllabic words utterance for depression-relief

Pronunciation of monosyllabic words （gōng,shāng,jué,zhǐ,yǔ） yields a catharsis of mental capacity in a controlled manner.Clients are instructed to follow the pronunciations of gōng,shāng,jué,zhǐ,yǔ.The pronunciation lasts for 3-5 seconds,and the number of pronunciations depends on the situation.Clients are informed to control the sound according to individual,a comfortable feeling in the spirit mind and body is appropriate.Those with sufficient energy and vitality can pronounce loudly,while those with deficient energy and vitality can pronounce lowly.Any language difficulty may not hinder the pronunciation,and no subject is required to read clearly.In the pronunciation process,negative mental capacity may be accordingly attenuated,and various emotions accumulated due to illness can be released.With the catharsis of mental capacity,the language performance of the clients will become gentle and relaxed.

The above descriptions are only a part of the depressionrelief methods to eliminate pathogenic factors,and they all follow the trend.

Supporting Healthy Energy Psychologically

Supporting healthy energy psychologically should be used in conjunction with the elimination of pathogenic factors,or as an adjunctive therapy in the process of eliminating the pathogen psychologically,or both methods are concomitantly performed.

Eliminating the pathogens means supporting healthy energy

In the TCM theory,healthy energy and pathogens are opposite,vital qi is the determinable factor for the recovery of the disease,and the recovery will not be achieved unless pathogenic qi is eliminated[4].Eliminating pathogen factors aims to support healthy energy.As stated in the Confucians’ Duties to Parents,dispelling is also a means of reinforcing deficiency.

Psychotherapy also conforms to this principle.Expression and catharsis of constrained or unwell mood is regarded as expelling pathogenic factors; on one hand,partial peace （vital qi） is obtained; on the other hand,potential power and resources for independent growth are released.Therefore,eliminating the pathogens means supporting healthy energy.

Supporting healthy energy psychologically

Everything that can trigger a good psychological experience has the effect on supporting healthy energy.According to the above descriptions,massage on the Governor Vessel can reinforce the Yang qi,induce the excitement and powerful feeding,invigorate their spirits,and regulate the mental state.Another example is the psychological adjustment of body movement with imagery thinking,such as Taiji’s posture of White Crane Spreads its Wings can broaden the mind and dredge qi movement.

Psychologically vital qi refers to a person’s sense of strength/power,warmth and love,sense of value,and peaceful mind.In psychological counseling,the psychological activities that contribute to the appearance of these psychological feelings are sometimes hidden in the negative “psychological pathogen”,and sometimes transient.This requires TCM psychologists to capture the information suggestive of psychologically vital qi in a keen and timely manner,and thus exert the functions of vital qi.