Reflexology: The 5 Elements and their 12 Meridians: A Unique Approach. Inge Dougans

improve satisfactorily through treatment of the reflex area, one should observe the meridian, which traverses the part of the body in question, and treat the reflex area of the organ related to that particular meridian.

      The meridians can be used simply and effectively for a better understanding of conditions. Take, for example, patients with arthritis in the little finger, tennis elbow, fibrositis in the shoulder blade, swollen lymph glands of the throat, facial nerve disorders or ear disorders such as tinnitus. One need simply look at the small intestine meridian – this starts in the little finger, ends just in front of the ear and passes the locations of all the above disorders. Could this mean that the small intestine disorder could aggravate or even cause these problems? Clinical results of balancing the meridians indicate this.

      If a patient is suffering from pain in the right knee, question exactly where the pain is situated – on the front, back, medial or lateral section of the knee. If the pain is on the lateral side, it will fall into the gall bladder meridian. The gall bladder reflex should then be assessed, and will usually be found to be sensitive. Although the organ itself may not be diseased, the congestion on the meridian is causing pain and discomfort.

      It is important to distinguish between ‘organ conditions’ and ‘energy conditions.’ An ‘organ condition’ is evident when an organ is not functioning properly. This could manifest as digestive or respiratory problems, hormonal disturbances and the like. Energy conditions – for instance, headaches, sciatica, facial nerve disorders and hip pains – are more difficult to define. These conditions are often found along a meridian pathway, and the related organ reflex will usually be sensitive. This does not necessarily indicate an organ disorder. Energy conditions are usually forerunners of more serious problems, and if they are not treated early on, they can eventually influence the related organ and result in a chronic problem. Pains in the fingers and toes often indicate which meridian is congested. For example, pains in the index finger refer to the large intestine meridian, while pains in the big toe could refer to either the liver or spleen/pancreas meridians.

       Fig. 3a Energy congestions – gall bladder meridian

       Fig. 3b Energy congestions – small intestine meridian

chapter 2

       the principles of chinese medicine

       ‘The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the causes of disease.’

      THOMAS EDISON

      The main principle of Chinese medicine is based on the saying ‘prevention is better then cure’, that is, preserving health is preferable to having to treat disease. Disease attacks the body when it is vulnerable. It is the aim of Chinese medicine to build strength by cultivating Chi in order for the body to withstand disease, prevent disease from becoming acute, and protect human life and the conditions that optimize its functioning. The Nei Ching states:

      ‘Maintaining order rather than correcting disorder is the ultimate principle of wisdom. To cure disease after it has appeared is like digging a well when one already feels thirsty, or forging weapons after war has already begun.’

      It is interesting to note that Chinese physicians of old were paid when the patient was well, but received no payment when the patient developed any form of disease. To quote the Nei Ching:

      ‘The ancient sage did not treat those who were already ill; they instructed those who were not ill.’

      and

       ‘The superior physician helps before the early budding of disease. The inferior physician begins to help when the disease has already developed; he helps when destruction has already set in. And since his help comes when disease has already developed, it is said of him that he is ignorant.’

      The Nei Ching is widely referred to as the bible of Chinese medicine. The Huang-di Nei-Ching or the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, the source of all Chinese medical theory, is considered the equivalent of the Corpus Hippocraticum, a group of some 70 texts, compiled by Hippocrates and his followers around 400 BC, that formed the basis for Western medicine. It is the oldest of the Chinese medical texts, dating back about 4,500 years. The Classic of Internal Medicine was believed to have been written by the Yellow Emperor Huang To (2697–96 BC), who reigned in China in about 2600 BC. The book describes conversations between the Yellow Emperor and his royal physician, Chi Po. Given the complexity of the Chinese language, translation of this work has been difficult. The quotations used in this book are derived mainly from the 1972 edition of the translation by Dr Ilza Veith of California University.

       Everything is Interconnected – the Web that is Nature

      The Chinese medicine viewpoint is based on the systemic approach of the Western world: Human beings are a microcosm within a macrocosm. The Milky Way is a single constellation of stars within the whole universe. Earth is a single planet within the Milky Way. Human beings are only one sub-system within the super-system Earth. The individual organs inside the human body are all smaller sub-systems within the super-system of the human being. All these living systems have an interdependent relationship between them. A change in only one of these systems will have an effect on all the other systems. Chief Seattle placed this interdependent relationship in perspective in 1854 when he said:

       ‘This we know – the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites one family. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.’ ¹

      Living systems are not static. According to the laws of physics, the universe is in constant process, therefore for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The same forces or energies of nature that motivate the planets to orbit around Earth and the trees to produce new leaves during spring, motivate human beings to laugh, cry, behave and their organs to function.² The balance between all these systems determines our health and hence our quality of life. In nature, imbalances cause forest fires, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. In the human body, imbalances cause all types of illnesses such as fevers, indigestion, high blood pressure and headaches.

      The Tao - the Web

      According to Chinese medicine, everything that is and everything that isn’t starts with Tao (pronounced dow). What is the Tao? Directly translated, Tao means ‘Way.’ Tao cannot be defined precisely. It is not tangible and cannot be seen. It is only visible through its various manifestations and is experienced by practising its principles.³ Tao can also be translated as ‘the law of the universe.’ It is the dependence of all ‘things’ on ‘no-things’ as illustrated by Lao Tze:

       ‘We put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel; but it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel depends. We turn clay to make a vessel; but it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel depends.’ ⁴

      Tao is ‘the root from which all branches grow’, ‘the source of all substance, energy, awareness.’ It is ‘a continuum without boundaries in time and space.’⁵ Tao is not a religion; it is a way of life. For years, traditional Eastern philosophy has held, but Western science has confirmed only recently, that ‘matter is nothing more nor less than condensed, highly organized energy.’ Although this is considered to be a scientific fact, it had not been applied to any medical philosophies of the Western world.⁶

      Chi