In pursuit of a golden thumb

At the end of May, I traveled to Toronto for an advanced training in German auricular medicine, taught by Dr. Frank Bahr. He has been the principal developer and innovator of the German style of auricular medicine, and I feel grateful that he made the trip across the Atlantic to share his knowledge.

Developing a “golden thumb”

Dr. Bahr made it clear that skilled practitioners need to develop a “golden thumb.” If you have experienced an auricular acupuncture treatment from me, you may recall that I monitor your pulse with my thumb throughout the session. With my thumb, I am constantly feeling for the VAS (vascular autonomic signal) while scanning the ear with a tool in my other hand. When there is a resonance to a certain point in the ear, the pulse becomes more sharp and accentuated. This is how your body guides me on what to treat and how to treat it. It takes a lot of practice and experience to become attuned to the VAS.

New territory in German auricular medicine

This training was different from others in that it was structured to help us think outside the box. We learned a number of approaches to getting information from the body, how to address what we find, as well as how to start thinking on our own to develop new approaches.

Dr. Bahr has researched different forms of energy healing, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and homeopathy. He discussed how to employ several concepts form each in auricular medicine. In some cases, it helped us to see the connection between emotions and specific organs and in other cases, how to determine constitutional weakness and how to support the body so it can maintain homeostasis.

The power of laser frequencies

One of Dr. Bahr’s innovations is the use of the low-level laser in auricular medicine for diagnosis and treatment. He and other skilled practitioners have discovered particular frequencies that can be programmed into the laser that resonate with certain tissues (joints, vertebrae, teeth, organs) and energies (meridians, chakras, emotions). These frequencies add to the precision and broaden the scope of what can be done with auricular medicine.

To use the laser diagnostically, the laser is programmed with a specific frequency and put on the body. Then certain points on the ears, or the ears in general, are scanned, while monitoring the pulse. This method will accentuate the points that are related to the frequency and diminish all other points. In other words, the practitioner is able to gather a lot more information about the active points and can determine their significance to the treatment.

The laser can be used in treatment to clear negative energy out of a point, much like an acupuncture needle. Most often, the person being treated has enough vital force to start healing following the regulating effect of the acupuncture or laser treatment. However, if the client’s body is very weak and deficient, it may not be able to respond to the treatment. It needs to be replenished with some positive, healing energy. The laser, programed with a specific frequency, has the ability to do this.

For more information on the basics of low-level laser therapy, see my article: Let their be “laser” light!

Why German auricular medicine?

German auricular medicine is a good therapy option for almost anyone, particularly those who suffer from stubborn pain and conditions, and those who haven’t felt the same since having a surgery, injury, or trauma. I also find it to be quite useful in balancing emotions, hormones, and stress.

One of my teachers, Muriel Agnes, states it succinctly in her book Auricular Medicine: Window to the Brain (Blurb, 2018, p. 1):

“The ear, the auricle, is a window to the brain, showing us a dynamic, current reflection of what is happening in the whole brain, making the structures and functions of the person visible and accessible to the trained practitioner.”

For more information about the basics of German auricular medicine, see my article: What is unique about German auricular acupuncture?

Is a scar scrambling your nervous system?

If Humpty Dumpty had been put back together again, he would have had scars. Scars are the byproduct of the body repairing a wound. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, but once the body has healed, scar tissue may present some problems. Scar tissue on the skin’s surface can scramble nerve signals, causing a wide variety of symptoms, including pain and organ dysfunction. 

Most of us have visible scars somewhere on the surface of our skin, testaments to past surgeries, stitches, cuts and scrapes, or mole removal. (Scars can occur beneath the skin too, but that’s a subject for another article.) I first learned about the importance of treating scars when I began studying German auricular acupuncture. This article will focus on the repercussions of visible scars and what can be done to alleviate their symptoms. 

An introduction to the skin and its dense network of nerves is useful to understand how scars on the skin can cause distress. The network of the skin’s nerves communicate on the surface level, but also coordinates communication with the organs and various structures of the body that lie beneath it. The brain and nerve plexuses throughout the body coordinate all this communication via nerve impulses, which are basically exchanges of energy. When the skin is cut, the nerve communication is broken. As the wound heals, the communication can begin again, but may be impeded by the scar tissue, which isn’t quite as good as new. 

Scars have the potential to interrupt and absorb the energy of nerve impulses, rather than allowing them to flow freely. The stored energy in the cells of scar tissue was actually measured by German neurophysiologist Albert Fleckenstein to be equal to that of a 1.5 volt battery! Not all scars become “active,” in this way, but many do. Interestingly, they may not become active until many years after the initial injury or surgery. This activity seems to be spurred by periods of stress on the body, including illness, poor nutrition, emotional stress, pregnancy, etc. If a scar becomes active, it will eventually begin to randomly discharge energy out of sequence with the normal functioning of the body, causing the nervous system to become scrambled, either a little or a lot. 

When these random energy discharges happen, any organ system can be affected. For example, it is not uncommon for a woman who has given birth to have a scar (C-section, episiotomy or tearing) that causes interference in the normal functioning of the body, most notably in the thyroid gland. Scars can be the cause of or contribute to unexplained pain, digestive upset, anxiety, hormone imbalance, headaches and migraines, as well as any stubborn condition that won’t improve.

When scanning the ears using German auricular acupuncture, it is possible to pick up the energetic interference from scars. In this system, the practitioner can treat the scars both on the ears and the scar itself. The most effective way to treat the scar itself is with low-level laser treatment. By monitoring the pulse while running the laser light across the scar, I can feel which areas are active, and when the energy has been cleared. Scars typically require a few treatments to become deactivated, but results vary depending on the scar. Some clear after one treatment, and some require many treatments.

A muscle testing technique I have recently begun using, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), is also useful in testing for scar interference, among its numerous other attributes. (Read more below.) By using this method, it is very easy to see if there is a scar causing nervous system interference or organ stress, and which scar it is. It also offers easy monitoring of progress in the treatment of each scar. Treatment using Nutrition Response Testing  is the same as described above, with the addition of massaging the scar with wheat germ oil between laser treatments to enhance the effect. 

I’m thrilled to be able to combine both German auricular acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing to find and clear active scars in order to unscramble my clients’ nervous systems, allowing their bodies to function properly and heal themselves. If you’re feeling a bit like Humpty Dumpty who has been glued back together, I invite you to come in for an assessment, and see if a scar is affecting your health and well-being.

Nutrition Response Testing

I recently began to use Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) at Red Clover Clinic, a very effective way to assess and treat the outcome of the undernourishment and highly stressful lives that are so much a part of modern society. 

Most of us are exposed to many toxic chemicals, heavy metals, GMO and processed foods, plastics, and other factors that interfere with the proper functioning of our bodies. And, despite the fact that we are “over-nourished” with junk food and foods lacking dense nutrition, we are malnourished when it comes to the basic nutritional building blocks we need to nourish and repair our bodies. Not a pretty picture!

The NRT assessment begins with a couple of neurological muscle tests to see if the nervous system is blocking healing in any way. The practitioner then assesses each of the major organs using a muscle testing technique, looking for signs of stress. Once this information is collected, the priority organ is determined, so that the rest of the assessment and the treatment will be highly precise. 

Next, we must determine if there is anything causing stress to the organ. The stress could be caused by food sensitivities, immune challenges, chemical or heavy metal toxicity, or scars (see above). If there is a stressor, it must first be addressed, followed by the addition of any specific organ support. Treatment of the stressors and the organ support consists of specifically chosen whole-food supplements, primarily from Standard Process. 

It’s really amazing what can happen when the body is given the precise nutrition it has been lacking. When it is well-nourished, the body can heal itself! Feel free to contact me if you’re curious about what Nutrition Response Testing can do for you, or ask me about it at your next visit.

Healthy blood, healthy body

From the perspective of both Chinese and western medicine, the health of our blood is essential to our overall health. What can we do to support the health of our blood? 

I’ve devoted this entire newsletter to discussing how to support blood health and function, including introducing you to a new tool Red Clover Clinic has begun to use, which I fondly call “the blood laser.” Read on… 

What does blood do?

Blood is one of the foundations of life. Chinese medicine considers it one of the Vital Substances. It nourishes the body, moistens the tissues, and support the Shen. Shen can be translated as spirit or mind. It is responsible for consciousness, mental function, mental health, and vitality. It also plays a big role in sleep. 

Chinese medicine theory also states that blood holds the Qi (energy) and Qi moves the blood. Most importantly, if Qi and blood are moving, disease can’t take hold. In fact, many of the diseases associated with aging are associated with the blood not flowing properly, also known as blood stasis.

In western medicine, the primary functions of blood are: 

• Transporting oxygen, nutrients, and wastes to and from the cells and various components of the immune system to where they are needed.

• Regulating temperature through circulation.

• Circulating hormones to all parts of the body

• Clotting and closing of wounds.

Laser irradiation of the blood

As we saw in the May-June 2013 issue of the  Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, low-level laser therapy has developed over the past few decades to speed the healing of wounds, lessen the inflammation in arthritic joints, increase circulation around trigger points in order to release them, stimulate acupuncture points, and more. 

Another lesser-known benefit of laser light to the body is the impact it has on the blood. Red Clover Clinic is now using the recently developed R-J Laser LightNeedle 300 (the “blood laser”), which delivers red and blue-violet laser light to the blood non-invasively. 

Generally speaking, laser irradiation  of the blood brings the body back into a state of homeostasis; that is, it has a normalizing effect on the whole system. It triggers various immune responses to rid the body of inflammation, which translates to less pain. It improves blood circulation throughout the body, and specifically in the central nervous system (the brain). It improves communication between muscle and nerve cells for improved function. It normalizes tissue metabolism and promotes the mitochondria to produce more ATP, which translates into more energy.

Since the Russians began doing research on intravenous laser irradiation of the blood in 1981, many additional studies have shown its positive effects on cardiovascular health, hypertension, neuropathy, muscular sclerosis, diabetes, autoimmune disease, allergies, acute infections, fatigue, fibromyalgia, systemic inflammation, liver disease and kidney disease.

A small study  done on young, male body builders perfectly shows, I think, the general boost the blood laser can give the body. The study concluded that laser blood irradiation measurably increased both strength and endurance, an effect that appeared immediately after the treatment and lasted for 16 weeks.

What is a treatment like?

The blood laser has six fiberoptic cables that are clustered into a small mouthpiece. The mouthpiece, covered with a disposable  plastic covering, is placed under the tongue. The client rests for up to 20 minutes while the device emits laser light to the veins under the tongue. 

The recommended dosage for general support is 20 minutes once per week, for a series of four to ten weeks, or longer for a chronic condition. For a more severe problem, say diabetic ulcers, the treatment can be given twice per week, until the ulcers have begun to heal. On the other hand, if someone is trying to get over a lingering cold or cough, one treatment might just do the trick.

Stories from my practice

I have used the blood laser on clients (and myself) for about two months at the time of writing and have already seen and experienced big changes. Here are a few anecdotes from my practice:

1. Personally, I have much more energy with a greater ability to focus, and improved sleep.

2. One client experienced a significant decrease in springtime allergy symptoms after her first treatment. 

3. Someone else suffers from very sensitive skin with significant itching following a severe systemic candida infection many years ago. Following each treatment (three so far) she notices a big reduction in symptoms that last almost through the week. 

4. A fibromyalgia client has been having better weeks with more energy and less overall pain since commencing blood laser treatments.

5. Another client who had recently finished radiation treatment three to four weeks earlier wasn’t getting her energy back. After one blood laser treatment she felt close to normal for almost a week. After two more treatments, her energy was totally restored.

6. Across the board, the most common comment is “Wow, I had so much energy this week!”

For those of you who asked for more scientific information…here it is!

According to M. H. Weber in his paper “The Intravenous Laser Blood Irradiation – Introduction of a New Therapy ,” laser blood irradiation causes the following changes to occur:

1. Immune system effects: improved immunologic activity of the blood, i.e. stimulation of the immune response, both specific and non-specific; increase of the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA; stimulation of interferons, interleukins and TNF-alfa; stimulation of the proliferation of lymphocytes; activation of phagocytic activity of the macrophages; proliferation of lymphocytes and B- and T-cells; and lowering c-reactive protein.

2. Circulatory system effects: improvement of regeneration of erythrocytes and of microcirculation; reduction of aggregation of thrombocytes; activation of fibrinolysis; and stimulation of the NO-production in monocytes with vasodilation and improvement of endothelial dysfunction.

3. Impact on muscle and nerve cells: normalization of the cell membrane potential, which helps muscle and nerve cells to transmit signals between each other for increased function.

4. Impact on overall energy and whole system : mitochondria are stimulated to produce more ATP, which translates to more energy; and normalized tissue metabolism.

 Herbs that influence the blood

Nettles to build the blood

The nettle plant is highly nutritious and makes a wonderful green vegetable in the spring. Once you wash it and cook it, the sting will disappear. It is known to nourish the blood, and treat  anemia-type conditions, including low blood pressure, pale face, fainting and fatigue. It is also helpful in cases where blood deficiency and excessive bleeding go hand-in-hand.

Yarrow to move the blood

Yarrow is one of my favorite plants. I love its herbaceous scent, hearty flowers, strong stems and delicate feathery leaves. I’ve been monitoring a few specimens on my morning walks, and they are now starting to bloom. One of yarrow’s many strengths is to move and cool the blood and thereby stop bleeding. I use it fresh, dried, or in ointment on fresh cuts and bruises with amazing results. Tea and tincture are taken internally for bleeding due to blood stasis in the digestive and respiratory tracts and the female reproductive system. Blood stasis is when coagulated blood obstructs the vessels, causing fresh blood to be forced out around it. To treat this type of bleeding, we need to move blood. 

Shepherd’s Purse to stop bleeding

Shepherd’s Purse is primarily used to stop excessive bleeding. It is warming and stimulating, and is best for blood that is “dark and oozing,” according to herbalist Matthew Wood . It is especially useful for women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding and hemorrhaging, fibroids, and postpartum bleeding. Shepherd’s Purse is also useful for bleeding in the digestive and urinary tracts and for wounds that continue to ooze. From a biomedical perspective, Shepherd’s Purse stops bleeding due to its vasoconstrictive and coagulating properties.

Burdock to “clean” the blood

Blood can get overloaded with toxins if our body’s detoxification processes are broken down or overwhelmed. This can manifest in all types of skin conditions from acne to eczema to psoriasis. In Chinese medicine, we call this toxic heat in the blood. According to herbalist Peter Holmes , burdock root regulates the system by “restoring, altering and eliminating.” In other words, it gently brings the body into harmony by detoxifying the blood and tissues. Burdock also regulates the immune system, which, as we now know, is tied with the blood. This is why I give it to almost all of my clients suffering from seasonal allergies…with great effect, I might add.

Clearing blockages to healing

I recently returned from another German auricular acupuncture training in Ottawa, Ontario. (Maman, the giant spider pictured to the left, created by sculptor Louise Bourgeois,  is one of many signature images of Ottawa.) 

The training was called “Clearing Blockages to Healing,” a simple name with profound meaning. I knew the new information would allow my auricular acupuncture assessments and treatments to work on an even deeper level than before, but I was, once again, truly blown away by the healing potential of this modality. 

As discussed in a previous newsletter, one of the primary features that distinguishes German auricular acupuncture from other types of auricular acupuncture is focus therapy. A “focus” is a stubborn and hidden blockage to healing, due to a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma or from a physical/emotional wound that is concealed within the body. The body becomes consumed with healing these blockages and it can’t attend to healing other day-to-day issues. The person who has such a blockage will experience chronic conditions possibly without experiencing obvious injury or illness. Even perceivable, diagnosable conditions can be ameliorated by focus therapy, by lessening the stress load on the body.

The new protocol I use to find, prioritize, and treat focus activity takes great concentration on my part and is somewhat time-consuming. Ultimately, it is truly worth the extra time and energy. Already some of my clients have noticed a difference!Red Clover Clinic adds low-level laser therapy—no-needles, no pain

Let there be “laser” light!

Red Clover Clinic adds low-level laser therapy—no-needles, no pain

Another big announcement for my auricular practice is the addition of the RJ LaserPen.  With the LaserPen, I can give an auricular treatment with absolutely no pain or discomfort, and I can add healing bio-frequencies (electrical frequencies that resonate with particular tissues in the body), particular to the issues that I am treating. 

This is great news for anyone who is needle-phobic, children, and anyone who finds the heftier German needles to be a little uncomfortable! The LaserPen offers an auricular treatment that is at least as effective as a needle treatment. I’m sure this will come as a great relief to many of you! And, in addition to the LaserPen, I also have two other wonderful laser tools described below.

I  think we’re all a bit starved of light in this slow-to-emerge spring. We know that spring will come eventually, but in the meantime, we can turn our attention to getting light energy from sources other than the sun, namely, laser light.

If you want to know more about laser light and how it is used therapeutically, read on!

What is a laser?

LASER stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” Basically, a laser amplifies light at a specific wavelength, in a very narrow bandwidth, with high coherence. (The peaks and valleys of the wavelengths are consistent and even.) Don’t worry, you don’t have to understand the physics of laser light to understand how it affects you physiologically! 

There are two types of medical lasers: lasers for surgery and lasers for biostimulation/biomodulation (the stimulation and modulation of the metabolic functions of the human organism).  The latter is known as low-level, or cold laser, and it is the type of laser used therapeutically by many healthcare practitioners. 

Low-level lasers are becoming more common to treat wounds, injuries, pain, and skin issues, as well as being used to stimulate acupuncture points. There is also the possibility to exert a more systemic effect with laser treatment, thereby treating cardiovascular issues, immune issues, allergies, fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic liver and kidney diseases, among others. 

How do lasers work therapeutically?

The photons of light trigger the photoreceptors on the cells to transform light energy into cellular energy. The result is increased oxygen and ATP production. This increase in cellular energy stimulates systemic biochemical responses, including increased circulation and microcirculation, increased action potential of nerve cells, increased collagen synthesis (wound healing), balanced immune function, and mediation of pain signals. As you can see, laser light provides general stimulation of the entire organism.

A secondary effect of laser therapy is the transfer of bio-frequency information into the cells. Research has been done to determine which frequencies resonate with particular tissues. For example, treating nerve damage with laser light that has the frequency that resonates with healthy nerve tissue added to it, allows the nerve cells to synchronize with the healthy frequency for optimal results.

In order to achieve a good therapeutic effect with low-level laser therapy, it is important to use a laser that has enough power, but not too much. If there is too little power and subsequently too low a dose of laser light, there won’t be much of a therapeutic effect. Likewise, if the power and dosage are too high and fall beyond the therapeutic window, cellular response and function can be inhibited. 

This is why it is important to have high quality, well-researched equipment, that is built with the appropriate power and is programmed with settings designed to help the practitioner determine the proper dosages. With the right equipment, low-level laser therapy is completely safe, without negative side effects and highly effective.

The RJ LaserPen, designed and manufactured in Germany

The effect of the treatment also has a lot to do with the type (power, brand, accessory) of laser being used, the dosage of laser light given, and the tissue being targeted. 

The  RJ-Laser  equipment I am now using in my practice was designed and manufactured in Germany. RJ-Laser has been designing medical laser equipment for more than 30 years. They offer high-quality, well-researched products, with a wide assortment of laser tools for many different applications. 

At this time I have three different pieces of laser equipment, in addition to the base unit. The laser pen  featured above, can be used for auricular acupuncture as well as to treat body acupuncture points and small joints. I also have a cluster probe to treat larger muscles and joints, as well as a variety of skin pathologies. The most interesting attachment is the blood laser. This attachment targets the blood, offering a more systemic laser treatment. The blood laser will be featured in the upcoming issue of the newsletter with a more thorough explanation of how it works.