Dolma Johanison - The Beginners Guide to the Eight Extraordinary Vessels

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The Beginners Guide
to the Eight
Extraordinary
Vessels

Mikschal (Dolma) Johanison,
D.Ac., L.Ac.

Contributing Editor: Devon Gray, L.Ac.,
MAOM, Dipl.OM

First published in Great Britain in 2022 by Singing Dragon, an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers

An Hachette Company

Copyright Mikschal (Dolma) Johanison 2022

The right of Mikschal (Dolma) Johanison to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Front cover image source: Shutterstock.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The information contained in this book is not intended to replace the services of trained medical professionals or to be a substitute for medical advice. The complementary therapy described in this book may not be suitable for everyone to follow. You are advised to consult a doctor before embarking on any complementary therapy programme and on any matters relating to your health, and in particular on any matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library and the Library of Congress

ISBN 978 1 78775 831 5

eISBN 978 1 78775 832 2

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In pursuit of my own personal excellence

Drawing by Erin Stevenson

This book has been made possible with the help of many hands:

Erin Stevenson

Lil Kilgallen

Chris Tarbox

Janene Borandi

Nicole Asbahr

Thank you, ladies, for your contributions to this body of work.

T his book intends to offer a different perspective on the eight extraordinary vessels. It is important to bear in mind that the theory of the eight extraordinary vessels has been adopted by practitioners over time and across the miles with varying opinions on how best to approach the employment and application of that theory. However, one thing that remains true is the value of the eight extraordinary vessels in the healing process. This book is designed for the novice regarding the application of the extraordinary vessels and offers a safe and basic approach.

The motivation for this manuscript is based on the works of Li Shi Zhen as translated by Miki Shima and Chuck Chase (Chase and Shima, 2010), the hands-on experience of Kiiko Matsumoto as witnessed in workshop format, and more than eleven years of clinical experience of using eight extraordinary treatments in everyday treatment planning.

H ealing patients requires practitioners to be competent and skillful at their trade. Part of being competent is embodying the history of theory and how theory becomes practice. Acupuncture history and culture is vast and dates back thousands of years. In fact, no one knows with certainty exactly when it began. Without honoring the history, competency becomes weak in the practitioner. It is the wisdom of past masters of the trade that has allowed modern-day practitioners to carry on the traditions of Eastern medicine. Who we are as healers is a reflection of the embodiment of acupuncture history, our own personal journey, and the interconnectedness we cherish with our healer ancestry.

The history is vast and has been in existence for thousands of years. In terms of dating the development of holistic medicine practices, the start date remains unknown, but many scholars suggest 2nd century CE , or perhaps even earlier. In the unfolding of the eight extraordinary vessel theory, the most recognized source is Li Shi Zhen, who, in the 16th century, made a thorough exposition of the eight extraordinary vessels and the herbal remedies that complement the effects of acupuncture. His understanding of the eight extraordinary pulses is unparalleled. In the 8th century, prior to the works of Li, a king and physician named Trisong Detsen greatly influenced holistic medicine. He taught about the deep energetic pathways of the point systems and how they are aligned with the winds and channels within the body. Further, he taught herbal remedies and moxibustion as the primary source of medicine. Trisong Detsen gathered practitioners from India, Tibet, Nepal, China, and the Turkic regions of Central Asia, who were all practicing medicine according to their cultures and lineage teachings. He encouraged the physicians to share ideas about the channels and points, winds, elements, and chakras within the body, and, further, to discuss practices and pathology. The meeting marked the beginning of integrative medicine and initiated a collective approach to medical practices with a holistic understanding.

The energetic channels comprise the oldest medical system in existence, which has been preserved and transmitted through turbulent global dynamics and across borders, cultures, and generations. Although the progression of Western medical technology has saved many lives, the best approach to medicine is informed by the successes of both the East and the West.

The Tibetan Medical System, one of the oldest medical systems in existence, dates to a time before the discovery of written language. Still preserved to this day are beautiful medical paintings that were created for Tibetan medical students to understand how diseases and health live in the body, including causes and conditions, consequences, and cures. The ancestors of this ancient medical system discovered points, channels, and elements that make up both human and animal bodies. This system offered herbal remedies and acupuncture, although needles were not used at that time; rather, the acupuncture points were palpated. Additionally, the Tibetan Medical System relied on bleeding, cupping, and moxibustion as cures for disease. The Chinese are also rightly given credit for these same practices still in existence today.