​
Shen
Psycho-emotional aspects in Chinese Medicine:
classical texts and contemporary practice
​
Presentation
​
Chinese medicine, with its continuity between the emotional, mental and physical levels, is a very effective therapeutic instrument when shen alterations are either obvious or subtle.
The perspective we shall take in our lectures is mainly on emotions as movements of qi, to understand how the disorders of qi influence its denser and thinner forms (body, zangfu, shen).
We shall discuss clinical presentation of disturbing states (as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, food disorders, psychotic outbursts) in relation to Chinese Medicine.
This will lead us to consider treatment hypothesis, doubts, successes, questions coming from real cases.
We shall also talk about the single emotions, how to recognize them in patients, and in the practitioner-patient relationship.
​
​
Examples of Lectures
​
Emotions and movement of qi
​
-
Terminology and classical thought
-
Emotions and illness
-
Emotions and movements of qi
-
How to recognize emotions in patients
-
The “shen-axis” points to regulate emotions
​
Research, text interpretation and clinical application of the material described in the classical sources
​
-
shen, hun, po, yi, zhi
-
Constraint-yu, heat-re, agitation and restlessness – fanzao
-
Classical syndromes – zangzao, bentunqi, baihebing, meiheqi, diankuang
Clinical patterns according to TCM differential diagnosis
​
-
Aetiology, pathology, clinical manifestations
-
Treatment guide-lines
-
Discussion on single points and their combination
On patient-practitioner relationship
​
-
Regulating shen: the patient within myself
-
Blocks, traps and spider webs: the therapy space and time
-
This strange object: the needle
-
Relation dynamics: restraining, empathy and neutrality
​
Complementary methods
​
-
Classical (moxibustion, cupping, plum-blossom needle)
-
Contemporary (ear and scalp acupuncture, electro-stimulation, “wrist-ankle” method)
Notes
-
Any lecture has a discussion on clinical cases (also told by the participants)
-
An overwiew on conventional diagnosis (DSM-IV) can be added.