STEMS AND BRANCHES
Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is steeped in theory and philosophy. One of the philosophical theories is that known as The Stems and Branches theory. This is a unique science of understanding how energy changes through time and how those changes affect the individual. Two thousand years ago, this science was only taught to those apprentices who had many years of practice in Oriental medicine and who were specially chosen for their understanding, approach and outlook on life. They were to become the "more developed and superior practitioners" of the classic Chinese texts.
Knowledge of the Stems and Branches theory enables an acupuncturist to look at life in general, and at a patient in particular, at a much deeper level. By using dates of important lifetime events (e.g. birth; start of an illness; an accident), the potential energetic strengths and weaknesses existing at that time can be understood. This enables the Stems and Branches practitioner to understand the key energetic imbalances involved in symptoms and physical conditions.
| "When one masters this unique aspect of Oriental philosophy, one is able to find the innermost problems of a patient." |
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International College of Oriental Medicine |