EDITOR’S
NOTE
The theme
of this issue is acupuncture, which most practitioners using muscle
testing methods have had some exposure to. Chinese-style medical history
questions relate not only to the specific complaint, but also to the
patient’s overall physical health and current emotional state.
This sounds very familiar to the approach an applied kinesiologist
would take to his or her patient. Initially developed in two distinct
and diverse cultures and in different time periods, kinesiology and
acupuncture share many similarities, both in their principles and
in their philosophies.
With the meridian system being one of the Five Factors of the IVF,
most experienced kinesiologists have come to learn its importance
to health and well being.
Sheldon Deal, our feature interview, has given us information on acupuncture
shortcuts and is one of the original “Dirty Dozen” applied
kinesiologists. Hans Garten, a medical doctor and diplomate of applied
kinesiology, compares the similarities and differences of acupuncture
and applied kinesiology. Richard Utt, a licensed acupuncturist, will
share some new discoveries in his field. He has survived serious health
problems and is using his unique experience with difficult patients.
As the Western world’s interest increases in acupuncture it is
important that we learn more on how to correctly apply acupuncture.
Just as chiropractors specializing in applied kinesiology don’t
like it when lay persons pass themselves as professional kinesiologists
after taking weekend courses, the same holds true for licensed acupuncturists
who get offended by kinesiologists who take weekend courses in acupuncture
and say that they “do acupuncture”.
To those of us who do not specialize in certain disciplines I can
only say that we must foster inter-professional relationships with
other specialists. In the end it is the patient who benefits.
SHELDON
DEAL: THE TRAVELING PROPHET
Sheldon
C Deal, DC, NMD, DIBAK has traveled over 2 million miles all over
the world, as evidenced by the number of miles in his frequent flyer
program. One of his talents is to take a complex kinesiological
procedure and present it in a simple, precise, and workable manner.
He teaches only what has been proven to work for anybody, in dependent
of a strong presence or what he calls “belief kinesiology”.
He is one of AK’s original “Dirty Dozen”—the
first study group that was instrumental in the early development
of applied kinesiology, as founded by George Goodheart. Today, whether
he is lecturing in a foreign country, treating patients in his successful
clinic, writing a book, or presiding over and helping make the policies
of the ICAK Examination Board, of which he is the current president
(he was the third chairman of ICAK from 1978–1983), Dr Deal
stays true to the spirit and tradition of applied kinesiology.
Dr Deal won third place in the Mister America contest in
1961 and first place in the Mister Arizona Body Building Contest
the previous year, and today this 63-year-old physician and educator
still maintains his optimum-condition weight from 40 years ago.
His active lifestyle finds him touring around on his motorcycle
or bicycle, flying airplanes, playing racquetball, weight-lifting,
hiking, rock climbing, and, in slower moments, playing the organ.
He continues to find many outlets to showcase his talents, earning
various awards, and serving on association educational committees.
With every pursuit, he demonstrates an abiding drive and integrity
that captures the spirit of success.
Interview
between Dr Deal and AK Journal
I understand
that you were one of the original Dirty Dozen. What was it like
being at that first meeting?
Although I don’t
think anyone there could have predicted the magnitude that applied
kinesiology would have on the healing world, there was an unmistakable
feeling in the air that this was no ordinary meeting. I am sure
we had all met Dr Goodheart prior to this meeting. However, we were
meeting each other, in many cases, for the first time. We all took
turns sharing with each other our personal findings obtained by
using muscle testing. Before the meeting was over, it was a slam
dunk that we should meet again with our findings written down to
pass around copies to everyone else at the meeting.
Was there any special memory about the meeting that sticks out
in your mind?
I remember a Dr John Hughes from Ashland, Kentucky, who said on
the morning of the second day that he had a dream the night before.
An angel had come to him and offered that he could be anywhere in
the world that he wanted to be, and he chose to be at this meeting
of Goodheart study group leaders!
Acupuncture
Shortcuts
Sheldon
C Deal, DC, NMD, DIBAK
Abstract
This paper lists various techniques that can be used to speed up
the process of checking to see if a patient needs to have acupuncture
clearing done to them. When it is found that the patient does need
acupuncture work done, then a host of techniques are presented to
speed up that process as well.
Introduction
Early on in teaching classes in applied kinesiology, I learned how
discouraging it was to a doctor that was new to the principles of
AK, because there was such a vast amount of material to learn and
so many different techniques used to clear a problem that the patient
might have. My introduction of shortcuts was most welcomed and to
this day has served those doctors, as well as myself, quite well.
Although it goes without saying that the shortcuts are better appreciated
and better understood when the doctor has learned the standard method
first.
Acupuncture is a prime example of a therapy with so many different
techniques used and so many different laws involved that shortcuts
are especially welcome. I need to make it very clear that the techniques
presented here are not the only approach to clear out an acupuncture
lesion. These techniques are not meant to discredit any other method
nor invalidate any other technique. This author fully understands
there is more than one way to accomplish this task. My only purpose
is to present another piece of the jig-saw puzzle, and it is up
to the reader whether they want to incorporate it into their procedures
or not.
ACUPUNCTURE
IN APPLIED KINESIOLOGY: A REVIEW
By Hans Garten, MD, DIBAK
Abstract
Acupuncture is a healing art, which is embedded in eastern culture
and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Applied kinesiology (AK) as a Western development has an analytical,
logical basis, which is backed up by neurological and other models,
and apparently supplies a logical “easy” tool for the
use of acupuncture. Difficult and “mystic” tasks like
pulse diagnosis and the selection of points seem to be facilitated
by the “objective” tool of muscle testing.
Yet for the purpose of a “constitutional diagnosis” the
diagnosis of pulse points, alarm points, and muscle strength as
per AK is not equivalent to a traditional Chinese diagnosis.
The AK-specific therapy based on AK-specific pulse diagnosis can
furnish only part of the possible acupuncture effects.
For constitutional acupuncture treatments a TCM diagnosis has to
be established and the treatment has to be done accordingly. The
selection of points can be improved by therapy localization and
challenge as per AK.
Therapy of dysfunctional muscles is a major issue in AK. The AK-specific
use of acupuncture of tapping points according to the AK-specific
acupuncture diagnosis is by no means a sufficient way of imitating
the effects of a needle therapy with the correct manipulation of
the needle at the site of the disturbed structure of the muscle
(trigger points, tendon avulsions, etc). Musculoskeletal therapy
is most effective using concepts derived from manual therapy and
myofascial therapy. The practitioner must follow anatomical and
palpatory information and use the adequate stimulus as defined by
the reflexotherapeutic aspects of acupuncture. Somatotopic reflexotherapy
can be used (ear, scalp, hand, and others). Muscle function and
the selection of points can be monitored by manual muscle testing.
The practitioner who uses acupuncture in the described way needs
thorough knowledge of Chinese syndrome diagnosis and reflexotherapy.
KEY WORDS: acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), applied
kinesiology (AK), syndrome diagnosis, tendinomuscular meridians,
Law of Five Elements
Introduction
Acupuncture as part of TCM has always been part of Chinese science.
This science is of inductive-synthetic(1) character or, in other
words, it uses an analogous approach. It considers the interrelation
of things and phenomena rather than looking at one thing or phenomenon
as being the consecutive result of some other phenomenon. The latter
is the basis of Western analytic logical science.
Phenomena of the inner world and outer world are assembled in the
dual systems of Yin and Yang and the five associative groups of
the five phases (five elements).
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
SEVEN ELEMENT ACUPUNCTURE SYSTEM
By Richard D Utt, LAc
May the angels of truth guide my pen; may my mind be free of ego and
jaded toward nature’s fairest observations. As a light being
in life’s little drama, we of the human persuasion tend to magnify
our importance in the whole of things and, even to a greater degree,
to the individual of things. As an entity quite unusual to other living
forms of matter, it behooves us to comprehend our true nature. From
the telescope of Galileo observing the heavens to the microscope of
Pasteur witnessing the germ, we have forever in our existence as man
been curious as to our own importance. We look ahead to forecast the
future, we look back to analyze the past. We observe how we feel to
judge the present.
In the context of this passage, my reference to “we” could
be a reference to me, myself, and I; a collective observation of others
in the form of empathy and/or a simpatico with the whole of what matters.
What matters is a living pun as to the existence of the material world
in relationship to matter, time, light, and space. Divided into solids,
liquids, and gases; pulsating to the rhythm of our heart; and named
for each of our parts microscopically detailed is by all accounts
what we are—divided. The culmination of historic accumulation
of human recordings as to our nature leaves us quite perturbed to
still realize our miniscule understanding of what’s really the
matter with us. Is the fabric of our existence in the end just a heap
of ashes? What happened to that essence known as the soul, spirit,
life force, chi, pranna, and qui? Where did it come from, where did
it go, and what was it when it was here?
The expression of the spirit is the presentation of the actions that
emit from the matter. The nature of that given life form to react
or respond by choice rather than impulse is what gives the human being
a different characteristic than other life forms. To accumulate all
of our experiences in a given situation, to reason consciously, and
then to reply is quite a remarkable series of events for one being
to accomplish. We have, by our very nature, presumed ourselves to
be enlightened as opposed to the rest of the animal kingdom. That
light is what I would like you, the reader, to think about.
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AK issue n.14
- Fall 2002