By Jude Ponton, DC, MAc, Lac & Paul Ponton, MAc, LAc, Senior Licensed Acutonics Practitioners and Teachers
For many years we supervised students using Acutonics in clinical internship at Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine. Those without Acutonics training who received Acutonics treatments or observed their fellow students treating with tuning forks would sometimes remark that they seem to have produced only a “feel good” response during some sessions. Our response was “great”. We never underestimate the therapeutic value of feeling good. Facilitating this state in our clients is a major intent in every treatment and, we think, is of immeasurable value.
Along with the outwardly observable changes in the client, and the person’s subjective feedback about feeling less anxious, there are a myriad of physiological responses that occur as the result of relaxed states. Numerous studies over at least the past 40 years have shown reduction in the intensity of complaints related to aging,hypertension, arthritis, insomnia, depression and cancer from engaging in various relaxation activities.
More recent studies indicate that a profound relaxed state produces positive changes at the genetic level, such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation as well as lengthening of telomeres (an anti aging indicator). There is growing evidence that inflammatory responses in our bodies contribute to and are probably causative factors in a great number of chronic and degenerative conditions including heart disease, arthritis and cancer, among other things.
Different studies report as many as 90% of the conditions that people are treated for are stress related. These findings bear out what we have observed in our own practices over the past 3 decades.
Acutonics provides us with extraordinary tools to create vibratory frequencies that remind our bodies of their natural state of equilibrium. People are susceptible to a habitual cycle of fight or flight response during the course of daily living. This creates overproduction of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which over time create inflammation. These chemicals are addictive, because they give us a sense of power and excitement. So, most people create thoughts unconsciously that initiate the release of more of these chemicals. However, the innate intelligence of the body wants to return to a state of low stress. One of the things we have come to understand is that the altered states of consciousness experienced by clients during Acutonics sessions allow a kind of wiggle room for change. It appears that this allows people to flow out of high beta brainwave states (excitability) into alpha and theta states that are more relaxing and meditative. Many also slow down to theta brainwaves (sleep). Illness and discomfort are states of vibration. Using sound to open energetic portals allows relaxing and restorative frequencies to influence our cells and genetic responses to shift away from the vibratory patterns of illness and toward those of well-being.
One of the first things students learn when studying Acutonics is the application of Ohm Unison forks on KID 1 (Gushing Spring) to produce powerful grounding and relaxation for the client. We have had clients who enter the office displaying hyperactive behavior and thinking that calm within seconds of applying Ohms to KID 1.
Another Level I technique effective for calming is use of the Huato Jiaji points located along the back over the places where the nerve roots emerge from the spine. Practitioners have their favorite forks to use on these points to ground out excess in the nervous system. For deep relaxation we often use the Ohm forks with Herkimer and amethyst gem tips, continuing down to the Baliao (Eight Seams) points to ground the nervous energy.
Common points for relieving anxiety are Yin Tang, located between the eyebrows, as well as P 6 (Inner Gate) for calming the heart and relieving agitation of the Shen (Spirit). Ohm Unison or Ohm/Neptune 5th are good choices here for either balancing or calming.
Anxiety patterns can be complex, even when symptoms are mild. Some of the most common patterns relate to the imbalances of liver energy. Bob Flaws, and others, point to pressures of our modern lifestyle and its tendency to create stagnation and heat in the liver, as a mechanism for inflammatory processes in the body. The Zodiac tuning fork applied to LIV 3 (Great Surge) together with the Ohm fork on KID 1 is a simple but effective approach to begin addressing this pattern.
Creating balance and circulation in both the nervous and endocrine systems can be achieved with activation of the microcosmic orbit by combining treatment of the Ren (Conception) and Du (Governing) extraordinary vessels. Possible interval choices here might include opening with the New Moon 5th on both vessels and then applying the Full Moon 6th to the Ren, to support the yin, and the Mars/Venus 5th to the Du to support and anchor yang energy.
One of the most effective harmonic methods for bringing peace to anxious clients is creation of gentle, muted sounds made when Tibetan bowls are struck with a soft mallet. Studies in Europe found that the sound of the Tibetan bowls create delta and theta brainwave frequencies found in deep relaxation and meditation even in persons in high states of stress.
In our experience, the process of creating relaxing sessions has far-reaching benefits for balancing body, mind and spirit and creating states of profound well being not only for our clients, but for us as well.