Psycho-Emotional Pain and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels

This book is unique in that it discusses the nature of human suffering and how patients can be helped to overcome psycho-emotional pain through work with the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Emotional suffering and resistance to change can be an impediment to the healing process, with many physical conditions being resistant to treatment due to their psycho-emotional element. Understanding this suffering and providing a therapeutic environment which allows the patient to believe that things can be different improves the effectiveness of an Eight Extras treatment.

Approaching the topic from the perspective of suffering means that the theory can be applied to both physical and emotional illness, including addiction, chronic pain, auto-immune conditions and hormonal disorders. This a very practical book and will include a full explanation of how to create an Eight Extras treatment and also case studies showing clinical use of the vessels and how to apply them. These case studies show how coping mechanisms and resistance develops and how important history is in the diagnostic process.

In this book, Yvonne Farrell, a hugely experienced teacher and practitioner of Chinese medicine, explains and explores the use of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (8EVs). In the fi rst part of the book, Yvonne lays down a framework for the nature of suffering. She looks at psycho-spiritual or psycho-emotional disharmonies as the root of physical pain and suffering, and explains how the physical discomfort we feel is actually the result of our psyche communicating through our bodies, in order to instigate the need for change.

In the first chapter, entitled 'Illness as a Form of Communication', there is a reminder that, 'in an effort to fi t into a more allopathic western medical approach, modern day TCM is often focused on alleviating the physical or emotional symptoms of suffering – but it has so much more to offer because it has its basis in the understanding that wellness comes from living in accordance with the natural order of things.' With this in mind, Yvonne explores the 8EVs and their pathways from the point of view of suffering and the patient's psyche. There is in-depth analysis of the role of the 8EVs as the 'reservoirs of Vital Substances that support psychological function,' due to their link to the Kidney function (and therefore Jing storage), and their infl uence on the twelve primary channels (because the 8EVs 'store and distribute Yuan Qi and Jing throughout the body'). Their relationship with the Curious Organs, the orifi ces and their own master points are discussed in order to explain their clinical use – so practitioners can help patients in 'using their resources appropriately to maintain health' through the 'unfolding of primal Yin and Yang into life.'

Part two of this book focuses on the clinical application of the 8EVs, based on over twenty years of practising, teaching and learning from her teachers Jeffrey Yuen and David Chan. The author presents a basic structure that can be used to create an effective treatment, as exemplifi ed in the nine case studies that illustrate the application of the concepts explained in part one. Listening to the patient and understanding what they believe is the cause of their suffering allows practitioners to create the most effective treatment for each individual, thereby using the 8EVs to their full potential. Yvonne is an advocate of 'less is more' and because each of the points needled is essentially a piece of information that the patient will need to process, she advises practitioners to keep it simple. She recommends starting by needling the master point of the chosen EV, and to think of this as the 'key that unlocks the door to the Vessel.' Following this principle of using the master point fi rst also allows expansion of treatment to the primary channels too, since the master points of the 8EVs are also points on the primary channels.

In chapter 9, 'Intent Versus Agenda,' Yvonne asks practitioners to 'develop clarity in our intent when helping our patients,' and this is undoubtedly the deepest, most thought-provoking chapter of this book. In this chapter, we are reminded that no matter how accomplished we might feel as practitioners of this medicine, we should not 'fall into the trap of believing we are actually "fixing" someone.' Our intent should be on creating a treatment plan that can help and support the patient to embrace change, because if we try to 'fi x' our patients we are actually 'disempowering them and giving our egos a little boost.' So, do we make it our agenda to try fi xing the patient, whether or not they are ready to heal – or do we 'develop a level of compassionate detachment that embraces the idea that it is the patient who chooses to heal or not'? This is one of the core issues that Yvonne discusses, making us think about who we are and what we do when we interact with our patients in the clinic.

 In summary, this book focuses on how we as Chinese medicine practitioners can help patients embrace the changes needed in order to overcome psycho-emotional pain. The detailed exploration of the nature of human suffering explains how we need to acknowledge this suffering in order to eliminate the resistance to change, which can be an obstacle to the healing process. Yvonne thoroughly explains how to create the appropriate clinical environment that will empower the patient to change: 'As practitioners we have the knowledge and skill to diagnose and treat illness but we are also responsible for creating a therapeutic environment in which the possibility for change exists. When we do this, we do this from who we are.' We are instructed on how to listen to the patient and explore their history, and how to seek the imbalance and look for the symptom(s) that are for the patient the most painful expression of that imbalance so we can use the 8EVs to their optimal effectiveness and 'empower the patient to take back their health in whatever way is best for them

First time author Yvonne Farrell has been studying the Eight Extraordinary Vessels for well over twenty years and wanted to write 'a book that would make me proud.' She can be proud.

Sandro Graca