谈木一二三 (On Wood 1,2,3)

Wood 1,2,3 are three points belonging to Dr. Tung's (Hanyu pinyin: Dong) (董氏）miraculous system of acupuncture. In contrast to TCM's system of 12 primary channels, Tung's system doesn't seem to have channels per se. Rather, he divides the body into 12 parts that is a progression from distal to proximal, each part constituting a complete system in itself. For example, Part 1 consists of the fingers and it appears that should one so choose, any condition could be treated by using only the fingers appropriate to the condition. Tung's system, consequently, appears to be yet another microsystemic approach to treating physical imbalance. Each part can be conceived as an octave, complete to the system in which it operates. The practitioner is afforded the creative latitude to select which octave may prove most beneficial for alleviating symptoms.

Wood 1,2,3 are on the fingers and belong to Part 1. I selected this point for some minor righ-sided neck tension I was experiencing, having also been only partially satisfied with the effects I've been achieving for patients experiencing similar discomfort using other techniques and being altogether skeptical of the benefits of local needling in most cases. That is to say, I rarely needle locally and find it to be philosophically inconsistent with the principles of balancing yin and yang, since other non-local approaches I've used produce very rapid response.

Wood 1,2,3 are located on the first joint of the index finger at the outer third from the central axis. The numbering of the points don't much matter here. Find the midpoint of the first joint and needle it. Next needle midway between the distal and proximal joints and you've got your three points. You can go to this site to find its precise location. Outer in Tung's system is always toward the pinky.

Needling the fingers smarts. I initiated the treatment on the right side. The most distal Wood point was really sensitive, so much so I couldn't fully insert the needle the requisite 4 fen. Once the needle broke the skin, I found twisting while inserting less painful. Within a minute or two I noticed sensations at the medial aspect of my right toe and qi sensation that roughly tracked around the kidney meridian. I tested my neck and found little release on the right side but the left, which wasn't stiff, was definitely more flexible, turned like a well oiled door.

I removed the needles and inserted them into the left side. Again, the point most distal point was very painful. I began to yawn considerably and I noticed that my nose began to run. The yawning continued throughout the treatment, which lasted about 20 minutes. About 8 minutes into the treatment I began to feel tired and also began to feel the need to stretch as if tension throughout my body was releasing. Some stuffiness that I noticed in my right ear cleared. The sensation from my right foot worked its way up my back and I noticed a release at the attachment of the sterocleidomastoid at the right clavicle. I also began to feel release in my thorax, especially the right side. My heart began to beat as it does when exercising.

I don't believe I've had such a powerful treatment. Sure, I've zonked out with the best of them, but never such a pronounced full-body effect with such intensity. When I checked my pulse, it was rapid an very wiry. The sensation in my foot continues as I write this two hours later. My neck definitely feels better, though the tension has not been eliminated entirely. We'll see tomorrow.

I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences on with these points.