Hamid D. Montakab

The human basic “Constitution” is transmitted by the parental essences (Jing). In the pre-natal stage, the constitution will influence the preferential development of specific organ systems, thus defining the physiology and the morphology of the person.

Additionally, the constitution (Jing & Zong Qi) will predispose the development of a specific "Temperament". Together with post-natal conditioning and personal life experiences the constitution and the temperament are responsible for the formation of individual belief systems and the psycho-emotional expressions of a person.

The effects of the Mind over the Body have been clearly emphasized in Classical Chinese Medicine for at least 10 centuries. Mind-sets and mental attitudes influence the human responses to the outer world, manifesting as emotions and classified as the inner causes of disease.

Understanding the structure of the conscious and subconscious parts of the psyche and unravelling the psychological mechanisms of “Belief systems” and helping to change these in a regular TCM setting is to treat the “Hidden Roots of Disease”.

The role of emotions, as internal causes of disease, have been well known in the Chinese medical practice. Emotions having evolved from primary instincts, are human responses to the outer world, and depend primarily on individual mind-sets.

The outer world is perceived through the lens of the Shen ≈ Psyche and processed by the Luo ≈ Connecting vessels. Understanding the energetic impact of the emotions is essential in the treatment management. The treatment of psycho-emotional patterns is part of treating the “Hidden Roots of Disease”.

With the increasing fertility issues, many acupuncture practitioners feel hesitant about needling patients during the gestational period, although Classical Chinese medicine has given us instructions as how to follow and assist a normal pregnancy, as well as treatment protocols for pathologies that may arise during this time.