Introduction to Polyvagal Acupuncture (TM)

For over 1000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated enduring resilience through its ability evolve with changing times. At the heart of TCM is the fundamental principle of maintaining equilibrium between opposing forces within the body, exemplified by the concept of yin-yang balance. This notion of harmony resonates with current neurological principles, particularly the functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The convergence of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), modern neuroscience, and Polyvagal Theory presents a compelling framework to address complex neurological conditions such as spasticity, stroke, and PTSD. This integration requires a deeper understanding of the fight-or-flight response—a fundamental aspect of human physiology that has significant implications for health and disease management. By exploring the physiological underpinnings of PVT, neuroscience and correlating them with TCM principles, we can develop more effective therapeutic strategies that address both symptoms and underlying cause of these conditions.

The Intersection of TCM with Polyvagal Theory: Introducing Sympathetic Dominance

 In both adults and children, retained reflexes mobilize the body's resources into the large skeletal motor muscles to prepare for flight, specifically the leg yang channels. Once retained or chronic, strong patterns of spasticity are observed directly in the fascia and often do not resolve with appropriate treatment. Additionally, adult survivors of childhood trauma exhibit long-term issues of malabsorption, middle jiao (gut) deficiencies, and autoimmunity due to long-term inhibition of the enteric nervous system and involution of the thymus.

Bridging Polyvagal Theory and TCM: Understanding the Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

In TCM, we can view mobilization of the fight-flight response through the lens of the Yang sinew channels, which activate the body's defensive (Wei Qi) and muscular responses, highlighting a direct correlation to the sympathetic activation described in PVT. This perspective allows us to see the cascade of physiological and energetic responses—from Qi stagnation and Blood stasis to the impairment of the enteric system—as a comprehensive response system that aligns with the neurobiological pathways outlined by Porges. By understanding these parallels, the cascade of reactions set off by the fight or flight response becomes evident, providing a clear pathway for addressing these responses holistically and restoring balance to the body and mind.

The Bibliography

In lieu of a references page for each blog post, I have an included the references for the entire subject, to be expanded as content increases. For ease, I reference the last name of the author in the blog paragraph for more important works.  Polyvagal Acupuncture (TM) and all materials are trademarked intellectual property. Please do not use without a reference.

COVID as a Global Trauma Trigger: Chronic Sympathetic Dominance is a Global Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global trauma, pushing much of the population into chronic "fight-flight-freeze" responses. This reactivation floods the brainstem with signals of danger, an alarm state with heightened sympathetic activity that when prolonged becomes a way of life. Recognizing and treating chronic sympathetic dominance involves understanding the myriad subclinical patterns associated with chronic fight-flight-freeze” response.

The Cascade of Physiological Issues from Chronic Sympathetic Dominance

 Now that we have explored the basics of Yin and Yang balance as reflective of the Autonomic Nervous System's function, we are better positioned to understand the fight-flight mechanism within the TCM framework. In this context, the fight or flight response can be viewed as a condition that arises when there is a significant disruption in this delicate balance. Such disruptions overwhelm the ANS, tipping the scales away from harmony and leading to the profound physiological and psychological changes observed in chronic stress responses. This TCM perspective allows us to conceptualize trauma not just as an emotional or psychological event, but as a systemic physiological condition that challenges the body's innate capacities for regulation and balance.  

Chronic Sympathetic Dominance and Fascia: Vagal Tone is Visible!

Contributions from mental health and trauma professionals like Peter Levine, PhD, Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, and Svetlana Masgutova, PhD, illustrate the role of the nervous system and the biochemical processes involved in trauma. However, their profound insights have not yet translated into effective treatment solutions for many. Several factors contribute to this challenge: a persistent mind-body split in mental health, prohibitions against mental health providers physically interacting with patients, inadequate insurance coverage for counseling, and an over-reliance on medication. These issues highlight the complex landscape of mental health care, where pharmaceutical approaches often fail to provide comprehensive solutions.

Integrating Chinese Medicine: The Neurology of the Ming Men Fire

The historical journey of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is as intricate as the texts that form its foundation. Revered classics like the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) began as separate scrolls, shaped by the beliefs, climate, and dietary practices of distinct Chinese regions. Each scroll reflects a unique cultural perspective, capturing early practitioners’ insights into restoring health, vitality, and the body's response to its environment. The Huangdi Neijing, traditionally linked to the Yellow Emperor, likely originated around the 2nd century BCE, with significant additions made during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). Similarly, Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun, written around 200 CE, focuses on treating diseases rooted in cold, shaped by environmental challenges of the Han Dynasty. By 1155 CE, scholars had organized these separate texts into a cohesive canon, preserving TCM’s foundational knowledge.

Plexuses Related to the Autonomic Nervous System and Their TCM Correlates

 Plexuses Related to the Autonomic Nervous System:

Exploring the Neurological Components of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a profound system for understanding the body’s energy channels, and within this system, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels hold a unique position. These vessels, especially the Ren Mai, Du Mai, and Chong Mai (channels of first ancestry), are foundational to prenatal development. However, as we explore the channels of secondary ancestry—the Wei Mai and Qiao Mai—it becomes clear that they carry a neurological component previously unexplored in TCM. This is particularly relevant as we begin to understand their connections to postnatal development and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).