It’s time to confess…
I can’t believe that it took me so long to figure this out. Actually, I’m rather embarrassed to admit that I didn’t understand the value of the “By Element” chart.
I’ve been explaining the AcuGraph features to practitioners for years. When I sit down with a practitioner to explain the graphs, I usually scroll through the each one to show multiple ways that they can analyze the graphing information. Once I reach the “By Element” chart, I usually tell the practitioner something like this:
“And you can look at the same information by element on this chart. But since, I’m not a 5 element practitioner, this chart isn’t of value to me.”
Can I just set the record straight??? I was completely wrong! That chart is actually EXTREMELY valuable to me as a practitioner. We teach about this concept in the Advanced Training Seminar Series, but it was actually in the January 2012 Dr. Jake Fratkin Seminar that the light bulb went on and I finally got it! Each time I watch the Fratkin Seminar, another tidbit of wisdom continue to show up to help me become a better practitioner.
Each graph is designed to give valuable information about how the energy is flowing in your patient, which then becomes important as you decide how to treat.
The “Baseline” graph is the first one that you see. It shows you the difference between the channels of the upper body and the lower body.
The “Yin/Yang” graph became extremely valuable to me when I started treating with the concepts I learned from Dr. Fratkin. Yin leads and yang follows. I use this graph to analyze which primary yin channels need to be treated first.
The “By Element” graph is next. I used to click on it and take a look, but I never made treatment decisions based on what I saw. But now I know better..
What I learned:
Let’s take a look at a graph from a recent patient.
Notice the split in the Minster Fire element. The Pericardium is low and the Triple Energizer is high. The baseline graph would tell you to treat the tonification point of Pericardium and the sedation point for the Triple Energizer. A more advanced treatment would be to simply treat the Luo point for the Pericardium because it would then borrow the extra energy from the Triple Energizer.
Here is the part that is really embarrassing. The AcuGraph knew this information the whole time. If you click on the Advanced treatment recommendation, which I did above, it would suggest using Pericardium 6 (the Luo point) to treat both the Pericardium and the Triple Energizer. I knew that the advanced treatment was listed in the AcuGraph, but I didn’t realize that the “By Element” chart would explain WHY that advanced treatment was recommended.
I love how the AcuGraph helps me continue to study the effects of how energy is flowing in the body. Isn’t it awesome that our learning continues over a lifetime? More experience, plus more education, turns into better results for our patients—which makes everyone happy!
It doesn’t matter how many times I sit through the Fratkin Seminar, I continue to learn valuable information. Isn’t it great that we now have it on DVD? I hope that you will share the little EXTRA tidbits that you learn from watching Dr. Fratkin’s seminar over and over again. Don’t forget that the special discount only lasts until the end of the month. Take a look here to find more information.
Have a great week everyone!
Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac.
Acupuncture Research Analyst
