Utilizing these standard treatments, augmentation with Chinese medical treatment not only relieves many side effects caused by these therapies but has also been shown clinically to strengthen the patient from the cellular level to the spiritual. A broad range of systemic clinical manifestations is addressed, but ultimately, through this style of medicine, immunity is enhanced. Although ancient, it parallels innovative techniques being developed to address this difficult disease, emphasizing the intimate relationship between the person and the planet, cultural stresses, nutrition and genetic inheritance. The key to this ability is that while it certainly recognizes and can categorize and differentiate clinical manifestations into a disease pattern, it never sees the body, mind and spirit as separate. Fundamentally, the preponderance of symptoms are viewed as rooted in spirit.
Chinese medicine has the tools to do so.
In the last year, I supervised a group of student interns in a private setting of Western physicians using Oriental medicine in the treatment of oncology patients undergoing Western medical intervention. This was an innovative experience, using the tools of Oriental medicine to support a large group of patients who consistently sought treatment in a fast-paced, heavily scheduled medical doctor's office. Due to the unique nature of this clinical setting, we began with a quick, easy treatment of utilizing auricular acupuncture on these patients. A core presentation was designed with the combined purposes of addressing the side effects of allopathic treatment, the nature of the illness, and the person as a whole. These points and their energetic functions are described below.