Time Based Acupuncture: Chrono-Acupuncture

142 Pages·1.768 MB·English

by  David Twicken

Time Acupuncture

Chrono-Acupuncture

Zi Wu Liu Zhu Ling Gui Ba Fa Fei Teng Ba Fa

“One who can treat disease
by selecting among the 66-points at differing
times of the day has got the real medical secret.”

Dou Hanqing

David Twicken
Time Acupuncture

Zi Wu Liu Zhu - Ling Gui Ba Fa - Fei Teng Ba Fa

Time Acupuncture
All Rights Reserved © 2005 by David Twicken
Copyright Registered February, 2005, 2020
2

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any
information storage or retrieval system, without the
permission in writing from the author.

ISBN: 978-0-9759562-1-2
Disclaimer

The information in this book is based on the author’s knowledge and personal experience, it is
presented for educational purposes to assist the reader in expanding his or her knowledge of
Chinese metaphysics, philosophy and medicine. Seek advise from a professional and licensed
healthcare practitioner regarding the methods in this text. The techniques and practices are to be
used at the reader’s own discretion and liability. The author is not responsible in any manner
whatsoever for any physical injury that may occur by following instructions in this book.
Table of Contents

Introduction
Stem-Branch Energy Cycles
12-Stage Growth Cycle
Chinese Calendar
Origin of the Meridian Clock
Luo Shu
Cosmological Meridian Clock
Zi Wu Liu Zhu
Ling Gui Ba Fa
Fei Teng Ba Fa
Introduction

The foundation principles of Chinese medicine are in two classic Chinese metaphysical and
medical texts: the I Ching and Nei Jing. Each of those books contain a central theme that
permeates all Taoist art—the influence of change. Cycles, rhythms and patterns of qi are the
basis of the art and science of I Ching, Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology. Chinese medicine, one
of the branches of the Taoist arts contains many applications of cycles of time. Three of the most
popular time based methods of acupuncture (chrono-acupuncture) are contained in this book: Zi
Wu Liu Zhu, Ling Gui Ba Fa and Fei Tang Ba Fa.

This book introduces classic methods of time acupuncture in a step-by-step method, designed for
practitioners with no previous knowledge of the Chinese calendar and its applications, as well as
anybody with an interest in learning more about these methods. This book contains user-friendly
charts, diagrams and tables allowing fast, easy reference tools.

Zi Wu Liu Zhu is the more complex of the methods in this book and it is presented in a detailed
and comprehensive way in both theory and application. The principles of this method are found
in the I Ching, Nei Jing, Chinese calendar and Chinese astrology.

The time based acupuncture methods in this book can enhance your clinical practice. Classic
methods are presented, as well as supplemental methods that have developed for centuries. The
supplemental methods can be used with classic methods or as a sole treatment; all methods can
be combined with traditional acupoint selection strategies. I hope you enjoy this text and find it
an effective tool in your practice. Feel free to contact me with your feedback and questions.
Chinese Dynasties

Dynasty Years
Longshan 2500 B.C.
Xia 2100-1600 B.C.
Shang 1600-1045 B.C.
Zhou 1045-221 B.C
Western Zhou 1045-771 B.C.
Eastern Zhou 770-256 B.C.
spring and Autumn Period 722-481 B.C.
Warring States Period 403-221 B.C.
Qin 221-206 B.C.
Han 206 B.C.-220 A.D.
Western Han 206 B.C.-24 A.D.
Eastern Han 25 A.D.-220 A.D.
Three Kingdoms 220-280
Jin (Western and Eastern) 265 -420
Southern and Northern 420-589
Sui 581-618
Tang 618-907
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907-960
Song 960-1279
Liao 916-1125
Jin 1115-1234
Yuan (Mongol) 1271-1368
Ming 1368-1644
Qing (Manchu) 1644-1911
Republic of China 1912-1949
People’s Republic of China 1949-present
Stem-Branch Energy Cycles

Yin-Yang & Five Phases Cycles

Taoists view the universe as one integrated whole. Universal energetic patterns can be
categorized with the the yin-yang and five phases models, both are used in the Zi Wu Liu Zhu
system of acupuncture.

The Chinese devised a method of calculating the influence of Time using the yin-yang and five
phases (five elements) models; the method includes the heavenly stems and earthly branches.
Cycles of time correspond to the five elements: water, wood, fire, earth and metal and each
element contains a yin and yang aspect, for example, the 10-heavenly stems are yang wood, yin
wood, yang fire, yin fire, yang earth, yin earth, yang metal, yin metal, yang water, yin water; the
stems are the five elements with a yin and yang polarity.

The 12-earthly branches include the five elements with their yin-yang quality, totaling 10-
branches, they also have an additional earth branch that contains a yin and yang aspect producing
12-branches. Earth is a transformer; it transforms one element into another and that is why there
are two extra earth elements, one yin and one yang. The 12-branches are yang wood, yin wood,
yang earth; yang fire, yin fire, yin earth; yang metal, yin metal, yang earth; yin water, yang
water, and yin earth. Branches can also be referred to by their Chinese zodiac animal name, see
the following 12-branch table. Branches reflect the earthly energies which include the 12-months
of the year and the daily pattern of 12-double hour cycles.
Ten Heavenly Stems
Tian Yuan

Element Stem
1 yang wood Jia
2 yin wood Yi
3 yang fire Bing
4 yin fire Ding
5 yang earth Wu
6 yin earth Ji
7 yang metal Geng
8 yin metal Xin
9 yang water Ren
10 yin water Gui

The flow or pattern of the 10-stems is the five phases generating (sheng) cycle and begins with
wood: wood, fire, earth, metal and then water.

Each element contains a yin and yang qi; the pattern of elements flow from yang to yin into
perpetuity; all years, months, days and hours contain the 10-stems.

Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem Stem
yang yin yang yin yang yin yang yin yang yang
wood wood fire fire earth earth metal metal water water
Jia Yi Bing Ding Wu Ji Geng Xin Gui Ren
Twelve Earthly Branches
Di Yuan

The earthly branches are also based on the five phases and their cyclic patterns. The theory of
12-five phases energies is presented and will clarify differences from the energy patterns of the
10-stems.

The following table contains the 12-branches and their correspondences, the bold element in the
last column is the main element of the branch, it is that element that is primarily used in Zi Wu
Liu Zhu acupuncture, the other elements are called hidden elements, which explain certain
relationships between branch pairings and are integral when explaining the 3-channel pairings on
the arm and legs.