Title : An introduction to alchemical facial acupuncture: “Sparking the shen”
Abstract:
Facial acupuncture offers to the prospective patient and practitioner a practical approach to the treatment of the visible signs of aging. In its engagement with the psycho-emotional landscape of the face, it also presents the potential for patients to experience a profound transformation, not only of their faces, but in their lives. The re-vitalization of the face through facial acupuncture treatments provides the practitioner with unmistakable outward evidence of changes occurring within our patients. The face, the most emotive part of the body, provides eloquent testimony as to the benefits of healthy aging. The purpose of alchemy, one of the most venerable spiritual technologies, is to liberate the spirit from matter; in Taoist alchemical practices, the practitioner seeks to promote longevity, even immortality. In the context of what we can refer to as “facial” alchemy, facial and constitutional needling liberates Shen spirit from within the body, which manifests as increased radiance in the face. The face thereby provides a “window” into the alchemical retort, allowing us to witness the transformative process as it takes place. We refer to this process as “sparking” the Shen.
