Treatment of Shen Disturbances: Insomnia & Depression

September 30, 2022 - October 3, 2022

Topic: Treatment of Shen Disturbances:     

Topic 1 : Insomnia (Fri & Sat)   

Proper sleep is one of the most essential daily activities for mental and physical well-being, recovery and longevity. Interruptions in sleep, or sleep that doesn't sufficiently cover all sleep stages, can have severe consequences that are not easily compensated for through other means. In this seminar, Jeffrey will review the Classical Chinese medicine framework surrounding sleep and how it applies to the various sleep stages: Wake, N1, N2, N3 and REM (aka wake, relaxed wakefulness, light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep). He will also explore circadian rhythms and the effects of light exposure. Once sleep physiology is established, Jeffrey will discuss insomnia, including the physical, environmental, mental and spiritual causes of insomnia. He will then review a variety of modalities and approaches that have successfully been used to treat a wide range of insomnia. These include herbal medicine, acupuncture, essential oils, feng shui and stone medicine. He will also teach few meditation techniques that can be used to help fall asleep, and to facilitate various sleep stages.     

Topic 2 : Depression (Sun & Mon)   

In the second half of the weekend, Jeffrey will continue his discussion on shen disturbances with a focus on depression. The Ling Shu suggests that everything revolves around the spirit. Consequently, depression can have far reaching and severe consequences on one's health and potentially on the fulfillment of one's life curriculum. There are many causes of depression, and Jeffrey will review the pathogenesis of depression from a Chinese and Western perspective. There can be many causes or contributing factors including: environmental, nutritional, emotional and spiritual. After discussing the pathogenesis, Jeffrey will explore treatment modalities using a wide range of techniques including herbal medicine, acupuncture, essential oils, feng shui, stone medicine and meditation/qigong techniques.