The Geometry of Emotions: Using Chakra Acupuncture and 5-Phase Theory to Describe Personality Archetypes for Clinical Use
Authors
Christopher MD
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Vermont Medical Center and Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT.
Keywords:
Keywords: : chakra, chakra acupuncture, 5-Phase theory, irritable bowel syndrome, personality archetypes, chakra archetypes, archetypes
Abstract
Background: The 5-Phase theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been an integral part of medical acupuncture for 2000 years. The research of John R. Cross PhD, PhDAc, has resulted in a further evolution of the 5-Phase theory to include the Ayurvedic chakra energy centers. By using chakras, a clinician can appreciate the integration of human organ systems, the neuroendocrine system, and personality attributes (both positive and negative) associated with each chakra.
Objective: To create personality archetypes from chakras that have practical clinical value.
Design: By assigning chakras to the 5-Phase elements on a pentagon per Dr. Cross, it was possible to connect a series of negative or positive emotions, from one to another, using the familiar Ko cycles and Shen cycles, to form theoretical personality archetypes and then to demonstrate archetype usefulness in a sample clinical case. The patient was being treated with Japanese acupuncture. The main outcome sought was to determine the personality types according to the 5-Phase theory with chakra energy centers included and to demonstrate the application of this system in the clinical case.
Results: Fourteen personality archetypes—seven composed of positive emotions and seven composed of negative emotions—were identified. Easy-to-remember names and familiar patterns of emotion that are mapped to the nodes of a pentagon (adapted to chakra acupuncture) were produced. The clinical case showed that the patient's work life conflicts resulted in negative archetype emotional patterns (anger, scarcity, lack of self-esteem) consistent with the presentation of irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, liver illness, and osteoarthritis.
Conclusions: Personality archetypes have clinical value for understanding the emotions associated with illness.
Keywords: : chakra, chakra acupuncture, 5-Phase theory, irritable bowel syndrome, personality archetypes, chakra archetypes, archetypes
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