Probiotics: Intestinal Health from a 5-Element Acupuncturist's Perspective April 15, 2009

Probiotics: Intestinal Health from a 5-Element Acupuncturist's Perspective
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

6:30-8:00 PM

Speaker: Laura Santi, L.Ac.

Cost: $14



Laura Santi, L.Ac.

5 Element acupuncture consists of diagnosing a patient through their qualities of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. From this perspective, everything in life can be quantified into these elemental types - from symptoms, seasons, foods, emotions, thoughts, animals, etc, to what are called "the five virtues": propriety, loyalty, discernment, wisdom, and compassion.



The large intestine and stomach together are called the “yang ming” in Chinese medicine – the organs responsible for assimilation and elimination of food – and toxins. In this talk, we will hear about the role of probiotics in maintaining and renewing intestinal health, and the connection of poor intestinal health to depression, autism and ADHD, that is - mental-emotional balance. From such balance, the 5 virtues emerge and replace their coin-opposite emotions, “the 5 poisons”: bitterness, ingratiation, righteousness, fear, and anger. With this the spirit flourishes, and we can become, truly, who we really are.





About Laura Santi

Laura Santi, L.Ac., is nationally and state licensed in Oregon. She graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1991 and pursued further clinical training in Shanghai, China. She also attended the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Maryland, learning the 5 Element Style of acupuncture, and competed further studies at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. She is a certified classical hatha yoga teacher, in addition to having studied homeopathy at the New England School of Homeopathy. She also practiced Aikido for two years. She studied NRT, or “Nutritional Response Testing”, a strength test to bring to light nutritional deficiencies and possible allergens or toxins in a person’s environment. She applies acute style acupuncture to treat sudden problems such as back sprains or injuries from car accidents, and constitutional style treatment for chronic long term difficulties such as stress and depression. Her style is predominantly 5 Element, with a mixture of Chinese and Japanese styles which results in using fewer needles than one might find in most offices. She does not use moxa, an herb that is often burned in acupuncture, and so individuals with odor or chemical sensitivities can feel comfortable.

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Michelle Lawson
The Movement Center, Inc.
http://www.themovementcenter.com
503-231-0383