Foreword
Up until June 2021 I had no religion, no gods, no after life, nothing. In my mind there was life and death, no more no less. An illness at the end of 2020 changed that, an illness that was debilitating, stopped me working, made me feel out of control. The best way I could verbalise the illness was, ‘I feel weird’ .
In March to April, Doctors ran tests, put me through MRI machines, took blood and all of the test results led to the same results, there is nothing wrong, you are perfectly fine.
Meeting Michelle Bebbington and Chris Davies at Total Therapy and receiving the 7 Dragons acupuncture treatment changed my life, made me instantly well and literally and metaphorically opened my eyes.
Introduction
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an umbrella term which covers a plethora of modalities which originate in China, many of which are thousands of years old. First documented in The Yellow Emperors classic of internal medicine (circa 100 BC) acupuncture was recorded as a series of dialogues from emperor to minister, about learned techniques in the art of acupuncture for medical issues. Original bronze statues showing meridian points date back to 1443 AD illustrating that meridians, and acupuncture had been around and used widely across china for a substantial amount of time. A large variety of texts, books and illustrations exist today, some from the origins similar to the yellow emperor and some more western and medical in there outlook and format.
However, not all protocols and synergistic needle complexes remain as explained as some of the widely used points and protocols. In 1822 the Chinese emperor decreed that acupuncture be excluded from the Imperial Medical Institute until finally it was outlawed in 1929 with many other traditional Chinese traditional therapies. Although teachings were passed down and therapists and teachers retained the knowledge to teach outside of china, the knowledge in texts were destroyed.
The concept of demonology was historically a major branch of TCM which had evolved along side the other elements that we see today in clinics, however during the 1950’s all notions of spirit were purged from TCM.
Not only was acupuncture outlawed, but the notion of spirit was erased, and finally the government prohibited the practice of TCM or the establishment of TCM schools or hospitals. Due to the purging of history and knowledge in acupuncture, TCM and spirit, it is very difficult to find written information on the protocol of the 7 Dragons.
The traditional text book explanation of the 7 Dragons protocol is the calling of the 7 benevolent dragons to chase away invasive energy. There is an internal and external protocol, internal for energy and spirit distortion in the body and external for distortion in the aura. There are 7 needle points on each protocol, all of which are traditional TCM points in there own right, so is the 7 Dragons TCM acupuncture of the meridians or ritual demonology?
I will be looking at why the 7 Dragons may be classed as TCM and also may be classed as ritual demonology. I intend to provide context from personal experience, interviews with peers and historical TCM practices to look at the protocol as ritual demonology or TCM acupuncture practice.
Possession
To look at the 7 Dragons and establish if the protocol is TCM acupuncture or ritualistic demonology we first need to look at the reasons it is utilised in clinic.
When western medicine comes up with no diagnosis and the patient is in unexplained ill health, the 7 Dragons might be the missing piece to the patients recovery. Although people think of possession as the scene from the film, The Exorcist, where heads are spinning, skin goes green and the people speak in tongues, possession is much more subtle than that with symptoms western science would class as Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME or CFS), depression or fibromyalgia to name a few.
(List A)
Symptoms include but are not limited to:
- lethargy, fatigue, lack of energy
- poor memory, brain fog
- dizziness and feeling out of body
- nausea
- negative emotions
- feeling cold
- anxiety and panic attacks
- frequent headaches
- thoughts of suicide or self harm
- depression
- hearing voices not there own
- addictions
- skin sensations and feeling vibrations through the body
- fears and phobias.
You could ask people on the streets if they suffer from any of the above and most likely at least 1 in 3 would tick something from this list, but does it mean they are possessed?
Diagnosis
To look at possession from a practitioners point of view, a few things need to be considered that the patient may not see. If the patient is experiencing many of the listed symptoms and has no significant results from western medicine i.e. clear blood test showing no issues, clear scans, you would also consider the following from the practitioners viewpoint:
(List B)
- Does the person seem present , can you reach the person when talking with them?
- When you look in there eyes are they present or do the eyes seem veiled?
- Is the pulse erratic or unusual ?
- Does the person have an unusual speech pattern?
- Can and does the person make eye contact or are eye movements erratic
In TCM clinics, diagnosis forms are utilised which look at the root cause of the patients condition. The diagnosis form uses the clients symptoms to come to a conclusion of where in the patients body the chain of events started that led the client to their current list of symptoms. With possession the problems arise when the patient is experiencing many things from the original list of symptoms and ticking very little on the TCM diagnosis form. In my case I had only selected 8 things on the 16 page diagnosis sheet (this is very rare when treating somebody who is ill)
Once treating a patient with a spirit possession you may also find that your selected protocol has very little to no difference to the clients recovery. In my case my symptoms actually got worse. The reasons for this have a few difference explanations. In my personal experience, post TCM treatment, i had 4-5 days of no symptoms and on day 5 all of the symptoms came back and each week, the symptoms progressively got worse which was the red flag to my therapist to look at spirit possession
It is also commonly thought that TCM acupuncture outside of the 7 Dragons will not work if someone is possessed as the possession is classed as a deep Shen disturbance. The Shen is the very essence of that persons being and the light behind the eyes. the Shen is what makes you, you..
The Shen lives in your heart and in your blood and blood and energy have a symbiotic relationship in the body, therefore if the Shen in the blood is deeply disturbed, this can impact the flow of energy in numerous ways.
In summary if you answer yes to all 4 points below, the 7 Dragons may be the key to you or your clients health and recovery.
- Has western diagnosis shown the client to be in good health?
- Is the client presenting with symptoms from list A above?
- Do you as a practitioner notice things about the client from list B?
- Has your TCM diagnosis and chosen protocol failed to provide satisfactory results thus far?
TCM Acupuncture Versus Ritual Demonology
From a TCM point of view we can look at what these acupuncture points do as a collective and reason if these points and their actions are healing the client, or if not, is it the ritual and the dragons? Is it the acupuncture points along their meridians or is it the ritual of needling these particular points in the correct order that is the key to bringing forth the force of dragons in the demonic sense, to come forth and scorch the client clean, and chase out the spirit inhabiting the persons body? Additionally, can we qualify if the clients illness is related to an external spirit invading the body?
When referring to clinical TCM diagnosis i am referring to the 16 page diagnosis form used to find the root cause of a clients symptoms and issues (Appendix A). Each set of needles has different acupuncture points and I will look at both sets and analyse if there are reasons they would be healing clients through there TCM qualities alone.
The Internal Dragons
The first protocol in the 7 Dragons are the Internal Dragons. These points consist of 7 needle points which must be done in the correct ritualistic order, starting from the top, working left to right. The Internal Dragons are said to be called forth to hunt down and chase out anything negative, spirits, demons, bad energies, diseases which have breached the external aura and wei qi, and have settled inside the client, disrupting the clients natural energy.
The 7 points are:
1. Ren 15 (The Conception Vessel) a tear drop below
2/3. ST25 (The Stomach Meridian)
4/5. ST32 (The Stomach Meridian)
6/7. ST41 (The stomach Meridian)
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REN 15 |
ST25 |
ST32 |
ST41 |
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Points of note Actions related to spirit possession |
luo connecting point (which spreads over the whole stomach ‘mania’ ‘mad walking’ ‘mad singing’ ‘psycho emotional disorders’ |
Front Mu – LI. ‘manic raving with severe heat’ |
‘ghost talk’ ‘mania’ |
Jing-River and Fire point of ST ‘seeing ghosts’ ‘mania’ ‘mania due to yangming fire’ |
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Calms the spirit |
Yes |
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Yes |
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Regulates heart |
Yes |
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Descends lung qi |
Yes |
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Unbinds chest |
Yes |
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Regulates the intestines |
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Yes |
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Regulates the spleen |
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Yes |
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Regulates the stomach |
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Yes |
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Resolves dampness and damp heat |
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Yes |
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Regulates qi and blood |
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Yes |
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Eliminates stagnation |
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Yes |
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Activates channel (ST) and alleviates pain |
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Yes |
Yes |
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Dispels wind-damp |
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Yes |
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Clears heat from stomach channel and FU |
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Yes
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The External Dragons
The second protocol and the follow up to the Internal Dragons is the External Dragons, which also consists of 7 needle points which are inserted top to bottom, right to left in a ritualistic fashion. This protocol is done following the internal needles, either immediately after if no change is received by the client, or after a few days if a change in the client is noted.
The 7 points are:
1. DU20 (The Governing Vessel)
2/3. BL11 (The Bladder Meridian (back shu) Lung)
4/5. BL23 (The Bladder Meridian (back shu) Kidney)
6/7. BL61 (The Bladder Meridian)
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DU20 |
BL11 |
BL23 |
BL61 |
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Point of Sea of Marrow – Connects GV. with GB, LV, SJ and BL channels ‘psycho emotional disorders’ |
Hui meeting point of the bones – Connects BL, SI. SJ, GB, and GV. ‘mania’ ‘contraction of sinews associated with mania |
KD. Shu pre heaven qi |
Meeting point of BL. and Yang motility vessel (Rarely Used) ‘seeing ghost’ ‘mania’ ‘manic raving’ |
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Calms the spirit |
Yes |
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Benefits the brain |
Yes |
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Nourishes the sea of marrow |
Yes |
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Benefits the head and sense organs |
Yes |
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Pacifies wind |
Yes |
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Subdues yang |
Yes |
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Raises yang and counters prolapse |
Yes |
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Benefits bones and joints |
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Yes |
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Expels pathogenic factors |
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Yes |
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Firms the exterior |
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Yes |
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Regulates lung qi |
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Yes |
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Alleviates cough |
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Yes |
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Tonifies the kidneys |
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Yes |
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Fortifies yang |
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Yes |
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Benefits essence |
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Yes |
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Nourishes kidney yin |
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Yes |
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Firms kidney qi |
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Yes |
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Regulates water passages |
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Yes |
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Benefits and warms the uterus |
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Yes |
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Benefits eyes and ears |
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Yes |
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Strengthens the lumbar region |
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Yes |
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Relaxes sinews |
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Yes |
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Activates the channel |
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Yes |
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Alleviates pain |
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Yes |
TCM Acupuncture?
Is the 7 Dragons a protocol that works through stimulating points within a meridian, and therefore healing the client through the use of classic TCM acupuncture? Without a clinical trial I cannot provide a scientific answer to this question, however we can look at scientific processes and judge the answer from a base line response in a trial situation. I will also reference my personal experience in my illness and my response to the protocol.
Each of the protocols has 7 points, each of which is a recognised point in a meridian and has prescribed actions within the body. Is it possible the the exact same points can be used on a wide variety of people with varying symptoms and still achieve the same result?
For the 7 Dragons to be accepted as TCM, everyone who receives the treatment must be able to be treated by these same 7 points. This is the same as saying from a scientific perspective everyone who has an unknown illness can be cured by radiotherapy of a cortisol injection. So why does it work on everyone?
To compare and contrast without bias. I have used the generic symptoms of someone struggling with a spirit possession, List A and List B and asked a TCM acupuncturist, Sam Heaton to complete a diagnosis form based on these lists. (Appendix C) The outcome of the diagnosis and prescribed needle selection will then be compared to the 7 Dragons to see if we can see similarities or differences.
The results of the independent diagnosis form can be viewed in Appendix E. The first thing to notice is that there is no clear failing or excess/deficient organ. Each affected area has a similar scoring between 2-4 which generally wouldn’t indicate a severe issue in a client. Looking at Appendix E alone without Appendix C I would conclude that pathogenic and external conditions like cold and wind and potentially diet had caused this clients issues.
The table below from Appendix E shows the needle protocol I would use for this client including a front and a back treatment. Any highlighted points are also present in the 7 Dragons
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Front Treatment |
Back Treatment |
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LV 2 |
BL15 |
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LV 3 |
BL17 |
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KD3 |
BL18 |
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SP6 |
BL23 |
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SP3 |
KD3 |
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SP10 |
SP6 |
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ST25 |
LV2 |
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ST36 |
LV3 |
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16 Total |
16 Total |
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I have selected the above front and back treatments for the following reasons:
- The reduce fire/heat in the liver and tonify
- Boost kidney function and qi
- Move stagnant blood and qi with the assistance of the spleen
- Harmonise the stomach
- Energise the system
- Calm the Shen
Does the 7 Dragons set of needles also achieve and treat the above diagnosis? for the most part yes. However, the liver is not specifically treated in the 7 Dragons as a organ and we also have needle points in the protocol which would not provide assistance with the above diagnosis.
Comparing this diagnosis to Internal Dragons acupuncture points, we have several points which are not adequate for this treatment, i.e. REN15, ST32 and ST41. The actions for these 3 points are not fitting for the client above in Appendix C and likely not provide a strong treatment for the listed symptoms. Comparing to the External dragons, once again there are points in the protocol which would not provide a strong treatment for the diagnosis of client in Appendix C, i.e. the rarely used BL61 and BL11.
Summary
My diagnosis and prescribed TCM acupuncture points for the client in Appendix C which is based on possession symptoms does not match the TCM qualities of either internal or external points in the 7 Dragons. I do not believe there is enough synergy between the diagnosis of the symptoms of a possession and the set 7 Dragons protocol to state the 7 Dragons works through TCM alone. Although there is a cross over of a couple of points in my diagnosis and the 7 Dragons, in my opinion as a TCM acupuncturist, the 7 Dragons does not offer a strong enough treatment for the client in Appendix C. When considering the 7 Dragons as on ‘off the shelf’ treatment to give to every client, I also do not believe the treatment I have prescribed would be a suitable replacement and would not offer it as an off the shelf protocol to treat and heal everyone in the way 7 Dragons is. Therefore as a result of comparing a possession diagnosis against the 7 Dragons for TCM qualities, I do not consider the 7 Dragons as a TCM treatment.
Ritual Demonology?
Demonology and ritual are not words which are accepted on a daily basis by today’s society. If you were to advertise your clinical practice offering these services, chances are you would be though of as unhinged or a bit mad. This could affect your uptake of clients and potentially you could lose business. However, this western preconception of anything outside the scientific realm does not make the practices any less effective. The problem lies in that scientific studies and peer reviewed papers are what is accepted as proof of an effective outcome of medical practice, and spirit is impossible to quantify and measure.
Before we can even look at scientific studies of the 7 Dragons acupuncture protocol we fall at the first hurdle with client diagnosis. Modern science and western medicine does not accept the possibility of the spirit or Shen outside of the body, let alone the possession of a person by an intentional or accidental spirit wondering the earth. Aside from the fact that the science world does not accept the existence of spirit and demonology, ‘scientifically speaking’ we can not say the 7 dragons protocol is ritualistic demonology as we can not run a scientific based trial on the unmeasurable spirit. However, case studies and there outcomes dictate there is more answers to this question other than what modern day science can provide. Placebo may have its place in results but the placebo effect does not have a 100% success rate in clinical trial.
7 Dragons Needle Points
The 7 Dragons are 2 protocols which offer a ‘one stop shop’ treatment as the points are the same for every client. Generally in TCM, this one stop shop approach is somewhat frowned upon as it is not tailored to the clients specific issues, so why is it so effective? At Total Therapy we are taught about a protocol being especially good as a first treatment for a client when they haven’t completed a diagnosis form yet, it is called the Big 5 in our school. The points for the Big 5 are:
- LI-4 yuan source point and command point
- LU-7 luo connecting point and command point
- LI-11
- SP-6 meeting point of 3 meridians, Spleen, Liver and Kidneys
- ST-36 command point
The Big 5 has 3 of the 4 command points and hits the Large Intestine, Stomach, Lung and Spleen meridians. All 5 points are very strong and hit more than one channel, connecting channels and are luo connecting points and yuan source points, in summary, 5 big strong points that offer the body a good all round MOT. This makes the Big 5 a good and powerful off the shelf treatment when you haven’t done a diagnosis. Key factors which make this a good first treatment without an original diagnosis are:
- Tonifies Lung, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Kidneys in 1 treatment whilst only opening 4 meridians and only used 10 needles, therefore giving a stronger treatment
- Contains 3 out of 4 command points which strongly treat the area in which the point sits and can treat broadly
- Luo Connecting points connect to their paired channels and can activate and treat more than that 1 point. LU-7 (Lung) also treats the Large Intestine channel which is its paired channel
- Yuan source points collect and can store original qi
Most of the Internal Dragons are on the Stomach meridian and most of the External Dragons are
on the Bladder Meridian, this is the polar opposite of the well used big 5 in TCM
2 of the 7 External Dragons are classed as rarely used in Deadmans, so why is it part of an ancient protocol which is an off the shelf treatment for one and all? Bladder channel point BL61 has very little actions listed in the Deadmans compendium, however, it is the yang motility vessel which is one of the eight extraordinary vessels. These extraordinary channels or vessels collect, absorb and store qi and blood in times of excess. The yang motility vessel connects the following channels; Bladder, Gall Bladder, Small Intestine, Large Intestine and Stomach and dominates activity.
Would a rarely used point become part of a TCM treatment to treat everyone or is it used for its demonological lock and key properties to bring forth a dragon? Neither option makes sense in western society but the fact remains that the protocol is used and works every time.
There are notations on several points especially on the External Dragons that elude to the realms of Heaven and spirit which, while still very much in fitting with TCM from an eastern perspective, in western society is more fitting to the concept of ritual and demonology. The strongest example of this is DU20. In the Deadmans compendium, DU20 on the governing meridian is referenced as a spiritual pivot:
‘Heaven, earth and man are the 3 powers, Baihui DU-20 echoes Heaven’ (ode to Elucidate Mysteries)
Is it DU20, the echo of Heaven that assists the de-possession process? Does it open the gates to let the dragons in the clear the field?
Personal case study
My personal experience with the protocols started with my feet firmly rooted in science. As stated in the foreword, I had no god, no belief system, and science with its tangible offerings was all I accepted. During my 6 months or more of declining health and even up to receiving the treatment from Chris Davies at Total Therapy I did not believe I was possessed by a spirit or that the protocol called forth dragons to clear my body of negative energy or beings. Up until my treatment date I was shown videos by others about the necebo effect to convince me spirit possession is not real. On treatment day I accepted the treatment was going to help me get better and I trusted Chris Davies 100% but I believed TCM was the treatment.
My symptoms (original diagnosis form for reference Appendix D)
- Nausea especially after moving
- Dizziness which increased after moving
- Temporal stabbing pains in my left
- Strong head pain
- Unable to stay warm
- Right side of my face dropped slightly
- Feeling drunk when driving which instigated panic attacks
- Not feeling in control (things seemed to appear out of nowhere when driving)
- Extreme lethargy I had to sleep for 2 hours in the day every day
- Vibrations throughout my body towards the end of my illness
- Every day I would say to myself, I feel weird
Chris inserted all 7 needles with exacting precision, I remember the time he took over the first needle REN-15, measuring and re measuring before inserting the first needle. The same with ST25, creating a delicate triangle of needles. When all 7 needles were present, Chris left the room. Retrospectively I am aware I was facing the window for a reason but at the time it was a nice view and that was all. The window was open.
Chris returned after an unknown period of time to check on me. My hands felt hot and so did my upper stomach. Chris felt the temperature of both and once again left the room.
In a bid to assist the meridians and my body in whatever the needles were doing (at this point I was not TCM trained and did not know what the points were or their actions) I was taking breaths like I was in a relaxing savasana position in the yoga studio, calming my system with a breath in for 4 and an outward breath for 4.
At an unknown period of time I took a large gasping breath that I can only equate to the sensation of breathing after being held under water by a wave for too long and my eyes opened. The view through the window looked HD, the leaves of the tree outside were bright green, clear, sharp and sparkling like they had just been individually polished. I was puzzled by my intake of breath and the HD leaves.
Chris returned and I explained the above, my words being ‘I feel like I just woke up but I wasn’t asleep’ Out came the needles and the side door was opened.
I arrived for my treatment that day exhausted, dizzy, nauseous after spending the night in bed freezing cold and feeling like everything in my body was vibrating, skin, bones, muscles. I sat up, everything had gone. I returned for the external dragons the week after, although a little tired, all of my other symptoms had vanished I was tentatively optimistic that I was better but after modern science failing and a diagnostic TCM treatment failing there was still part of me that worried my health would decline again. It did not
My experience of the external dragons was less dramatic. Chris inserted the needles top to bottom and a felt a hot sensation start in my lower back. As time passed it moved down my leg and into the back of my knee, then through my foot and was gone. After I received these 2 sessions I continued to receive treatment to boost my kidneys and liver as they were very depleted from a loss of energy.
Symptoms after the 7 dragons
- low energy
Witnessed video case study
During my 12 months on the Total Therapy TCM Acupuncture course, we witnessed a video of a 7 Dragons treatment. At this point it had been approximately 5 months since my own 7 Dragons treatment. It was whilst watching the video I noted that the needles were in the same places mine were, however the man in the videos reaction to the needles was completely different to mine. Chris Davies was sat at the man’s head for most of the session performing reiki. It was stated that the needles remained in for well over an hour. During his session the man was:
- wildly gesticulating
- moaning
- laughing
- crying out
- showing mild aggression
- fluctuating between calm and mild aggression and anxiety
- speaking but not making sense
Post session the man was different and released from his anguish.
If we compare the 2 instances of myself and the client in the video receiving the same 7 dragons treatment our reactions and experiences were completely different yet the treatment and the end result was the same
Summary
I believe the treatment can be seen as ritual demonology as the 7 Dragons is the same treatment for a wide range of symptoms which last a wide variety of lengths with different outcomes, illnesses and responses during the treatment itself. The only repeating factor in the protocol is the position of the needles and the outcome for the client being released from their illness, in most cases immediately. This does not fit with a regular TCM or medical treatment as both TCM treatment and western medical treatment usually take a series of regular treatments, doses or visits to heal a patient. The 7 Dragons treatment is immediate.
Author:
Cassandra Buckley, MAA RBAF MFHT.
Blue Dragon Rehabilitation, Lowton & Halifax.