Chinese medicine and qigong program set Dec. 3

HealTree will present a workshop titled Finding Center Amid Chaos Through Chinese Medicine and Qigong, facilitated by Lauren Mund, at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1632 Savannah Road, Suite 10, Lewes.

In traditional Chinese medicine, there is no separation between the physical body, the mind and the spirit. Each acupuncture point needled and every herbal formula taken is meant to address an individual’s unique patterns of disharmony on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.

The guiding principles of TCM were developed by ancient practitioners more than 2,000 years ago through observation of nature, and the art of Chinese medicine evolved over centuries. The first practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine mapped out channels in the body where the qi (or energy/lifeforce) flows and accumulates. Imagine rivers of energy flowing through the body. The channels envisioned by the Chinese (and Indian) practitioners flow along lines of fascia and nerve tracts that Western medical anatomy discovered through dissection.

The acupuncture channels are not the same as fascial planes and nerve tracts, but they have a lot of similarities in terms of bodily locations. The idea behind acupuncture practice is to stimulate an acupuncture point to trigger the body into acting. The World Health Organization has deemed acupuncture appropriate for a wide variety of issues including stress, depression, headache, PMS, insomnia, nausea, addictions, and various types of pain such as back, neck, sciatica, facial, knee and elbow.

Qigong is based on traditional Chinese medicine principles, which state that qi s present in everyone’s body. Qigong uses simple poses and breathing patterns to promote a healthy flow of qi, which can help the body engage its own healing processes. The literal translation of qigong is “to work with qi.” The benefits of practicing qigong include reduced symptoms of depression, decrease in stress, boost in immune responses and decrease in chronic fatigue.

In this hour-long workshop, participants will be introduced to Chinese medical philosophy and physical exercises to help them become more centered and aligned with the natural rhythms of life. As a result of understanding the philosophy and practicing the exercises, they will become more able to cope with daily stresses.

Cost is $35 per person, $25 of which will be donated to Family Promise of Southern Delaware, as Mund has requested.

Mund originally began practicing acupuncture in New York in 2009 after graduating from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, Fla. She is a licensed acupuncturist in Delaware and New York, and a certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She practices various styles of acupuncture including Five Element, Balance Method and Master Tung, and auricular acupuncture. Mund has a background in massage therapy, and experience working with musculoskeletal issues and pain management for people with chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Mund believes awareness is key to increased well-being.

To learn more or sign up, go to healtree.co or call 302-827-4683.