In Chinese Medicine, it is believed that there is a masculine energy and a feminine energy, and ideal circumstances produce a specific balance between masculine and feminine energy within a being. The Chinese thought of the husband and wife in traditional roles: the larger, stronger husband was the hunter/gatherer and the wife was the nurturer. The husband was the outgoing companion in movement, known for physical strength and dependence. The smaller wife was creating the home, providing inner strength, support and stability. If the roles of husband and wife are performed as nature suggests, the family thrives and likewise, the body functions in balance. The household would become doomed if the wife began to take on the responsibilities of the husband as there would be continuous competition and strife. While the terminology and reference may not be in congruence with modern times, the energy of the imbalance still exists and indicates a clear imbalance of masculine and feminine energy within a being.
How Acupuncturists Determine a Husband/Wife Imbalance
As acupuncturists, we look to the pulses for insight into this energy. The pulses on the left side are associated with the Husband, whereas the pulses on the right are associated with the Wife. The husband pulses include the Small Intestine, Heart, Gall Bladder, Liver, Bladder and Kidney. The husband side within the Sheng Cycle explains ascending or uprising energy. The wife pulses include the Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach, Spleen, Circulation Sex and Triple Heater. The wife side of the Sheng Cycle is associated with descending and receptive energy.
A Husband Wife imbalance is indicated when the pulses of the right side have a sum total that is greater than the left side demonstrating that there is a breakdown in the 12 Officials working together. The total is the sum of strength and pulse quality. The most important factor to consider is that the wife pulses will feel hard, tight and aggressive in nature compared to the husband pulses which feel weak, feeble and flaccid.
A Husband Wife Imbalance is indicative of a serious block in energy.
The wife side is taking over, which goes against nature. The wife isn’t equipped to do the husband’s job, nor is the husband equipped to do the wife’s job. Neither the wife nor husband are better than each other, but rather different.JR further explains that the Husband Wife Imbalance indicates capitulation that nature has surrendered. The natural healing mechanism of a person has become powerless. It could be due to organ failure, terminal pathology, deteriorated health or sudden death, if the energy block is not treated. When it is detected, a Husband Wife Imbalance must be addressed and balance must be restored as soon as possible. It is considered an emergency.
Why Does a Husband Wife Imbalance Occur?
There are a variety of reasons why a Husband Wife Imbalance can occur. Very commonly, the imbalance is caused by a trauma or loss in the personal relationships within one’s life. These clients often elude to the event or trauma having been too difficult to be resolved. Imbalances within the relationship one has with oneself can also cause a Husband Wife Imbalance. Someone who is extremely submissive that gives up all their autonomy may have the imbalance. Excessive responsibility and never-ending stress can be one cause of a Husband Wife Imbalance. An illness that persists over time, relentlessly can lead to this imbalance. Persistent physical, emotional, mental or spiritual stress, over time can also cause this imbalance. Drug use or toxicity from prescription medications, foods or environments can cause a Husband Wife Imbalance. There are numerous variables such as one’s lifestyle and how energy consumption.
How to Treat Husband Wife Imbalance
To address Husband Wife Imbalance, the main objective is to send energy from wife to husband in order to restore natural balance. Treatment of any kind will be ineffective if the Husband Wife Imbalance is not resolved. Once the energy is restored, recovery is often dramatic and quickly achieved. However, without necessary lifestyle changes to hold the energy, it is possible that the imbalance will re-occur. A Husband Wife Imbalance will not self-correct as its presence suggests that nature has already given up.
The first protocol comprised of a direct transmission of energy from Wife to Husband using the Sheng and Ko Cycle. BL67 and KI7 are notified to send energy from Metal to Water along the Sheng Cycle. Energy encircles Ko cycle from Metal to Wood via LV4 and Earth to Water via KI3. . Finally, the source points of Fire are using to bring energy up from within itself in the Fire Element using HT7 and SI4. 90% of the time, this protocol will be effective. We look for a change in the pulses with the wife side softening and easing and the husband side strengthening and ideally the qualitative sum totally of energy of the husband to be greater than the wife. We need to re-examine the client in next few days in order to ensure that the balance is restored and remains intact.. If there are no significant changes in the pulses after treatment, it is suggested that the first protocol be repeated with moxa. If there continues to be no progress, the second protocol is recommended.
The second protocol involves calming the wife and strengthening the husband. We will use the Associated Effect Points/Shu points on bilaterally. We will sedate the wife’s area: CS - BL14, SP - BL20, and LU - BL13 by inserting the needles and leaving them on until the pulses change. We will then tonify the husband side using the AEP/Shu Points: HT - BL15, LV - BL18, and KI - BL23. Moxa can be added in tonification only. If the pulse remains unchanged, you head over to the first protocol. If no change occurs in pulses, the third protocol for a very stubborn Husband Wife Imbalance is to imply to 4 Needle Technique. The method involves very strongly tonifying or sedating an official. One by one, sedate Earth, Metal and CS then tonify Water, Wood and HT. If the Husband Wife Imbalance still does not correct, we must accept that the client is in a terminal state.
The body serves as an alarm system, and Husband Wife Imbalance is one of the alarms that activates. When something is out of balance, we know it because we simply don’t feel well. The moment that we don’t feel well is an opportunity for us to look within and search for balance. Highlighting the imbalance empowers the healer within each one of us. Regular sessions with acupuncturists and body workers will address one’s day-to-day or week-to-week concerns, but they will also help one’s body to heal itself by facilitating the body’s own healing process. Every body is a magnificent healer. It is a gift to touch the healer within and support that process.
Dr. Krystal Couture is a gifted healer and spiritual teacher dedicated to the conscious expansion and healing from within. She holds a doctorate in Physical Therapy, is a Five Elements Acupuncture student, and is trained in a wide range of modalities. Based out of New Hampshire, Dr. Krystal's desire is to share healing, wellbeing and consciousness with the world, by embracing our authenticity, vulnerability and soul alignment. You can learn more about Krystal at krystal-couture.com.
References:
Classical Five Element Acupuncture, Volume 2 by JR Worsley
Acupuncture Today: The Husband/Wife Imbalance by Neil Gumenick
Personal Class Notes ITEA 2019
