One of the biggest motivators bringing new patients to acupuncturists is pain. Acupuncture has a wellearned
reputation for effective pain relief without drugs, in many cases, when other methods fail.
Yet even traditional acupuncture has its limits – and this became apparent early on in my practice. While
the magic of acupuncture banished pain for the majority of my patients, there were always some who
responded very little or not at all. For some of these challenged people, even temporary good results
would sometimes result in aggravations soon after the treatment. In assessing such patients, a pattern
emerged. Most of these people exhibited depression, anxiety or low affect, or had been through major
trauma in their lives that apparently was still dragging on their internal energy systems.
In an attempt to solve the frustration for both these patients and myself with these disappointing results, I
investigated adjunctive emotionally-based methods in the hopes that this would allow them to respond
better to my treatments. My search led me to a synthesis of Chinese medicine with Ayurvedic color
chakra work, and this form of combination therapy has greatly elevated my level of care for chronic pain
and psychologically stressed patients.
The purpose of this article is to introduce two valuable methods for addressing psycho-emotional
conditions in an acupuncture practice. The first is called PNE Balancing Therapy, and treats a wide range
of pain, emotional and disease disorders through the chakra system. The other method is called
Emotional Transformational Therapy™ or ETT, and utilizes color light treatment through the eyes to
release some of the root causes of pain and psychological imbalances.
As expressed by the famous equation E = MC2, all matter is simply slowed-down energy. All pain and
disease stems from a distorted, or incoherent, energy pattern within the organism. These patterns are held in
place by belief systems and conditioned consciousness responses of many kinds, and are reinforced by poor
diet, lack of exercise and toxins. The most direct form of healing is for the patient to change their beliefs about
themselves to ones that are more accepting, loving and trusting in Spiritual Source. It is often very hard to
make such changes in self-image, however. If it were easier, the patient would probably not be visiting you!
Therefore techniques such as these described in this article are very valuable.
I. PNE Therapy
PNE therapy is a system I have developed that utilizes microcurrent and color light treatment through
chakra centers and acupuncture points for root treatment of pain, disease and for enhancement of facial
rejuvenation. It draws on principles from Chinese Medicine, traditional Ayurvedic color therapy,
psychology and spiritual healing.
Ayurveda is a traditional Indian healing system that recognizes the mind-body connection1. It uses
healing sounds, gemstones, diet, colors and much more to harmonize and heal the body-mind .
Ayurveda also works with 7 or more chakras, or energy centers, within the body to evaluate and treat
mind-body disorders.
Each chakra is a swirling vortex of electro-magnetic energy, and is associated with certain wavelengths,
or colors, of light. Each chakra is also associated with an endocrine gland and its associated hormones,
a nerve plexus, an organ system and an aspect of emotions and personality. Thus we can see that
chakras are a major nexus point of the mind-body connection.
According to the pioneering work of Candace Pert, PhD and other mind-body medical researchers, the
physical-chemical link between the body and emotions are minute substances called neuro-peptides,
which are messengers that regulate virtually all life processes. Hormones, endophins and some kinds of
neuro-transmitters are forms of neuro-peptides. By looking at chakra energetics and Pert’s work
together, we can see an obvious overlap between this neuro-peptide network and the chakras.
Stimulation of chakras and mu-shu technique2 are clearly releasing some of these peptides.
Here is an abbreviated table of the connections between chakras and body systems:
PNE Center
..
Aspect of
Consciousness
Endocrine Gland Body System Native Color
Wavelengths
1 - Root Stability,
groundedness,
survival instinct
Gonads Reproductive Red
2 - Lower
Abdomen/Hara
Creativity, deep
emotions,
sexuality, inner
child
Leydig cells,
Peyer’s patches
Genito-Urinary Orange
3 - Solar Plexus Personal will,
sense of self,
aggression
Adrenals,
pancreatic islets of
Langerhans
Digestive Yellow
4 - Heart Compassion,
integration
Thymus Circulatory Green/Gold
5 - Throat Expression,
manifestation
Thyroid/Parathyroid Respiratory Deep Blue
6 - Brow Insight Pituitary Autonomic N.S Indigo
7 - Crown Higher
Consciousness
Pineal Upper brain,
central N.S. control
Violet, White
It is important to point out that the “native color” listed for each center on this chart is not necessarily
the best one to treat it with! In many cases the patient will already have too much of the native color
and may need a complementary or balancing color to correct the disorder. For example, many
people experiencing emotional turmoil or excess drama in their lives may have excess Orange or
1 Modern medical science has confirmed the mind-body connection recognized by Ayurveda and TCM. The
medical field of “psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI)” works with the specific pathways by which negative or
fearful emotions suppress the immune system. PNI therapies include creative visualization, positive affirmations
and other methods to raise the spirits of the patient, in the hopes of strengthening her immune system. Such approaches are
credited with promoting cancer remissions and longevity in HIV/AIDs patients.
2 For details on mu-shu technique, see the Acupuncture today archives:
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=30321
Red energy in their lower abdomen chakra centers. They will require a balancing color such as Blue
or Indigo to help them “chill” and find more inner balance. Blue is the complementary color to
Orange, as combining these two colors of light will produce white light.
Chakras are highly sensitive to energetic input – positive or negative. In my observation, many people
have internalized the energies of conflict and trauma into their solar plexus center to create diverse
symptoms including arthritis, migraines, depression, insomnia, OCD, digestive problems and colon
cancer. On the more positive side, loving touch can open the belly and heart centers for a greater sense
of well-being.
Therapeutically, chakras are highly responsive to colors of light and sound vibrations. We may
understand the call of the body/mind complex for needed colors as “color hunger”. I have observed many
people expressing a strong desire or unspoken need for a specific color. As light of that color was applied
to PNE centers or acupuncture points on their body, they have often experienced immediate or delayed
beneficial reactions, such as deep relaxation, mental clarity, increased energy or relief of various somatic
symptoms.
Because the use of the Sanskrit word “chakra” may create walls to understanding for some people, I have
sought terminology for this mind-body approach that “goes down easier” for Western patients and
physicians. I have updated the ancient term “chakras” to psycho-neuro-endocrine regulatory centers, or
“PNE centers” for short. Although long, this name offers a useful means to understand how these energy
centers regulate health and well-being on a Western scientific basis.
Diagnosing and treating through PNE centers is the most effective and direct way I have found to access
the internal “control panel” for the underlying causation of physical and emotional suffering. Based on my
clinical experiences and study of the literature, I am confident that color light therapy is a safe and very
direct method to stimulate the release of the “good” neuro-peptides that promote both physical and
emotional healing and well-being. PNE therapy dovetails excellently with acupuncture, especially
treatment of the extraordinary vessels.3
PNE Center Evaluation
The original Sanskrit word chakra literally means “wheel” to describe what they look like. These centers have
a characteristic spin pattern, just like a tornado or whirlpool. There are various methods of reading the spin
pattern of a PNE center, including dowsing with a pendulum, hand scanning, muscle testing (kinesiology) and
thermography.
Spin patterns I have observed have been: clockwise, counter-clockwise, diagonal, horizontal, vertical and
cloverleaf. Each pattern has a characteristic interpretation in mind-body medicine. For examples, a
clockwise, even spin usually indicates good health, with the size of the spin revealing the energy level of that
center. A horizontal, back and forth movement usually suggests that the person has partially or completely
closed off the life-force in that center due to some form of trauma or denial of an aspect of self.
Once the practitioner has understood and memorized the consciousness and glandular associations of each
center, observing the spin patterns provides valuable insights into the underlying causation of pain and
disease. With a bit of intuitive synthesis, a whole story emerges that may help make sense of the varied
complaints of the patient.
PNE Therapy
3 For more info on this combination therapy, see my article in the Acupuncture Today archives at:
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=31543
PNE therapy consists of the application of color light, sometimes with simultaneous microcurrent and/or
healing sound, to help open and balance one or more PNE centers. Appropriate colors can be selected
through the same methods used to evaluate the centers – dowsing, muscle testing, pulse response (VAS),
and others. After applying the energy to the centers, they are re-tested to see what degree of change in the
spin has happened (if any). Patients must sit up or lie in sideline position so that the practitioners can treat
the front and back of the PNE center simultaneously. The use of simultaneous spoken healing statements,
such as affirmations, positive intentions or healing dialogue greatly enhances the effectiveness of the
treatment.
PNE therapy works very harmoniously with acupuncture, chiropractic and other energetic medicines, utilizing
needle or non-needle microcurrent approaches. Each PNE center is associated with a group of acupuncture
points, some on the trunk of the body and some distal.
My experience is that when a distorted spin of a PNE center dramatically improves (goes back to clockwise
and steady) after therapy, the client almost always reports a sense of increased well-being, pain reduction, or
other symptomatic improvement. Sometimes emotional releases will happen as part of the process. I have
witnessed patients with non-responsive organic illnesses have significant reduction in symptoms as a result of
PNE balancing therapy.
PNE therapy is supportive for treatment of chronic fatigue (CFIDS), fibromyalgia, hormonal imbalances,
overweight, chronic pain, cancer, depression, mental illnesses and many forms of chronic, hard-to-diagnose
disease conditions. Concomitant use of psychotropic medications or chemo therapy may reduce
effectiveness, although this is not necessarily the case as consciousness overrides all.
II. Emotional Transformation Therapy™ (ETT) by Gregory Nevens, Ed.D.
The mind-body connection is a two-way street. We see positive changes in patient’s emotions, attitudes,
interpersonal relationships, beliefs and other psychological factors when color acupuncture or auriculotherapy
successfully alleviates pain or other health conditions. Successful direct treatment of depression, anxiety,
anger, PTSD and biopsychosocial factors which often serve to exacerbate or maintain chronic pain and other
health conditions usually results in alleviation of symptom expression.
Some of the most successful psychological interventions in fact now utilize brief stimulation of acupressure
points (“energy psychology”). A revolutionary technique which utilizes energy in the form of light and color
called ETT™ has shown profound and long lasting resolution of psychological cases including trauma in
sometimes astoundingly brief treatments. When such resolution occurs, chronic medical conditions often
dramatically improve, and sometimes permanently resolve. These observed benefits have included such
diverse conditions as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, chronic gastro-intestinal problems, ADHD, obesity,
post-concussive cognitive deficits, eye and ear problems and multiple forms of chronic pain.
ETT utilizes the energy of light and color within a complex and comprehensive treatment system to directly
impact the balancing of energy systems within the brain, and thereby the body4. Imbalances of these energy
systems can be discerned diagnostically within specific wavelength levels of color though analysis of
distortion of perception of those colors. Histories of attachment disorder, trauma, neglect, conflict, reinforced
negative self concept, illness and injury can all cause disruptions in or blockages of the natural flow of energy
through neuronal pathways in the brain, just as they can cause blockages in the natural flow of energy within
the meridian system. Negative neuronal patterns affecting both psyche and soma can become habituated
and entrenched.
4 There is good evidence that holographic connections exist between the chakras, body zones and sections of the brain.
The extensive research of Steven Vasquez, Ph.D, originator or Emotional Tranformation Therapy has
revealed the tendency of specific psychological/emotional issues and somatic conditions to fall within certain
wavelengths of energy or colors. Much in the same way that Paul Nogier’s seminal work dramatically
expanded and changed the ancient tradition of Chinese auriculotherapy with modern technology and science,
Dr. Vasquez’s work goes well beyond our understanding of the ancient chakra system.
Neurons are most dense and closest to the surface in the eyes. The optic nerve transduces external energy
in the form of light and color immediately to different areas of the brain, activating neuronal patterns and
responses. Vision is our strongest sense, and we have almost immediate responses through memory
centers, emotional centers and neurotransmitter activation, endocrine centers, cognitive appraisal centers and
somatic regulation centers in the brain to visual stimuli. ETT utilizes a complex intervention system which
allows us to narrow the field of stimulation in appropriate wave bands through color choice and activate only
part of the optic nerve at a time with specifically selected colors. This activates different specific neuronal
patterns both positive and negative. Positive neuronal patterns can be used to neutralize chronic and
entrenched negative neuronal patterns (eg, of memory or behavior). The treatments also create
“entrainment” of brain wave states (delta, theta, alpha beta and gamma) through strobe (flashing) of color light
into the eyes. Unconscious traumatic material may be accessed in delta and theta patterns within specific
wave bands of colors.
As previously stated, positive holistic changes in both psyche and soma occur with successful ETT treatment,
and it is not unusual for somatic issues such as chronic pain to dramatically benefit, and sometimes resolve,
from treatment focused purely on psychological factors. At the same time, ETT offer direct analgesia
techniques which have proven efficacious.
Two case studies:
Case #1: Ms. A entered treatment with medical diagnoses of bilateral tendonitis, epicondylitis and TMJ.
History revealed childhood sexual abuse within an alcoholic and dysfunctional family of origin. This patient
had been in one form of psychotherapy or another for almost forty years and had counted thirty mental health
professionals. (“One was very helpful to me”). Ms. A entered treatment with plentiful and deep insight into
both her psychological issues and her pain, but this insight had not altered her suffering in either realm. She
escaped her pain by burying herself in her work as “a way of numbing and escaping emotions I couldn’t deal
with”. With ETT directed at attachment issues, emotional processing, and post traumatic experiences,
nightmares and flashbacks (entrenched neuronal patterns) associated with trauma were reprocessed and
integrated, somatic and psychic healing occurred, and as is often the case, a new spiritual awakening was
initiated. Ms. A stated:
“The very first thing that happened starting light work was that my mood stabililized. I had suffered
dysthymia since age 2 … when sexual abuse started… I went over layers and layers of
memories…with the light work you sort through memories like a movie being fast forwarded.
Immediately I felt emotionally and spiritually lighter. Clearer, freer to experience things with more
breadth and depth. Color replaced darkness, stuckness, emotional paralysis and numbness…
Synchonicity has expressed itself in many ways through and beyond therapy. Overall this was a
metaphysical experience. Healing took place in many spheres on many levels…nothing short of a
miraculous physiological transformation. My TMJ pain resolved. I grew ¾ of an inch at age 47. My
pain disappeared.”
Case #2: Mr. B, 69, entered treatment with medical diagnoses of severe cervical stenosis, post-surgical
fusion (C 3-4) and myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulders. He also came from a dysfunctional
and abusive family of origin. He had suffered chronic cervical pain for almost fifty years, with onset during
college. He had also been an active alchoholic until age 44. In Mr. B’s case, to a large part, he defined
himself in terms of his pain; it was a large part of his identity. Pain governed his activity, moods and
relationships. Therefore, treatment commenced with direct analgesic work utilizing ETT. Consistent with the
ETT somatic paradigm, work with Blue-Green (cyan) and Blue colors of light proved beneficial for pain relief in
the neck and shoulders. Patterns of eye movement, depth focus and positioning in these wave bands
reduced pain consistently by 50 – 100%.
Duration of analgesic effect was good but didn’t overlap with weekly treatments. Mr. B therefore was taught
to reproduce the analgesic effect with visual color exercises at home, and continued to be successful bringing
pain levels into the 0 – 2 out of 10 range on his own. The important attitudinal shift to empowerment over his
pain through home analgesic techniques expectedly helped him improve his perspectives on more global
issues. Once pain was under control through his own empowerment, he was able to face underlying
psychological issues which focus on pain throughout his life had served to obfuscate. Like Ms A, with
continued ETT work, he is now enjoying emotional, relational identity and spiritual growth never before
realized.
Summary:
Psyche and soma both benefit from major innovations like ETT and color acupuncture, because they are
inextricably intertwined. The modern use of light and color in treatment offers a new frontier. Conjoint efforts
in our divergent disciplines through further exploration and integrating of treatments might very well allow us to
make progress with some of our patients who have historically been most difficult to successfully treat.
Darren Starwynn teaches extensively through East-West Seminars of Phoenix, Arizona. Gregory Nevens
works at Health Psychology Center, Scarborough, Maine. Additional information is available at www.eastwestseminars.
com or by calling (623) 587-8400, and at www.lightworkassociates.com for Dr. Nevens.
