In Conversation: Dr. Maria Bowling on Somatic Foundations
 | In her private practice in East Hampton, Dr. Bowling works to access more fluid flow of energy through the meridians, organs, and nervous system. Her goal is to facilitate internal physiological regulation and coherence by working with the sympathetic and parasympathetic states. Her approach draws from over two decades of study in Traditional Chinese Medicine and trauma resolution. |
Q:
A lot of wellness advice today can feel incredibly complicated and overwhelming. If we strip everything away and go 'back to basics,' what is the fundamental thing Acupuncture does to help the body return to its natural, self-healing baseline?
A:
With an appropriate treatment strategy, Acupuncture has the capacity to regulate the body's natural flows of vitality, also known as Qi and Blood. A skilled practitioner will assess what the patient's needs by reading the pulses (found on both wrists), read the terrain of the tongue and do a full intake. We work within a Five Element system, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. We establish where there may be excesses or deficiencies and work from there to establish the best treatment protocol to support homeostasis. Acupuncture helps us to drop into a parasympathetic state of the nervous system, in this state, we have more access to the spaciousness of healing and repair.
Q:
In the simplest terms, how does a physical needle in one part of the body actually signal the nervous system to let go of an emotion or a stressor held elsewhere?
A:
Needles activate Acupuncture points which are located on meridians or pathways. They are often referred to as energy centers or vortices. Each point may have many functions. Sometimes a point in the lower leg may be used to treat lets say, the upper chest or the head because there are several potential pathways that move Qi from one area of the body to another. Needle insertions also influence the fascia, or connective tissue which is enervated by nerves. When the body feels safe, it will begin to unwind or reorganize itself and find more space for the emotions to come forward or to be realized. Long standing emotional blockages may be bound in the tissues or in the internal organs. My private practice focuses on this kind of somatic exploration. Sometimes, we need a little time, space, attention and good treatment to finally move or soften what has been bound in a long term holding pattern.
Q:
We often hear that 'the body keeps the score.' From your perspective, where does an emotion go when it's not processed, and how does acupuncture help the body finally 'speak' that tension out?
A:
Our bodies are in a constant state of flux throughout the day. We all have our unique patterns that emerge through life, and they can be bound in emotional states. Each organ system has its own emotional association. For example the Liver and Gallbladder fall under the domain of the Wood element. The emotions associated with a dysregulated Liver or Gallbladder may be frustration, anger and difficulty in making life decisions. If there is ease and flow in this terrain, we may feel at peace, creative and decisive. When the flow of the organs is restricted, deficient or in excess, emotions may emerge in a treatment. As a practitioner, I would look at the organ system that is associated with the presenting unprocessed emotional states and treat those organs and Elements directly.
Q:
When a person feels 'stuck' mentally or creatively, what is usually happening physically? Is there a literal baseline of flow that we lose touch with?
A:
Very often feeling 'stuck' in the way that you are describing is a bi-product of stagnation or deficiency. Both states can create a feeling of being bound and unable to move forward. Pulse diagnosis is an excellent way to identify what may be happening in the body, and where the main issue is located in deeper terrains. Pulse reading is truly an art form. Since our bodies are so dynamic and can change from moment to moment, if we are able to navigate adversity, tension, joy, expansion and contraction in a cyclical fashion, then my felt sense is that we are in flow. The capacity to stay present with what is before us and regulate accordingly is what may be the baseline and the indicator of a healthy nervous system.
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