As a practitioner with over a decade of experience, I have seen many patients who suffer from a variety of body-mind symptoms such as chronic fatigue, anxiety, burn-out, depression, and trauma.
To support these patients, I have integrated Oriental medicine with somatic therapy and have witnessed a great impact and efficacy of energy medicine and somatic healing in improving psychosomatic symptoms.
In this blog post, I would like to introduce you to soma acupuncture, a unique approach that combines the principles of acupuncture and somatic therapy to promote healing and wellbeing.
Soma acupuncture is an integrative medicine that combines traditional acupuncture techniques with sensory healing.
Acupuncture and sensory healing are two modalities that have been used for centuries to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy (Qi) along meridians.
Sensory healing, on the other hand, involves the use of sensory inputs such as touch, sound, smell, visualisation to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance healing.
There is a close interconnection between acupuncture and sensory healing, as both modalities involve the activation of the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Qi (energy) is the essential life force that flows through all of nature. Qi is cosmic intelligence that gives vitality and direction to all matter. OM perspectives views any kind of illnesses come from imbalance in the energy flow, either too little (deficiency) or too much ( excess ) or stagnation in the energy flow.
Through senses, we can feel our body and our energy state. We can also perceive and response to the surroundings. Our nervous system can communicate with our body. Our sensory ability is made for survival as well as embodying a deeper living state such as presence and consciousness.
Energy & Senses
Acupuncture stimulates the flow of Qi and blood to specific areas of the body, which can help to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, regulate the nervous system.
Similarly, sensory healing can activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms by experiencing through felt senses, bodily awareness and sensory experiences that go beyond words or conscious thought. It is a preverbal, intuitive, and experiential sense of the body that can help individuals to connect with their emotions, inner wisdom, and deeper sense of self.
Treatment plan
Soma acupuncture treatment typically begins with an assessment of the patient’s overall health and any specific health concerns they may have. Based on this assessment, I will develop a treatment plan that includes a combination of traditional acupuncture points incorporating with hands-on, breathing and sensory awareness.
The goal of the treatment is to promote the body’s natural healing processes and sensory awareness to restore energetic balance.
The number and frequency of treatments will vary depending on the individual patient and their specific health concerns. Some people may experience significant improvement after just one treatment, while others may require several treatments over a period of weeks or months to see the full benefits of soma acupuncture.
Soma acupuncture offers a natural, non-invasive approach to healing that can have profound effects on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By promoting balance and harmony in the body’s energy systems, I have no doubt to say that soma acupuncture can help patients lead healthier, more fulfilling lives in today’s fast-paced world.
About Ko Jihae
Ko is a registered acupuncturist, somatic therapist, artist & researcher based in Amsterdam. Her work explores health of body, mind and spirit by integrating knowledges of Oriental Medicine, somatic healing and art creation. Ko helps her clients to feel at rest and assist healing process where clients can connect to their own self healing capacity.
She grew up with Traditional Korean Medicine; her father is a life long Korean medicine doctor in South Korea. Initially she worked as a professional dancer and choreographer. She brings years of body knowledge in her practice.
She is a co-owner of Medicine Body Studio in Amsterdam where she facilitates individual sessions and workshops.
