The Acupuncturist's Toolbox – Regine Sies on the Celestial Stems and Earthly Branches

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In the series 'The toolbox of the acupuncturist'
we let acupuncturists speak about the style of acupuncture they prefer to work with. Each style has its own background, philosophy, and application.
In this interview, Regine Sies talks about her passion for the method of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. For twenty years, she has been working with this classical approach, which continues to surprise her daily with its depth, precision, and personal alignment with the client.

Which acupuncture style do you use most often in your practice, and what is it about this style that appeals to you?

What particularly appeals to me is that you can provide a treatment that is fully tailored to the individual. This is done based on a so-called birth chart. My teachers Joan Duveen and Peter van Kervel have created a schema for this. Additionally, Jolanda van Mourik creates a calendar each year that displays and explains these interactions specific to that year.
The information for creating such a birth chart and the various interactions comes from chapters 68-74 of the Su Wen, a classic Chinese medical work that is part of the Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic). In practice, I gratefully make daily use of all this data. 

Based on such a birth chart, you can see which energy (Qi) someone naturally has strong or weak. Based on that, you choose the points you use very specifically. Interestingly, we actually avoid the points that correspond to what someone already naturally has strong. Instead, we look for a way to balance the energy at different levels.'

What does a treatment according to this style look like in practice? Can you give an example of how you treated a specific complaint with this?
'The treatment always starts with analyzing the birth chart. We use the so-called Heaven-Earth-Human model. This means looking at three levels at which energy works in the body. At each of these levels, an energy pathway (meridian) has a different relationship with other meridians. For example, the Gallbladder meridian has a relationship with the Spleen at one level, with the Heart at another level, and with the Liver at yet another level.

In practice, this means that I usually use only two to four needles. The choice of points is determined based on pulse diagnosis and the birth chart. We also consider the energy of the season, the day of the treatment, and conduct additional diagnosis through the tongue and body. The needles remain in place for exactly 21 minutes. After inserting them, I immediately feel the pulse again to check if the desired effect is occurring. The pulse changes during the treatment, but after 21 minutes, the result is usually stable, and I remove the needles.'

When do you notice that this style really makes a difference for a client?
'Because I work exclusively with this method, I find it difficult to compare with other styles. But clients who have been to other acupuncturists before do notice a difference.

They often mention that fewer needles are used and that usually only one side of the body is needled, preferably the right side for women and the left side for men. They also notice that I extensively feel the pulse and that the choice of points is always different. The latter is also true: because the pulse pattern changes with each treatment, I choose different points each time. So, the treatment is unique every time.'

What have you learned over the years about working with this style, and has your way of treating changed?
'I have been working with this method for twenty years now, and what always strikes me is how rich and versatile this way of treating is. Every time I discover different layers, even though I have been working with it for so long. No treatment is the same, even if clients come with similar complaints.

Also, during further education and seminars, I keep discovering new insights that deepen my way of working. I realize that I will never be 'finished' with learning, and that is exactly what makes it so beautiful. It makes me grateful every day that I get to work with this ancient wisdom.'

Want to know more about acupuncture styles?
With her profound knowledge of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, Regine Sies offers treatments that are finely tuned to the unique energy of each client. A style rooted in the classical texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, providing continuous deepening in practice.

Curious about more acupuncture styles? Keep an eye on our series The toolbox of the acupuncturist!