© 2026 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Early TCM practitioners wrote from direct observation, using language shaped by the natural world of their era. Having studied for many years with great teachers like Miki Shima, Kiko Sensei, Masakazu Ikeda Sensei, and Edward Obaidey Sensei, I was taught a vital distinction: to read
© 2026 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Etymology, Historical Context, and Core Characteristics Ashi points (阿是穴, ā shì xué) are non-fixed, temporary acupuncture points characterized by localized tenderness or sensitivity upon pressure (Deadman et al., 2007; Sun, 652 CE). Unlike the 361 classical points located along established meridians, most Ashi points lack
© 2026 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. In clinical practice, especially in soft tissue orthopedics and in treating conditions like Long COVID, CPTSD, Adrenal Collapse, or Autonomic Dysregulation, we often see patients stuck in a state of partial Primitive Reflex (PR) demonstration, a hallmark of deep autonomic imbalance. While many reflexes can
Resistance as a Root Defensive State Resistance is not a personality quirk or a lack of motivation. It is a fundamental root response to perceived internal or external pressure — a barrier to change, influence, or vulnerability that operates whether you are aware of it or not. It is not a single emotion. It is
A Clinical Framework for Polyvagal Acupuncture® (PVA) and Polyvagal Massage ™ Trauma is an internal physiological state that overwhelms the system. When a stressor exceeds the buffering capacity of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), the brain bypasses verbal processing and hard-codes survival responses into motor reflexes and connective tissues. The “score” appears in densified fascia
© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture® Primitive reflexes (PRs) are involuntary motor responses that establish foundational postural tone, orientation, and motor-sensory coordination during early development. These reflexes should integrate as higher cortical control matures. When they remain active—or reactivate in the context of trauma, emotional stress, neuroinflammation, or structural compromise—they produce
You need to be logged in to view this content. Please Log In. Not a Member? Join Us
You need to be logged in to view this content. Please Log In. Not a Member? Join Us
