© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture® Trauma refers to an overwhelming experience that exceeds the parasympathetic buffering capacity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). It can arise from physical injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), natural disasters, or a life-altering medical diagnosis. Trauma also includes emotional experiences such as death, divorce, Read More
Introduction to Neuro-Somatic Emotional Mapping The Neuro-Somatic Emotional Mapping Model bridges autonomic regulation, somatic expression, and neurophysiology, offering a functional lens on emotional processing that integrates primitive reflexes, bioenergetic defenses, and sinew channels into a cohesive framework. 💡 This model builds on established work in polyvagal theory, fascia research, and developmental neuropsychology, but it goes further
Now that we have explored the basics of Yin and Yang balance as reflective of the Autonomic Nervous System’s function, we are better positioned to understand the fight-flight mechanism within the TCM framework. In this context, the fight or flight response can be viewed as a condition that arises when there is a significant disruption
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), “wei qi” and “ying qi” represent the body’s defensive and nourishing energies. Wei qi, the defensive energy, is said to circulate through the skin and muscles, acting as the body’s defense system against external pathogens and environmental threats. Ying qi, the nutritive energy, flows through the blood vessels and capillary
The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is the most extensive and intricate part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), consisting of approximately 400-600 million neurons. Present in two primary networks—the myenteric and submucosal plexuses—the human ENS begins its development during the gestational period and experiences its most active growth state peri-natally through the first year of
The recent election cycle in the US came on the heels of a global pandemic that plunged much of the world into prolonged states of confusion, fear, and isolation. As social structures frayed, waves of conflicting information eroded trust in authority and fueled skepticism toward Western medicine across the spectrum. Just as society began to
In TCM, we can view mobilization of the fight-flight response through the lens of the Yang sinew channels, which activate the body’s defensive (Wei Qi) and muscular responses, highlighting a direct correlation to the sympathetic activation described in PVT. This perspective allows us to see the cascade of physiological and energetic responses—from Qi stagnation and
© 2024 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Contributions from mental health and trauma professionals like Peter Levine, PhD, Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, and Svetlana Masgutova, PhD, illustrate the role of the nervous system and the biochemical processes involved in trauma. However, their profound insights have not yet translated into effective treatment solutions
