Steve – after we needled using the chiseling method spiked a fever and got body aches. My partner did a point on the San Jiao. I thought is was just me, but I needled a patient yesteday, ah shi at around SJ 12 and needled the ting well – she called this morning and had the same symptoms, sweat, severe pain, like the flu. What should I have done to protect her from that response, or is that normal and the wei qi is just adjusting? I hope this question makes sense. Caryn White PS – had to leave early Sunday because of fever and body aches, I just thought I was coming down with something.

This is an excellent question, because things don’t “just happen,” but occur for reasons. In this series, we are working to look more deeply into the movements and functions of qi, and this is an interesting somatic expression. However, I’d like to try to lead whoever follows this thread through the thinking process, rather than just giving an answer. Chiseling the ashi and jing-well points specifically activates wei qi to release/expel wind. Of course, wei qi is a post-natal expression of yang, and when yang is impeded from flowing smoothly through the embodied spirit, it generates (“pathological”) heat, as in fever. Is that enough to get you, Caryn, and others started? If not, I’ll expand on it.

BTW, there are two parts to the answer to this question: one would be exhibited in any channel, and one is specific to the shaoyang channels (each slightly differently). Think about the function of sanjiao; I’m trying to open this up to the group.