The Deep Connection Between Chinese Medicine and Tefillin
If we examine where the knots and wrappings are placed from a TCM point of view, it appears that the tefillin and wraps form a potent acupuncture point formula aimed at elevating the spirit and clearing the mind.
For many years, I have been fascinated with and deeply influenced by the studies of natural and ancient healing traditions. My great-grandmother was a holistic healer and lived a long time with a high quality of life. As a child, I remember walking through her garden as she pointed out the various plants and herbs she had grown, and how she used them medicinally.
I find it ironic that what we refer to as CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) predates the Western medical system by thousands of years, yet is often dismissed as foolishness. You might even elicit an eye-roll when mentioning these traditions to medical professionals.
Unfortunately, the abandonment of ancient wisdom has had negative consequences on human health in the West.
In my studies, I was particularly intrigued by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as I found many parallels of metaphors and stories with the Rabbinic tradition. One of which we will explore below.
Meridians and Fascia
According to the Chinese tradition, meridians are energy pathways that flow through the body, connecting various organs and systems.
In his book, "The Spark in the Machine"¹, author Dr. Daniel Keown teaches that the meridians are related to the fascia that helps to protect and stabilize the various organ systems. The Chinese system recognizes fascia as a vital component of our wellness equation; the Western medical system generally does not regard the fascia in the same way.
Nevertheless, the fascia serves as a vast conductive network for electrical information that must freely pass throughout the body for optimal health.
Acupuncture
By applying pressure or heat to specific points along these meridians, practitioners can restore the natural flow of Qi (life force), promoting health and well-being.
Becoming familiar with specific acupoints on the body, and engaging with them through pressure or acupuncture², we find repeatable outcomes that can restore us physically, cognitively, emotionally, and even spiritually!
These are not theoretical or woo-woo. This ancient wisdom has developed over thousands of years of observation, passed down through the Taoist tradition.
While acupuncture has made its way into the Western medical system, the theories and knowledge behind this practice are still relatively unexplored. Many practitioners treat acupuncture as a billable service, not fully understanding the mechanisms or root cause of the patient's imbalance.
The Tao
According to Taoist philosophy, (and the Kabbalah), the body is a microcosm of the universe. The flow of vital energy, or Qi, along these meridians is essential for maintaining balance and harmony. Likewise, the Rabbinic tradition refers to humans as an Olam haKatan - "a small universe."
The concept of meridians also reflects the belief in the interconnectedness of all things and the dynamic interplay of opposing forces, known as Yin and Yang. In many ways, these bear a striking parallel to the idea of Chesed and Gevurah³, also represented in the Kabbalah as masculine and feminine, respectively.
The Children of the East
A few years ago, my studies led me to speak with a Rabbi in Jerusalem who himself is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine. Speaking on the similarities between Jewish and Chinese traditions, he told me, between these two ancient cultures "There was definitely some knowledge transferred somewhere along the way."
Jewish tradition speaks of how the Wisdom of G_D made its way to the East through the children of Abraham⁴. Some sources indicate that this knowledge will ultimately make its way back full circle in the latter part of time, in our time.
He explained how the Taoist tradition itself is not considered Avodah Zara (Idol Worship), as it was not, and is not inherently religious, and how the tradition allows for the use of various healing modalities. The Talmud speaks about the precautions we can take to benefit from these without damaging ourselves spiritually in the process.
Tefillin and Acupoints
then I stumbled onto something interesting. In the Journal of Chinese Medicine, October 2002⁵, Steven Schram sought to investigate the intersection of the Torah commandment⁶ to wrap Tefillin⁷ and how these contact points might interact with the meridians for spiritual awareness.
He makes the following statement.
"The acknowledged purpose of the tefillin is to raise spiritual consciousness of the men who wear it. If we examine where the knots and wrappings are placed from a TCM point of view, it appears that the tefillin and wraps form a potent acupuncture point formula focused on the Governing vessel (Du Mai) and aimed at elevating the spirit and clearing the mind."
He concludes with:
""Regardless of the belief system behind the procedure, it seems clear that putting on tefillin is a unique way of stimulating a very precise set of acupuncture points that appears designed to clear the mind and harmonize the spirit."
Remarkable! What if the commandment was intended, all along, to help trigger a connection between body and soul for the sake of spiritual elevation?
It makes you wonder how many additional unseen benefits lay behind the commandments.
View the full Journal Article here 👇
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Notes:
¹ The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine. Dr. Daniel Keown
⁴ The Children of the East: The Connection Between Eastern Religions and Abraham
⁶ Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18
