31. Possession
Chapter contents
What is possession?244
Vulnerability to possession245
The diagnosis of possession247
The treatment of possession250
What is possession?
The nature of possession
Clearing possession is one of the oldest forms of healing known to civilisation. In fact, there are many indications that clearing possession in early China was a more prevalent system of healing than acupuncture. 1 People in the Western world might describe it as being out of date and perhaps even rather over-dramatic, but the term is one that has been used in every culture in the world, including the modern-day Western culture.
1There are many indications in ancient Chinese texts that ‘demonological’ healing was prevalent in China from the earliest of times and continued to be used alongside other forms of Chinese medicine until the present day. Many serious works of Chinese medicine by renowned Chinese doctors had sections in them with suggestions for demonological treatments of certain ailments (see Unschuld, 1992, p. 216).
In most ancient cultures the concept of possession described someone being fully or partially taken over by an entity of some kind. This caused people to no longer be fully in control of a part of themselves. The entity was usually thought to be the spirit of a dead person who was trying to find another body to inhabit.
In China this spirit was called a gui. Interestingly, the radical for a gui is embedded in the character for both the hun (spirit of the Liver) and the po (spirit of the Lungs), two of the five shen. This indicates the level of belief in the world of spirits that was prevalent amongst the physicians during the Han and preceding dynasties. The idea that part of the human spirit inhabited the same realm as ghosts was enshrined in Chinese thought.
The use of the term ‘possession’ by a Five Element Constitutional Acupuncturist has been broadened. It is used to include many other ways that a person may be out of control of their mind and spirit. Signs and symptoms can manifest along a spectrum from obsessive thoughts or behaviour to the kind of possession by spirits described above.
Historically there have been many powerful methods that have been used to clear possessions. These have included magic and ritual as well as talisman and herbal prescriptions (Unschuld, 1992, pp. 29–50). The method used by Five Element Constitutional Acupuncturists to clear possession is to call on the ‘Seven Dragons to overpower the Seven Demons’. The treatment uses seven acupuncture points that ‘wake’ the Dragons.
Possession in ancient China
The belief in possession as a cause of illness is widely documented as far back as the early Chou period, around −1100. At this time a person was typically described as being ‘assaulted by demons’ or ‘possessed by the hostile’ (Unschuld, 1992, p. 36). The existence of evil spirits was not just a superstition but was a widely held belief amongst all classes of Chinese people for many centuries. Han Fei, who died in −233, stated: ‘When a person falls ill he has been injured by a demon’ (Unschuld, 1992, p. 37).
Later texts, especially many written from the sixteenth century onwards, described treatments in detail. For example, in the eighteenth century a physician called Xu Dachun cited ‘irrefutable evidence’ for the influence of demons on the well-being of man. He compared evil spirits to wind, cold, summer heat and other similar phenomena. Just as an underlying deficiency can allow a climatic pathogen to enter the body, so can an ‘emotional fatigue’ allow demons to gain entrance (Unschuld, 1992, p. 222).
The famous physician Sun Si-miao (581–682) also described various methods of treatment against demons (Unschuld, 1992, p. 42). One method described was the use of 13 gui or ‘ghost’ points. These are still in use today, especially in the treatment of the dian-kuan category of disease, which includes illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Since the Communist government came into power in 1949 the treatment of possession was cast out of Chinese medicine. At that time anything connected with popular religious belief was termed ‘superstition’ (mixin). It is still to be found in Chinese communities around the world, however, but a ‘great deal of administrative effort has gone into eradicating belief in spirit possession’ (see Sivin, 1987, pp. 102–106). Bob Flaws (1991) states that:
The expurgation of ghosts as an etiological factor is part and parcel of modern TCM’s attempt to conform to Western materialist science and the Chinese communist regime’s rejection of anything spiritual.
Certainly the use of the ‘Seven Dragons for Seven Demons’ is not mentioned in any currently translated Chinese texts. It was, however, identified as a Tang dynasty prescription for ‘mania’ by a veteran Chinese medicine physician at the Yunnan College of TCM in Kunming in 1982 (verbal communication from members of China Study Trip, 1982). Bob Flaws concurs that there is ‘nothing un-Chinese about the treatment’. Such a treatment is in fact ‘characteristic of the Chinese people’s pluralism and enduring embrace of spiritualism and magic’ (Flaws, 1989).
Vulnerability to possession
Conditions leading to possession
The causes of possession can be external or internal and it can result from a physical, but more usually, a mental or spiritual cause. However, it is extremely rare for something to ‘invade’ from the outside or to disturb the person from the inside if the person is in good physical, mental and spiritual health.
If a person’s essence and spirit are firmly established, no evil outside of the body will venture an assault. But whenever that which protects the essence and spirit fails, the harmful agents will collect in its place.
(Hsu Ling-t’ai I; quoted by Unschuld, 1992, p. 337)
The topics, images, feelings and themes that disturb people are usually the ones that may later possess her or him. A mind preoccupied by certain thoughts can start to become obsessed. If the obsession is not contained and dealt with it may later turn into a ‘possession’ that takes control of the person’s every thought and action.
Minds occupied with fortune and misfortune may be invaded and controlled by devils. Minds occupied with love affairs may be attacked by lustful ghosts. Minds worried about deep waters may be subjected to the ghosts of the drowned. Minds worried by unrestrained activity may be attacked by mad ghosts. Minds occupied with oaths may be attacked by magical ghosts. Minds concentrated on drugs and tempting food may be attacked by the ghosts of material things.
(Quan Yin Tzu, quoted in Needham, 1956, p. 67)
A person’s vulnerability to possession is increased by:
• underlying poor physical or psychological health
• emotional shocks or instability
• physical shocks or accidents
• drug or alcohol abuse
• engaging with the occult
• opening the self up to others, without protection
• exposure to intense climatic factors
Underlying poor physical or psychological health
The underlying health of a person is extremely important when considering who is vulnerable to possession. The pathologies below illustrate this, but a weakness in any Organ may cause a person to become more susceptible.
The Blood of the Heart allows the shen to be housed in the body. When the Heart Blood is deficient, the shen will ‘float’ rather than be settled inside the Heart (see Maciocia, 2005, pp. 109-112). If this becomes severe it can leave a void. In this case the Supreme Controller is no longer fully in control and the person may lose full control of their mind and spirit.
Obstruction to the Heart orifices may leave a person more easily affected by possession. If there is too much Heat and Phlegm affecting the Heart, a person may also have difficulty being settled in their shen. This condition can result in mania followed by a swing into depression. In this situation the person’s health is already chaotic and the vacuum left by the unsettled shen may leave the person even more susceptible to possession. The same is true when Phlegm ‘mists’ the Heart, causing mental confusion or unconsciousness. (For a discussion of Phlegm Fire harassing the Heart, see Maciocia, 2005, pp. 474–477.)
If the Lungs are healthy this can also protect a person from becoming possessed. Just as the Lungs are responsible for the wei qi, which protects us from invasion by climatic forces, the Corporeal Soul or po protects us from invasion affecting the spirit (Maciocia, 1993, pp. 10–18). A person whose Metal Element is thus affected may feel extremely fragile in some circumstances. They may feel unable to protect themselves when, for example, they are grieving after a death or in any situation where sadness or a sense of loss is intense.
Emotional shocks or instability
Emotional shocks can be caused by sudden grief, sadness, disappointment, anger, fear, terror or even sudden and extreme happiness. Often, although not always, an emotional shock involves another person – an intimate relationship breaks up, a friend badly disappoints us, a family member dies or a work colleague suddenly turns on us. An emotional shock of any kind can leave people feeling traumatised and temporarily out of control. The qi is ‘scattered’. In most circumstances people recover their equilibrium following the initial shock. On some occasions, however, they do not recover their former control and the intensity of the emotions overwhelms the mind and spirit.
People have varying degrees of emotional stability. Those with a damaged sense of identity may be anxious, lonely, depressed and in general have a low level of self-esteem. This may lead to obsessive or addictive behaviour directed towards areas such as work, sex, cleanliness, food, gambling or alcohol.
A patient was being treated for a sinus problem. At every treatment she talked about her ex-boyfriend. She couldn’t get over this relationship, which had ended suddenly. In her experience, one minute he was with her, the next he was gone. She was now thinking about him constantly. She seemed obsessed by him. Following the Internal Dragons treatment she reported feeling ‘separate from him’ for the first time since the relationship ended.
Physical shocks or accidents
These can include a huge range of possibilities such as road traffic accidents, surgical operations, electric shocks including ECT (electro-convulsive therapy) or physical injuries such as those brought about by being beaten up or physically abused. The shen is usually affected when a person has a severe physical shock or accident. In these circumstances the shen may be temporarily ‘separated’ from the body so that it is no longer housed in the Heart. This leaves the person more vulnerable to possession.
A patient had three car accidents in quick succession. This left her extremely shaken, feeling ‘cut off from reality’ and a feeling that she described as ‘being half out of my body’. When CF treatment didn’t help, the possession treatment was carried out enabling the patient to feel more in control again. She immediately felt more stable and ‘in her body’.
Drug or alcohol abuse
Alcohol and drug abusers are often susceptible to possession. They suffer from the reasons that led them to substance abuse and the abuse further weakens their healthy or upright (zheng) qi. When under the influence of drugs, their minds are sometimes open and susceptible. The five shen become disturbed and the mind then becomes open to invasion. Sometimes after a time on drugs and/or alcohol, the person’s mind may be inert and empty, as if no one is at home. This void predisposes them to ‘possession’.
A patient came for treatment having had a 14-year history of taking many drugs, including amphetamines, LSD and cocaine. Possession treatments, using both the Internal and External Dragons were used, as well as treatment on his CF. The treatment helped him to recover from the effects of the drugs. Although he did not know about the nature of the points being used, the patient commented that treatment ‘had seemed like an “exorcism”.’ (For more on this case history, see Hicks, Chapter 38, p. 425, in MacPherson and Kaptchuk, 1997.)
Engaging with the occult
This includes playing with magic, ‘doing’ automatic writing, holding seances or using an ouija board. All of these activities can involve calling on ‘spirits’ for ‘help’. It has been known that a person who is spiritually vulnerable may experience being taken over by a ‘malevolent’ spirit who subsequently seems to plague them with negative thoughts and feelings.
A 25-year-old patient came for treatment having held seances using an ouija board when she was 14 years old. Since that time she had been terrified of being alone in the dark and said she continually felt strange ‘presences’ around her. She felt the need to wear a crucifix around her neck to protect herself. Treatment using the Internal Dragons helped to rid her of these ‘presences’.
Opening the self up to others, without protection
Followers of cults or people who are under the influence of charismatic leaders, witch doctors or anyone who uses hypnotic power in a negative way can come into this category. Although most meditation or spiritual work is safe, in the wrong hands it can become harmful. If people obey others without question and follow spiritual ‘rules’ without understanding what they are doing, they can end up being controlled by the cult or the leader of the cult.
Followers of the Reverend Jim Jones in Jonestown, Guyana, appear to have given over parts of themselves to him. In 1978 the whole group of 910 people took their own lives in an orderly fashion when ordered to do so by their leader. (For more analysis about this event see Cialdini, 2001, pp. 131–133.)
Exposure to intense climatic factors
The external climatic factors may cause conditions such as Heat-stroke or an extreme attack of Dampness, Wind or any other external pathogenic factor. When a climatic factor causes possession the patient is likely to have been subjected to a long-term or extreme pathogen which has penetrated deeply and thus taken over the patient’s system. The External Dragons are often used first in these cases.
During World War II a patient had worked in the engine room of a ship travelling from East Africa to India. It was in the hottest part of the year. During the trip he went ‘mad’ and became manic and paranoid. Forty years later he visited an acupuncturist because he was unable to hold down a job, had behavioural obsessions and paranoid fantasies. Treatment using the External Dragons was carried out. He became able to retain a job; the behavioural obsessions were dramatically reduced; and he no longer had the paranoid fantasies.
The diagnosis of possession
Signs and symptoms of possession
Practitioners may be alerted to the possibility of patients being possessed if they have been in one of the situations or internal states outlined above. Not all patients who are possessed have been subject to these circumstances, however, and sometimes it is hard for the practitioner to be sure that possession is present. In this case the practitioner will make the diagnosis on the patient’s presentation. One key sign is that something about the patient is extremely unusual.
Every patient who is possessed is possessed in their own unique way. If possession is suspected it is best to use the Seven Dragons treatment immediately. If possession is not present, the treatment will tend to have no effect. If possession is present, however, it can transform the patient and make subsequent treatment effective. Although none of the signs and symptoms below is in itself a sure diagnostic sign of possession, the following are some areas that can strongly indicate that possession is a possibility.
• The eyes are veiled and the practitioner can’t get ‘into’ the person.
• Abnormal mental patterns are revealed in speech or behaviour.
• The patient experiences intense dreams or fantasies that are terrifying or evil.
• The patient hears voices in the mind.
• The patient exhibits obsessions or addictive behaviour.
• Patients say they ‘feel’ possessed or out of control.
• Treatment doesn’t progress or the patient keeps relapsing.
• Pulses are unusual or lacking harmony.
Eyes are veiled and the practitioner can’t ‘reach’ the person
People’s eyes often give the clearest indication that they are possessed. When making eye contact people usually feel some connection with another person. When a person is possessed, this connection is hard to make. It may seem as ‘though the lights are on but no one is at home’, or that the eyes have a veil in front of them or a glazed look. Sometimes patients can’t hold someone else’s gaze and their eyes slide away or become shifty. There may be a crazed expression in the person’s eyes.
Other descriptions of the eyes of possessed patients are a ‘staring quality’, a ‘deadness’ in the eyes, ‘an inability to look in other people’s eyes’ or, at the extreme, ‘someone else is staring out from the eyes’.
None of these descriptions is in itself a diagnosis of possession. For instance, a dead look in the eyes or an inability to look into another person’s eyes could also indicate that the Heart is seriously out of balance. A staring quality could indicate a problem with the Liver.
Abnormal mind patterns as revealed in speech or behaviour
In some circumstances it is virtually impossible to take a case history from a patient. This can happen, for example, if patients are incapable of answering questions, virtually catatonic or extremely agitated. The practitioner may find that it is impossible to make any significant rapport with them and their spirit may seem to barely be present in the room. In this case the practitioner may conclude that the patient’s behaviour or the workings of their mind are so unusual that they may well be possessed.
Intense dreams or fantasies that are terrifying or evil
Recurrent terrifying or evil dreams can indicate possession. Examples of dreams that have indicated possession have been dreams of monsters, of small scaly creatures, of ghosts or of being taken over by another person. In one case a child who continually had dreams of evil monsters had this treatment, after which she never had the dream again.
Images that haunt a person while they are awake can also indicate possession. These might either be of a particular memory, or in some cases can be of a particular symbol. For example, one patient almost constantly had an image of swastikas in his mind.
Voices in the mind
These might be controlling, obsessive or out of character with the person’s normal personality. The voices may say things that are negative or taunting or they may predict negative things. They may make the person feel guilty or tell the person to do things they don’t feel they should do. They may be clear or indistinct. If they are clear and intense, the person may have already been diagnosed as having a mental illness such as schizophrenia. At this level of disharmony it can be difficult to restore the patient to a relatively healthy state. Sometimes, however, this treatment may have a significant effect, and can be repeated over a course of treatment with further benefits.
A patient who had the Internal Dragons treatment returned the following week. She announced that she no longer heard the voices in her head – even though she had not told the practitioner that she was hearing voices before the treatment was given. The voices had been indistinct and difficult for the patient to describe. The patient only realised that they were abnormal after having had the treatment and finding that the voices had disappeared.
Obsessions or addictive behaviour
This category can overlap with the previous one above but differs in that the patient feels that the thoughts are their own. Everyone at some time has had thoughts that become stuck in their head. For example, most people have experienced having the words of a catchy song going around their heads, and this is obviously not possession. Possession is more likely to be indicated by thoughts that take over the functioning of the mind. For example, if a patient has negative thoughts such as ones of wanting to do harm to another or themselves or feeling constantly negative about themselves, then this might indicate possession. The key is to discover whether the person has any control over the thoughts or whether the person cannot stop or change them.
Some people become fixated with some aspect of their life. They might constantly perform some obsessive action such as washing their hands, cleaning the house or locking the door. Other people feel they have to carry out some ritual, such as touching something a certain number of times before being able to go about their daily lives. Some people’s lives are taken over by a particular phobia. They may be unable to stop themselves swearing, eating, talking or having bizarre bodily movements. All of these and many other extraordinary behaviours can be indicative of possession.
Patients say they ‘feel’ possessed or out of control
Patients may describe being out of control of their feelings. They may have outbursts of anger or rage for no clear reason or excessive fear that takes them over. Alternatively, it has been known for patients to confide to the practitioner that they feel possessed or as if they have been taken over by some kind of force. They may also make comments like, ‘I feel I’ve got the devil in me’ or ‘I don’t feel in control of what I do.’ Some patients also say that they feel the presence of spirits around them.
A 32-year-old patient had a breakdown in her early twenties whilst at drama school. The usual acupuncture treatment appeared to help her but she kept relapsing. Finally she said, ‘I feel like I am possessed.’ Following the Internal Dragons, treatment began to hold and she progressively got better and retained the benefits of treatment.
Treatment doesn’t progress or the patient keeps relapsing
Sometimes it is hard for the practitioner to notice any of the above signs and symptoms of possession, but at the same time they may know that acupuncture treatment is not having any significant effect. Alternatively the treatment might have some effect, but doesn’t hold and the patient relapses. Either of these situations may indicate that the person needs the Dragons treatment as there is something preventing the treatment from helping the patient to progress.
A patient had constant feelings of nausea and sickness and complained of feeling generally depressed. Treatment on the Stomach and Spleen and later the Liver and Gall Bladder had some effect, but the patient would then relapse. After the possession treatment was carried out, the treatment on the Liver and Gall Bladder was effective and the benefits were maintained.
Pulses not in harmony
Very rarely a patient can become possessed while under treatment. In this case the practitioner might notice that the quality of the pulses becomes much less harmonious. If the patient is possessed at the start of treatment, then a similar presentation may occur. In this situation the practitioner is unable to compare the pulses with any previous pulse pictures and the lack of harmony may not be so obvious. Because of this the practitioner will sometimes explain away this disharmony by other aspects of the diagnosis.
Choosing the Internal or External Dragons
After diagnosing that the patient is possessed, the next decision is whether the External or Internal Dragons are required. If the cause of the patient’s problem is obviously from an internal cause (such as emotional shocks, instability or poor psychological health), then the Internal Dragons should be used. If the cause is obviously from an external cause (such as drinking, drugs or overexposure to the elements), then the External Dragons should be used. Having said this, it is not always clear to the practitioner if the cause is internal or external.
If this is the case it tends to be best to use the Internal Dragons first, as these are usually the most effective. If this does not make a change, the External Dragons are then used.
The treatment of possession (Table 31.1)
The Seven Dragons treatment
Traditionally in China dragons have been regarded as having a benevolent influence. They symbolise power and justice and are thought to bring good fortune and wealth. Their image was worn on the robes of the imperial family and nobility indicating their great authority.
| Internal Dragons | External Dragons |
|---|---|
| Extra point 0.25 cun below Ren 15 | Du 20 |
| St 25 | Bl 11 |
| St 32 | Bl 23 |
| St 41 | Bl 61 |
The Seven Dragons treatment uses combinations of seven points. Each point wakens and rouses a Dragon and the seven chase the Devils out. Practitioners sometimes ask why these particular points are used. Although there is no definitive answer to this, the following may be some explanation. The Internal Dragons are on the front or yin side of the body and yin is resonant with the most internal areas of us. The first point lies on the Ren channel that is the most yin channel of the body and the others lie on the Stomach channel close to the Ren.
The External Dragons are on the back or most yang side of the body and yang is resonant with the most external areas of us. The first point lies on the Du channel that is the most yang channel of the body and all the other points lie on the Bladder channel which lies next to the Du channel.
The points used for the Internal Dragons
For the Internal Dragons, the points used are:
• the extra point 0.25 cun below Ren 15
• St 25
• St 32
• St 41
(An alternative combination of points was taught during the 1970s and early 1980s which can be used if a patient is depressed. They are: the extra point 0.25 cun below Ren 15, St 25, a point halfway between St 36 and St 37 and St 41.)
The points used for the External Dragons
For the External Dragons, the points used are:
• Du 20
• Bl 11
• Bl 23
• Bl 61
Position of the patient
Internal Dragons
The patient should be lying comfortably on the back, with their arms by their sides and their legs extended.
External Dragons
When using the External Dragons it is easiest to have the patient sitting up on a stool facing the treatment table. This means that the practitioner needs to locate Bl 61 while the feet are on the floor. If the practitioner seats the patient on a chair, then it should be placed sideways on to the table so that the practitioner can locate the points on the patient’s back. Once the needles have been inserted, patients can then support themselves by folding their arms and putting them up on the table. Tall patients might need a pillow under their arms.
Alternatively, it is possible to mark the External Dragons with the patient lying face down on the treatment table. This may be preferable if the patient is large or if the practitioner thinks they may be difficult to support if there is a strong reaction to the treatment.
Carrying out the treatment
The needles should be inserted into the points from top to bottom using sedation technique. (For clarification of this technique, see Chapter 33, this volume.) The needles should then be left in position until the pulses have harmonised or a change can be detected in the patient. This will usually take approximately 20–30 minutes. Special attention should always be paid to the patient’s eyes, as they are likely to be clearer, steadier or less veiled when the treatment is completed. The patient’s colour, sound, emotion and odour may also change during the course of the treatment. The needles are then removed from top to bottom.
Reactions at the time of treatment
A few patients have immediate and dramatic reactions at the time of treatment. For example, some patients have shaken, shivered, made strange noises, taken on unusual facial expressions or felt sick during the course of the treatment. Some patients can have a reaction after treatment, for example, one patient had a dream of a ‘spirit’ being in the room with her and then leaving. Others may feel tired after the treatment or alternatively they may feel energised.
At the other extreme, most patients have no reaction at the time of the treatment at all. Often they feel extremely relaxed as the treatment is carried out, only to notice a change sometime afterwards.
Changes from treatment
Patients often undergo a fundamental transformation and release from this treatment. The signs or symptoms of possession should recede if the treatment has been successful. Sometimes patients will describe feeling lighter, freer or more in control of their life. Others have known that they feel better but find it hard to describe what has changed.
Repetition of the treatment
Often only one treatment is necessary, but some patients may need more than one treatment. In some cases, the patient is better for a period and normal treatment has good effects. However, the possession can return with similar signs and symptoms, but less intense. In this case the treatment should be repeated. In unusual cases, the practitioner may end up doing several repeat possession treatments, interspersed by non-possession treatments.
Summary
1 Possession is a cause of disease that is widely documented in many Chinese texts.
2 There are many signs and symptoms of possession. For example, it can manifest as obsessive behaviour or the person feeling that he or she has been taken over by spirits. The person may have veiled eyes, terrifying or evil dreams, voices in the mind, stuck thoughts or treatment which keeps relapsing.
3 A range of other situations increases a person’s vulnerability to possession, but often when a person becomes possessed they have underlying poor psychological health or are under severe emotional strain.
4 The Seven Dragons for Seven Demons are points used to clear possession. These can be internal or external.
5 If the possession is cleared, a patient may experience a fundamental transformation and release following the treatment.
