Charlie Savoca, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M.(NCCAOM) has been licensed in the field of acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 1987.
His approach to natural healing is holistic and goes beyond the boundaries of Chinese medicine alone.
The health triad depicts Charlie's approach to health and healing.
The Health Triad
Spirit
Spirit forms the center of our being. Called “Shen” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is one of the three treasures along with Jing (essence) and Qi (energy). The Shen is responsible for consciousness, cognition, emotional life, purpose and our “presence”. It lies at the center of health because it supersedes the other three. Shen represents the mind, our Spiritual power, our awareness, our consciousness, our true wisdom and our universal love. This is ultimately the most important of the Three Treasures, because it is the basis of our higher nature as human beings and is expressed as our wisdom and happiness in life.
Energy
Energy which is referred to as Qi (Ch’i) in the TCM model, forms the basis of all life processes. It encompasses the never-ending state of change and transformation. Modern physics confirms this to be true. Qi-energy is the basis of human health such that we are in a constant dance with the environment to attract and absorb Qi-energy in order to transform it. Cultivation of Qi-energy leads to our ability to expand and live the fullest life possible. Emotions ( aka “energy in motion”) are also part of the Energy dimension.
Biochemical
Biochemical is the basis of cell and molecular biology and also the predominant paradigm of Western allopathic medicine. It includes all the chemical messengers of the body (hormones, neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, cytokines, etc.). From a holistic perspective, we can include food and nutrients as biochemical components which contribute to health and well-being; toxins (such as pesticides, glyphosate, and the chemical soup we live in) can negatively influence our body’s healthy functions. Here, the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and foods we consume all add or subtract to overall vitality. Detoxification on a regular basis should be considered a part of any health maintenance program.
Structural (Physical)
Structural or physical manifestations of the health model include the obvious: bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, fascia, and nerves. But we also need to consider the barrier system of the body including the integrity of the gastrointestinal system or GI barrier, the brain barrier, and even the cell membrane as part of the structural component.
There are numerous examples of how one part of the health triad affects the other parts.
Inflammatory foods (biochemical) can cause problems in the musculoskeletal system (joint and muscle pain) or the brain (brain fog). Emotional stress and negative thoughts (energy) can create high blood pressure through constriction of the blood vessels (physical-structural and stress hormones).
Taking this all into account, Charlie Savoca, L.Ac. uses his 35+ years of experience to address a person’s health issues
Statement of Purpose
I have been in the field of acupuncture and natural healing for over 35 years now. What I have learned is that what works for one person does not work for another. And yet, there are patterns of disease, disturbance, and disharmony in the human being. I am still learning and applying new knowledge to my practice in trying to decipher and unravel complaints and conditions that people who walk into my office are seeking help with.
Electrical stimulation may help affect positive changes in one person’s pain pattern, and others may be sensitive to electrical stimulation and the modality would not be appropriate. One supplement might help someone’s digestive disorder and for another, it exacerbates the condition.
Just with regard to acupuncture, I have studied and employed various styles over my 35+ years in practice, from TCM approaches that I learned in school, to Japanese light style needling, to orthopedic acupuncture involving trigger point release and motor point stimulation, to distal acupuncture approaches like Master Tung and Dr. Tan’s Balance method. What I use for any one patient depends upon that person and my judgement as I begin to work with someone. And that may change over time. There is no “cookie cutter” approach that applies to every single client.
I may recommend supplements or not based upon a person’s pattern of imbalance and my intuition and guidance. Allergy elimination techniques might work great for one person but not work for another. I always try to keep an open mind whenever I work with a client whether I’ve seen that person for the first time or for 25 years.
With regard to pain management, I try and use an approach that addresses the myofascial and energetic connections of the human body. I respect what Thomas Myers ( author of Anatomy Trains) calls the “integrated informational system” that comprises our “neuro-myofascial web”when it comes to imbalances in the musculoskeletal system. In the words of Myers, health and the human body can be seen from the perspective that “fascia connects the whole body in an endless web”. Or in the words of Ted Kaptchuk, OMD it is “the web that has no weaver”. I am constantly humbled by the knowledge passed along to me by my teachers and the stubbornness of the human body to respond. In the end, my clients are my best teachers.
— Charlie