What's The Point?!

➕ We have a very special bonus episode for you this season! None other than Hil Skellon, the daughter of JR Worsley and Ben's lovely Auntie, is joining Ben & Gabriella for an exclusive interview.Hil studied under her father JR Worsley at the College of Traditional Acupuncture in Leamington Spa in the UK and has been in private practice since 1982. She’s been teaching Classical Five Element Acupuncture since 1983. From 1990 - 1994 she then became Vice-Principal of the College of Traditional Acupuncture. She was also on the faculty of WICA in Florida, and SOFEA and LIFEA in London. In 1998, Hilary moved to the United States to become director of ITEA (The Institute of Taoist Education & Acupuncture) and in 2019 became President of the Institute until January 2023 when she stepped down from the presidency and became Academic and Faculty Dean at ITEA. She continues to teach undergraduates and is particularly passionate about teaching practitioners to teach the medicine.We hope you enjoy the chat!Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

❓This week the question master is you! Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions for us to answer in this special episode. We hope you enjoy it!Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

⚖️ This week Ben asks Gabriella 'What Is The Law Of The Five Elements?!' They explore how the elements relate to each other and how they are interconnected through the Sheng & Ke cycles.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

💎 This week Ben asks Gabriella 'What Is Metal?!' They hammer away to get to the core of the subject. They explore the last of the Five Elements, Metal, highlighting its nature and use in the context of Five Element Acupuncture.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🌏 This week Ben asks Gabriella 'What on Earth is going on?!'...or rather 'What Is Earth?!' They explore this fascinating element from the ground up (or down), discussing the many properties and associations of the Earth element and how it relates to the treatment of Five Element Acupuncture.We hope you enjoy the show!Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🔥 This week, in this fiery episode, Ben asks Gabriella What Is Fire?! Gabriella guides Ben through a spirited discussion on the essence of Fire, its associations with warmth, joy, and love, and its profound influence on human experience, health, wellbeing and how it relates to the practice of Five Element Acupuncture.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🪵 This week Ben asks Gabriella What Is Wood?! As winter retreats and nature awakens, Gabriella explains how Wood symbolises the season of Spring, marked by a flurry of activity and growth. Contrary to common belief, Spring doesn't begin on a fixed date but is heralded by the increasing light after the winter solstice, sparking life's resurgence even amidst lingering chill.Through vivid descriptions, Gabriella paints a picture of nature's exuberance in Spring, from the emergence of delicate flowers to the gambolling of spring lambs. Engaging in lively banter with Ben, she unravels the symbolism of the colour green, the sound of shout, and the emotion of anger associated with Wood. Their conversation highlights the element's role in birth, flexibility, and determination, mirrored in the unstoppable force of life pushing through obstacles.Exploring further, they discuss the sensory aspects of Wood, from its rancid odour to the sour taste of unripe fruit, and its association with the sense organ of the eye. As they wrap up part one, Ben reflects on the significance of understanding Wood's essence for holistic health and the practice of acupuncture.Stay tuned for part two, where they delve deeper into the nuances of Wood's expression and its relevance to acupuncture therapy. Embrace the energy of spring and join Gabriella and Ben on this journey of discovery through the elemental forces shaping our world.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

💦 This week Ben asks Gabriella What Is Water?!Listen in as they dive deep into the essence of water and discuss its nature, associations, and significance in traditional Chinese medicine. From the season of winter to the sound of groaning and the emotion of fear, discover the multifaceted aspects of water that shape our lives and well-being. Through insightful anecdotes and engaging discussion, Ben and Gabriella unravel the mysteries of the water element, offering profound insights into its role as the elixir of life. Tune in to uncover the secrets of water and its profound influence on our health and vitality. Don't miss out on this fascinating exploration of the first of the five elements!Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🎨 Welcome back to a brand new season of What’s The Point?! In this season, Ben & Gabriella are exploring the Five Elements in depth but first Ben asks Gabriella: What Are Colour, Sound, Odour, and Emotion?!They engage in their signature banter as they discuss the significance of these sensory cues in understanding the body's imbalances. From the subtle hues around the eyes to the tones of one's voice, each element offers valuable insights into a person's well-being.Through humorous anecdotes and insightful explanations, Gabriella sheds light on how these sensory cues act as signals that show imbalances within a person. The practitioner can then treat the patient correctly based on these observations.Join them on their journey of discovery as they uncover the intricate connections between nature, health, and the human experience.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

Subscriber-only episode➕ Welcome subscribers and Patrons! This is a special behind-the-scenes bonus episode of "What's The Point?!" Today, we're inviting you behind the scenes for an intimate and informal chat between hosts Ben & Gabriella to round off Season 1 in style.So grab your favourite beverage, cosy up, and join us for an exclusive peek behind the curtain. As a subscriber or Patron, you play a vital role in supporting our podcast, and we couldn't be more grateful. This special bonus episode is our way of saying thank you for your continued support and dedication.Get ready to laugh, learn, and connect with us on a whole new level, available exclusively to our subscribers and Patrons on Patreon. Let's dive in!Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

❓Welcome to a special episode of "What's The Point?!" In this instalment, instead of Ben asking the pesky questions, we're turning the spotlight on you, our valued listeners. Now's it's your turn to have your burning questions answered!Join hosts Ben and Gabriella as they dig into the questions sent in by our dedicated listeners, subscribers & Patrons in this, the last episode of Season 1.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

5️⃣ This week Ben asks Gabriella 'What Are The Five Elements?!' They chat about the Five Elements and how each one has its own unique qualities, most easily recognised in the season of that element. They emphasise that because we're all part of nature, these energies flow in us. Therefore understanding these rhythms is key to our well-being.We all have experience of each season, but have we ever given much thought to what nature is really doing in Winter for example? It may appear from the outside that nothing is happening, but outward appearances can be deceptive! We learn that the Chinese recognise a fifth season called Late Summer, which is all about harvest time and abundance. So even if you're not in a temperate part of the world that has distinct seasons, for example near the equator, these elemental energies are still at play.And they don’t just muse on the goings-on of the outside world. They connect it to how Five Element Acupuncture recognises and works with the flow of these five different energies within us, explaining how it's all about balancing these five different energies to stay healthy.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

☯️ In this week's episode, Ben asks Gabriella some seriously infuriating questions about the concepts of the Tao, Yin/Yang, and Qi Energy, which form the philosophical background of acupuncture. Gabriella explains that the Tao is indescribable, quoting Lao Tzu's assertion that the eternal Tao cannot be fully understood by humans. The discussion then moves to Yin/Yang, where they explore the concept of complementary opposites and balance in various aspects of life.The conversation then shifts to Qi Energy, with Gabriella explaining its role in acupuncture, its various sources, and the difficulty in proving its existence by Western scientific standards. The meridian system is introduced, illustrating how Qi flows through the body along these pathways, affecting different organs and functions. The episode concludes with a summary of the significance of the Tao, Yin/Yang, and Qi Energy in the practice of Five Element Acupuncture, highlighting the importance of viewing the body as a microcosm of the macrocosm and the benefits of balancing energies for overall well-being.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🆘 In this week's episode How Does Five Element Acupuncture Help?!, Ben asks Gabriella about the incredible ways Five Element Acupuncture can change lives. Gabriella shares stories from her 20+ years of professional practice. Patients such as Trevor, who said goodbye to laxatives after decades, and Tina, who found relief from chronic pain in just one session.They also discuss the science behind acupuncture, from easing depression to boosting fertility. But it's not just about physical health—acupuncture can also help with life direction, as seen with Alex's career change after kicking alcohol.And then there's Paolo's story, a true testament to the power of acupuncture in recovering from a near-death experience.As they wrap up, they dream of a future where Western medicine and acupuncture work together for even better patient care.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

💼 This week, Ben asks Gabriella, What's In An Acupuncturist's Toolkit?! Gabriella highlights the characteristics of acupuncture needles, emphasising their fine and solid nature. Gabriella explains the minimal sensation during needling and the technique of brief needle insertion in Five Element Acupuncture.They touch on moxa, a herb used to heat points before needling, mentioning its warming effect and pleasant fragrance. Beyond physical tools, Gabriella emphasises the importance of the acupuncturist's senses—sight, sound, smell, and touch—in diagnosing and treating patients holistically. She discusses how these sensory tools help perceive subtle changes in a patient's condition, from detecting imbalance through Colour, Sound, Odour and Emotion to gauging the state of a patient's energy through touch and understanding the emotional aspects of their well-being.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🪡 In this week's episode What Is Five Element Acupuncture?!, the hosts elaborate further on Five Element Acupuncture, a unique approach to medicine. Ben starts by asking Gabriella about the basics of acupuncture, the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to influence the flow of Qi and restore health. Gabriella, with over 20 years of experience in Five Element Acupuncture, describes its focus on observing how nature manifests in individuals.They touch upon the differences between Five Element Acupuncture and other acupuncture styles, noting the emphasis on treating the root cause rather than just symptoms. They discuss the multitude of acupuncture points and the idea that treating the individual's underlying imbalance can address multiple symptoms simultaneously.In the second part, the hosts hypothesise on how the points and meridian system might have been discovered. They also touch upon the transition of Five Element Acupuncture from the East to the West, crediting JR Worsley for popularising it in Western countries. Ben, whose late grandfather was JR Worsley, and Gabriella, who has extensive training in this tradition, share anecdotes about him and the challenges he faced in promoting acupuncture during a time when it was often regarded as quackery.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

🦠 In this episode, Ben and Gabriella explore the question "What is Disease?!" They begin by discussing the definition of health, emphasising the multidimensional nature of well-being according to the World Health Organisation. The hosts delve into the concept of spirit, acknowledging its subjective and divisive nature.The conversation then shifts to the definition of disease, examining how it goes beyond physical symptoms and includes a state of "dis-ease" involving mind and spirit. The hosts compare the perspectives of allopathic medicine and Five Element Acupuncture in viewing and treating disease, with the latter focusing on the underlying imbalance within a person rather than just presenting symptoms.In the second part of the episode, Ben and Gabriella discuss the differences in how diseases are treated in Western and Eastern medicine. They highlight the holistic approach of Eastern medicine, particularly Five Element Acupuncture, which aims to stimulate the body's natural healing processes without external interventions like medication or surgery. The hosts touch on the limitations and advantages of both approaches.The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of shamans in medical practices and a personal story that led Gabriella to choose Five Element Acupuncture as her preferred form of medicine. They emphasise the importance of recognising the mind, body, and spirit connection in health and present Five Element Acupuncture as a holistic and efficient approach to addressing underlying imbalances.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

💊 Welcome to this week’s episode “What Is Medicine?!”. This week, Ben asks Gabriella questions around the broad concept of medicine, exploring its different forms and perspectives. They explore the holistic approach of Eastern medicine, highlighting the teamwork between nature, the practitioner, and the patient, particularly in the context of Five Element Acupuncture. The conversation contrasts Eastern and Western views on medicine, emphasising the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit.They discuss the evolution of medicine over time, mentioning ancient practices like humorism and their eventual replacement by germ theory. The episode also covers complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including acupuncture, and explores the variety of therapeutic approaches under CAM.The hosts discuss preventative medicine, encouraging active participation in one's healthcare and making lifestyle choices that promote well-being. The episode concludes by emphasising the diverse tapestry of medicine and the importance of personal responsibility and awareness in the journey toward better health.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website

👋 Welcome to What's The Point?! The Podcast all about Five Element Acupuncture, what it is, how it works & what exactly is the point in doing it?!We believe that Five Element Acupuncture can be misunderstood and underrepresented. So we decided to create this podcast with the intention of providing a better understanding of the many benefits of Five Element treatment and to create more public discussion.Join us, Ben Worsley and Gabriella Doran as we explore the fascinating world of this elegant and effective system of medicine.Launching Tuesday 2nd January 2024.Support the Show.Feel free to leave a review, follow us on socials and share the podcast with anyone who you think might find it interesting!Connect with the show: 📰 Subscribe to our Newsletter 🎉 Join the community on Patreon ☕️ Buy us a coffee 🛒 Shop at the merch store 📲 Follow us on Instagram 📲 Follow us on Facebook 📲 Follow us on TikTok 💻 Visit our Website 💻 Vist Gabriella's website