Ancient Remedies For Modern Ailments

Jason Neff, 38, intended to take the world by storm after he graduated from Hofstra University. He was excited to delve into a career in advertising. However, his life was soon turned upside down when he began suffering from inexplicable stomach pains a few months after he began his job. Ultimately, he was forced to leave his career due to his health.

"I left advertising because I got an idiopathic autoimmune disease, which basically means that the doctors don't know what caused it," said Neff. "I had Raynaud's Syndrome, Uveitis, and various digestive problems." He realized that the stress of the advertising world was ruining his health. "I started getting stomach pain and cramping after six months of working there," explained Neff. After a friend told him about a qigong class, he signed up for a class and never looked back. "I took my first qigong class in 1996 and I immediately started to feel better." Neff discovered that qigong, a healing and energy medicine practice from China, was part a complete system of healing, including acupuncture and herbal medicine. He decided to further pursue this education. "My quest to heal myself led me to learn more about autoimmune disorders," he said.

Seven years later, Neff resides in Maplewood and practices in South Orange at Phoenix Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine  located at 468 Irvington Avenue, near Other Mothers. What exactly is qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, otherwise known as, TCM? Neff explained that while the phrase has been translated many different ways, he likes to refer to it to mean "life force vibration."

According to Neff, everyone has experience with qi on some level, without being aware of it. "Most parents can tell their child is sick before they develop symptoms. Most of us have had an experience when we knew something was wrong with the other person or on the phone before they even spoke. Or when we can tell when someone is starring at us from behind." These are all examples of qi being exchanged in everyday life. Neff goes on to explain it's like music. "Music and the person playing music can influence our mood and make us feel different. And this is done through vibrations moving through the air. Qi is the vibration/frequency of our life force."

Neff opened Phoenix Acupuncture in South Orange in 2005, after practicing in New York City for a number of years. He sees a variety of clients in his office. "I see a wide range of clients but I tend to see women and their children the most. I may see a husband from time to time whenever he throws his back out of gets sciatica. I also see a lot of chronic auto immune disorders like hyperthyroidism, grave's disease, arthritis, crohn's disease, colitis as well as anxiety and depression and pain conditions."

Growing up, Neff was always told his demeanor made others feel more calm and relaxed. His mother and sister have had various emotional difficulties and one of his daughters had very bad anxiety for a few years. His personal experience with anxiety prompted him to further investigate the issue. "When I apprenticed," explained Neff, "I learned that most diseases stem from an emotional cause in TCM. From my own personal practice, I've found how my emotions have effected everything from insomnia to allergies." Neff said that people suffering from anxiety may constantly feel worried or afraid, feel the need to have everything perfect, fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others, frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do.

He is quick to point out that anxiety also has physical effects as well, such as shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest constriction or stuffiness. Neff explained that there are two main physical weakness in people who suffer from Anxiety. "The most common one is in their breathing. They unconsciously breathe very shallowly and are not getting enough oxygen. They are constantly promoting a state of anxiety without their awareness," said Neff.

Neff has created a 5-week program that will teach qigong movements and breathing exercises to strengthen the imbalances that may cause anxiety. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30-7:30 beginning September 15^th. Check the website for more information.