Copper Multiple Tool Case

Acupuncture Tool Case

I have been asked many times to make complete kits of tools and cases and finally decided to make a case that could hold more than one tool.  These cases can be made out of copper or silver, but I really like copper because it results in a beautiful and durable case that will not be too expensive to produce.  I dressed this one up with some machined rings and a citrine gemstone setting on the lid.  The case is 3/4" in diameter and a little over 3" long.  It is lined with walnut wood that has five sections drilled for teishins, guide tubes or zanshins.  I like the wood liner but drilling the long ports for the tools is very difficult and inaccurate.  Future cases will have several sections created by using small copper tubes for them.  This should also use the space in the case more efficiently and allow storage of more tools.

Enshin Ring Part Two

Sterling Silver Enshin Ring

Recently, I was asked to make another Enshin ring.  The last one I had made was made with three different parts (a ball, dome, and shaft) that were soldered together.  Since making that one, I have really wanted to make a one piece design with flowing curves between the elements of the design.  This one was made first by carving a wax model, then casting, and further refinement and sizing by diligent filing and sanding.  This curved shape of this Enshin allows it to fit a bit more securely in the fingers and allows the ring to fit a greater range of finger sizes.

The day I finished the ring, I had a two year old girl come in for treatment. This particular girl has been poked and prodded all too much in her lifetime by medical people, so she can be particularly challenging to give a complete treatment to. Fortunately, she responds very well to acupressure and needle-less acupuncture techniques and it doesn't take much to improve her symptoms.   On this day, she was shy to get treated with a teishin so I used the Enshin ring instead.  The ring fit comfortably in my hands and with the dome portion on the palmar aspect of my fingers I was able to just hold her gently while allowing the dome stimulate the points of her abdomen, arms and legs.  I also found I could grasp along the meridians of the arms and legs while simultaneously supplying direct pressure to specific acu-points. This is a very versatile tool.  One thing that I was surprised to notice is that I wanted to use the small ball end more often when stroking the meridians, while I used the dome more often for direct pressure (actually both the dome and ball work well for direct pressure).  It is counter-intuitive that the dome would not work as well for stroking or rubbing techniques because it's gentle curve seems to lend itself to that use.  The larger surface area of the dome creates more friction so does not glide as smoothly as the small ball.  This is especially notable on skin that is sticky or moist.  Of course, the small ball is more yang and dispersing when used in this application so carefully matching the technique to the diagnosis is imperative.

I look forward to making more rings in the future.  I think that incorporating texture and fluting into the dome of the Enshin ring could facilitate more active techniques.  Stay tuned because I have really been wanting to make a derma roller ring!