Jason Neff worked in advertising right
after college. He was good at it, but then he became ill. “I developed all
these health problems, these idiopathic autoimmune diseases,” he said. “What do
you think was making you sick?” I asked. Straight-faced, he said,
“Advertising.”
Jason had always studied martial arts-- a
passion he’d discovered in high school--which led him to a type of Chinese
meditation called, Qi Gong. (pron. chee-gung) “I tried it,” he said, “and all
my symptoms disappeared. I learned that our emotional and physical components
are interconnected. I had to quit advertising.” Jason went back to school to study Chinese Medicine.
“It was this fascinating confluence of
science and art. Since elementary
school I’d devoured everything I could about Leonardo DaVinci-- he was my
idol. So, this was heaven.” After
5 years at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine—the Harvard of such
schools—he mentored with Nan Lu. “It was amazing,” he said, “real Mr. Miagi
stuff. I learned the entire time. It was incredible.” After 4 years, Lu kicked him out. “He said to me, ‘It’s
time to go.’”
Jason hung out a shingle. His business grew quickly. “I love
seeing how the interaction between lifestyle and emotion affect health. In the West, people believe the brain is in charge of the body.
The Eastern concept is that the spirit, soul or intuition—whatever you choose
to call it—is in charge. When your spirit is aligned with your body, you have
fewer symptoms.” Jason is confident, relaxed, open and kind with a good sense
of humor. He is completely non-judgmental and accepting of his clients and
dispenses wisdom with surprising accuracy. “I came to realize that illness
isn’t bad. It’s the body expressing itself, trying to tell you something. Instead of fighting the illness, Chinese Medicine works with the illness. I see
people transform. I watch them learn to listen, to work with their body’s signs
and their life blooms. They feel better. It’s wonderful.”
I wanted to know everything he
treated. I rattled off a list to
which he answered yes to all: allergies, migraines, PMS, sleep apnea,
addictions (including smoking), stress management, weight loss, back pain, auto-immune
diseases, depression, anxiety and lethargy. I could go on.
“What about cancer?” I asked.
“Cancer is very complicated,” he said, “but, yes. Mostly I work in tandem with the
Western treatments. The Chinese say, ‘There is no illness, only unmanifested
spiritual purpose.’” Woa, I
thought.
“How do you explain what you do to the
kids you treat?” Jason said, “Kids are great patients. They’re very accepting
of The Force from Star Wars. I just tell them that there’s a force that flows
through us, and sometimes it gets stuck and I help unstuck it. Acupuncture is
about reconnecting us with nature. It works on strengthening what’s already
there. Adults are very disconnected from nature. Children are closer, that’s
why they react positively quickly.”
I asked him to tell me what he’s looking
for when he takes my pulse on both sides. “Pulse is the Chinese version of an
MRI. The simplified answer is that
there are 6 on each side of various depths-- 3 positions, 3 levels. The
meridians relate to different systems and how they function. When you feel a pulse, you’re like a
musician, listening to a note that might be out of tune. Is it sharp or flat?
Weak or strong? There’s a skill to it. A sensitivity develops.” “And my tongue?” I asked. “The tongue
corroborates the pulse,” he said.
“And when we look in the eyes, we’re looking for shen. Shen is spirit or consciousness—it’s
your soul. We’re looking for
brightness.”
I asked, “Does the job ever get
old?” “Oh, no,” he said, “It’s
amazing. I love to see how the spirit tries to express itself when a sick
person commits themselves to health.” “And that sensitivity you’ve developed,” I said, “Does it ever overwhelm
you?”
Jason
said, “It did in the beginning, but then my mentor said to me, ‘Do you want to
see disease and illness in everyone you pass on the street or do you want to
see beauty and light? That’s what
you’re trying to grow.’ A gardener can see weeds and disease or shoots and
blooms. I look for the good in
everyone—what’s blocking goodness.”
I
asked, “And what do you say to the folks who think it’s all a bunch of
hooey? That it’s all placebo
effect?” “Oh, I love those
people,” he said, “I usually say, ‘If it works, what does it matter?’” I paused and considered all that I’d
learned and what it must be like to be Jason. “So, you love your job and you’re
always looking for the good in people and life?” I asked. “Yes,” Jason said,
smiling. “You must be a very happy person.” “I am,” he said simply. His smile
remained. His eyes were bright.
(Jason Neff is
the owner and practitioner of Phoenix Acupuncture in South Orange.)
