Praise for Higher and Higher:

‘Please let Jost know that in my opinion he is one of the best speakers I have ever heard . . . I see Jost’s work reaching much further than recovery from drug addiction. His description and understanding of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual affects of organ dysfunction are fascinating and can only come from personal experience and an enormous amount of caring, dedicated and deeply intelligent healing practice. His exceptional ability to teach and write is destined to take all kinds of therapies to a higher level in one huge leap forward . . . the book is a masterpiece, a true reference book which has a place on every therapist’s bookshelf.’ —Jessica Read, Dr of Chiropractic and Holistic Healer

‘Hey, Jost, your honesty is fantastic. Have drawn so much inspiration from your story.’—Pete

‘Thank you for your site—you speak my language. I am starting the process of giving up dope after nearly 20 years of daily smoking.’—Karen

‘I’m just writing to let you know how much I enjoyed your book . . . I keep reading out bits of your book to my mum because she’s always asking me why people my age enjoy drugs so much. Some of your case studies could have been some of my own mates . . . I actually really felt sometimes like you were talking right to me! It’s so good to know that you’re not alone with these issues.’—Tara

‘I have just finished reading Higher and Higher, what an amazing read!!!’—Caroline

‘Just wanted to congratulate you on writing the book I would have loved to write myself . . . I have a vast knowledge of drugs and their effects (personal experience) and a good understanding of the human energy body and have often wondered when a book about the two subjects would emerge . . . and here it is, well done!’—Myles

Author biography

Jost Sauer is an acupuncturist, therapist and a one-time speed-addict, smuggler and deserter. Born in 1958 in Germany, Jost undertook studies in Social Pedagogics before arriving in Australia in 1981. After many years working in the field of youth drug and alcohol counselling, he completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Acupuncture, an Associate Diploma in Oriental Massage and certification in Sports Injury Management, Structural Balancing and Deep Tissue Massage. He has also studied Rolfing, Reiki and Body Harmony. Jost has been a practising therapist since 1991 and lectured in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a decade in Brisbane. In addition to his academic qualifications, his work is based on 20 years of spiritual practice. He is committed to health and healing on every level and has been undertaking a two-hour daily regime of exercise, chi-gung and meditation since 1985. He regularly presents meditation workshops and public seminars and his current area of research is the impact of recreational drug use on the body, mind and spirit.

For further information go to: www.jostsauer.com

HIGHER AND HIGHER

from drugs and destruction
to health and happiness

Jost Sauer

This edition published by Allen & Unwin in 2006
First published in 2005 by Kijo Publications

Copyright © Jost Sauer 2005, 2006

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.

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National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:

Sauer, Jost.
Higher and higher : from drugs and destruction to health
and happiness.

Bibliography.
  ISBN 978 1 74114 988 3.

  ISBN 1 74114 988 6.

eISBN 978 174176 042 2

  1. Sauer, Jost. 2. Drug abuse – Australia – Biography. 3.
  Drugs of abuse. 4. Medicine, Chinese. I.Title.

362.293092

Set in 11 on 14 pt Garamond Book by Midland Typesetters, Australia

for Kirsten

Table of contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Sex and drugs and freeflow

2. Marijuana

3. The psychedelic drugs

4. Speed, heroin and addiction

5. Ecstasy

6. Depression and antidepressants

7. Starting the inner journey

8. Hitting the wall

9. Building body, mind and spirit

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all those people who contributed so much to the development of this book through their research, feedback, lively discussions, proofreading and editing. Foremost among them are the following:

My wife Kirsten, Kylie Fitzpatrick, Helena Bond, David Gidley, Dr Warren Stanton, Charlie Hogan, Holly Arden, Conan, Leon and Saul Fitzpatrick, Morgan Daly, Christoffer Forster, Geoff England, Simon Treselyan and all my students and patients over the years from whom I have learned so much.

I am especially grateful to the spiritual luminaries who have shared their knowledge in person or through their writings. Especially Bhai Sahib Kirpal Singh Ji Gill, who guided my research both theoretically and experientially.

Introduction

The ‘war on drugs’ has been lost. Illicit drugs are now one of the biggest businesses in the world.Although manufacturers and dealers have never spent a cent on advertising or promotion—in fact vast sums of money have been spent trying to prevent people from using their product—hundreds of millions of people take drugs, users are becoming younger and younger, and new drug markets keep ‘opening up’. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that in 2002, across all drug categories, nearly 26 billion ‘unit equivalents’—a dose enough to give a high—were seized. At least ten times this probably remained in circulation: that’s 260 billion highs.

The UNODC and many other drug authorities have now come to the understanding that, like any other business, drug markets are driven by demand and that giving demand as much attention as supply is a key strategy in dealing with the problem. However, neither the anti-drug campaigns nor the threat of criminal records or jail terms have affected market demand.This is because drugs make you feel good, and wanting to feel good is a pre-programmed human goal. I believe that we are spiritual beings driven to progress in life, to seek emotional mastery, spiritual fulfilment and unification of body, mind and spirit: in other words to feel good. Drugs appear to deliver this instantly; it’s no wonder they are so popular.

If the desire to feel good is inherent in being human, then the only way to reduce the demand for drugs is to present a better product: a better way to feel good. According to my research, drugs generate those ‘good’ feelings by activating mechanisms that we already have within us, mechanisms that can be activated without drugs. It takes longer than popping a pill or puffing on a joint but it is worth it because, as I discovered myself, all drugs, even that ‘harmless’ one, marijuana, disrupt the delicate balances of the Human Energy Field and are spiritually, physically and emotionally depleting. They eventually deliver a smorgasbord of ‘bad’ feelings including frustration, cynicism, emptiness and depression: the very opposite to what was intended.

I believe that a lack of understanding of the full effects of drug use is also a contributing factor in their widespread use. This lack is due in part to the ‘reductive’ nature of Western medicine, its division between mind and body and its exclusion of the ‘spiritual’. Western medicine also presents an implied sub-text that if you are not feeling good taking drugs ‘fixes’ things. In this book I use an analytical model based on my training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Energy medicine, Body–Mind therapies and my research into spiritual practices, to explain the full physical, spiritual and emotional implications of drug use. Anyone who has used or is using drugs will appreciate the accessible and non-judgmental way the ideas are presented, interweaving a narrative documenting my own history of drug use and recovery with professional case studies and sociological, statistical and historical information. This analysis will also be of great interest to members of that ever-decreasing non-drug using sector of the population, as it offers an insight into the desire for drugs, as well as their effects on the total person.

If drugs are one of the biggest businesses in the world but drug use of any sort is going to affect you adversely, it stands to reason that drug recovery is going to become increasingly important and emphasis needs to shift to education and repair. In Higher and Higher I offer a unique body–mind– spirit workout that allows readers to discover just how good you can feel via a healthy and balanced lifestyle that unfolds in harmony with universal laws. It also presents a guide to integrating and making sense of past drug experiences and to reclaiming the exciting and exhilarating states that drugs once offered.

The text focuses on the use of commonly available illicit drugs. As post-drug depression is a rising concern, some coverage is also given to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which are currently amongst the best selling drugs in the world. The body makes no distinction between legal or illegal mood- and mind-altering drugs and many SSRIs can create similar side effects to speed or ecstasy. In addition, depletion from lifestyle choices can cause symptoms similar to drug use that every reader will recognise, and some common factors are analysed. Thus the information contained is equally applicable to non-drug users. Repair and recovery processes are the same,so Higher and Higher shows everyone a path to the ultimate high.

In addition, Higher and Higher offers an introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a discipline which I believe is well placed to address pathologies and imbalances arising from 21st century Western lifestyles. The book is based primarily on the research and pathology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and anecdotal and experiential evidence of the effects of common illicit drugs and SSRIs, rather than a comprehensive, scientific analysis of all available drugs.

The terminology used follows the conventions often used in the translations of Traditional Chinese Medicine to English. Capitals are used for terms used in a sense specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine such as Chi, Liver, Spleen, Blood and so on.

CHAPTER ONE

Sex and drugs
and freeflow

FOLK FESTIVAL, SUMMER 1977

The summer morning air was scented with sandalwood, marijuana and hashish. I walked barefoot through the tents and groups of colourfully dressed hippies, until I reached the clearing in the trees that formed a natural amphitheatre. My friends, Dietrich and Karl, were sitting on the grass near the stage and I wandered over to join them. A folk band was playing, setting the mood for another day of music, dancing and euphoria. Dietrich offered me a half-smoked joint. He had such a big smile on his face that it was obviously not his first smoke for the day. Karl’s face was painted in psychedelic colours and he too was grinning widely. I sat with them and we shared the rest of the joint.The amphitheatre was slowly filling up. Joan Baez was on stage next and a sense of anticipation was building.

I felt an arm around my shoulder and turned to see Stefan, my best friend. His brown eyes were dancing with excitement and he was holding up a small, engraved silver box. He opened the lid ceremoniously to reveal four tiny red stars nestled in cotton wool; our first LSD experience was about to begin. Karl, Dietrich and I sat in a semi-circle around Stefan and watched intently as his long beringged fingers delicately lifted out the little stars. He handed us one each.

I placed mine carefully under my tongue. Almost instantly I felt a strange metallic sensation in my mouth which gradually spread throughout my body. I sat back, rolled a cigarette and enjoyed the nurturing atmosphere of the crowd and the music. Then I noticed a feeling of warmth in my stomach. It slowly intensified until it filled my consciousness. I had an irresistible urge to move and I began to sway. My hands became hypersensitive; just holding my cigarette was an amazing tactile experience. My head and neck felt like they were floating above my body.

I looked at Karl. The painted colours were now swirling around his face and through his long blond hair. His eyes met mine and we both burst into fits of laughter. Spontaneously we jumped up and hugged each other.The others rose to share in the euphoria and the rhythm of the music began to really move us. But the source didn’t seem to be the stage anymore; it was coming from the ground,like a root.I could feel it creeping up my legs and spreading through my entire body, creating waves of ecstasy.

I stopped thinking and simply became the experience. I began to walk around. With every step I discovered new sensations. The grass under my feet was sharp but soft, cool but warm, and I could feel the breeze drifting through my hair, caressing my scalp. I lifted my arms; there was no resistance. It was as if they floated up. I was weightless—body, mind and spirit were united. I looked at the people around me and smiled at everyone. I started to dance and my heart sang out in sheer joy.

A group of trees at the edge of the clearing were slowly morphing into huge majestic animals. One tree in particular seemed to make contact with me. Transfixed by its powerful presence, I walked over to it. I had a strong urge to show respect and I bowed humbly and gently touched its surface. I looked back towards the stage; it was now surrounded by a bright, soft, purple light and the massive banks of speakers were a pulsating, luminous green. The sky was iridescent blue. Distance didn’t seem to exist anymore. I could hear the conversations of people who were completely out of my sight but I knew that I could reach them instantly if I wanted to. Everyone was a part of me just as I was a part of them.

Then Joan Baez walked out onto the stage. She picked up her guitar and began to sing. The purity of her voice tore through the tissue of my heart and reverberated through every cell in my body. Time stopped still. I stood there completely immersed in a state of pure joy. Tears ran down my face as I realised just how beautiful the world could be.

That first acid trip was a beautiful spiritual experience. It satisfied the deepest desires of my soul. I thought I had reached the ultimate goal of human existence. I felt utterly complete. I was nineteen but I had never felt so alive, so real. It was as if a filter had been removed and all my senses could now function at optimum level. I could taste colour, see sound, hear people’s thoughts. I was everything I could ever be, all at once and I wanted more of that. I spent the next decade chasing that state through drugs but I never again recaptured that perfect intoxicating mix of exhilaration, liberation and euphoria; the thrill of the realisation that the world was going to change and the anticipation of a life of limitless opportunity and wonder stretching ahead of me.

Instead, that magical, colourful hippie world collapsed and my dreams vanished with it.The drugs that I used to try to generate that state took me to the depths of despair and the brink of death. I lost my passion to change the world and was left with depression, emptiness and a sense of loss. It took me years of experiential and theoretical research into health, fitness and self-improvement to regain some excitement about life and to discover that what I had been searching for had been within me all the time.

By the time that I had recovered from my drug-induced destruction and become a therapist and lecturer in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the New Age movement had also emerged from the ashes of the hippie movement and our dream of creating a better world and acknowledging our spiritual nature had entered mainstream society.Twenty years after that first acid trip, I found myself back at colourful festivals but now I was showing people how to get high—how to recapture the euphoria, bliss and bonding that the drugs had shown so many of us—without the drugs.

BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT FESTIVAL

I ran up the stairs of the Convention Centre, squeezed past the queues of people in their bright summer clothes, and flashed my exhibitor’s pass at the entry. Coloured lights, ambient music and exotic fragrances overwhelmed my senses as I stepped inside.The Body, Mind and Spirit festival was set up like a huge supermarket with aisle after aisle of display stands laden with products and information about how to be happy and healthy. It was early, but the place was teeming with people and it was hard going navigating through the narrow aisles.

Movement on the mezzanine level caught my eye and I glanced up.What looked like hundreds of people were filing out of the lecture theatre and coming down the stairs into the main hall. The first talk must have just finished. I would be up there next. Butterflies fluttered lightly in my stomach. I had been lecturing about energy freeflow in an academic environment for nearly a decade, but today would be the first time that I explained it to the general public.

I glanced at my watch. I still had about fifteen minutes before I was due to speak, so after checking in with the team of massage therapists working on my clinic’s stand, I went off in search of a place to do some meditative exercises and centre myself. Eventually I found an empty area sectioned off from the surrounding stalls by large partitions. I ducked behind them. It was still noisy but at least I was out of sight of the crowd. I stood still and tried to regulate my breathing and sink into a deeper part of my mind.

This was just starting to take effect when a group of belly-dancers trooped in, chattering and laughing. I had obviously found a warm-up area for one of the performance stages.The dancers didn’t seem concerned by my presence and started rehearsing their routine behind me. I tried not to let them distract me, closed my eyes and continued to focus my mind—breath by breath. I could feel my breath start to connect with my inner energy, or Chi, and the sounds around me began to fade. I used each inhalation to move Chi around in my body until it was circulating freely. I continued doing this for about ten minutes before opening my eyes.

Slowly my senses registered the material world again.The colourful sequinned costumes of the dancers flashed past me. I could smell incense and hear Indian sitar music in the background. I felt focused and grounded. I took a breath, nodded to the dancers, and headed off in the direction of the lecture hall. Calm and confident, I glided effortlessly through the crowds until my name and lecture topic came blasting through the public address system, shaking my equilibrium. But the meditation had done its job and, after a brief moment of stress, I managed to recapture my sense of centre.

As I reached the stairs to the mezzanine level, I realised that most of the people around me were heading in the same direction. I was surprised at the number; I had not thought that ‘Sex and drugs and freeflow’ would be such a crowd pleaser. Inside the lecture theatre most of the chairs were already filled. I walked over to the speaker’s stand, turned the microphone on and set my papers out in front of me. I quickly flipped through my notes as the last few people trickled through the door. There was a quiet murmur in the audience. Fifteen seconds to go. I took a deep breath, made a conscious connection with my Chi again to ground myself, then the minute hand hit the hour and I started to speak. The background noise stopped instantly and three hundred eyes focused on me, watching my every move and analysing every word. I felt that they were seeking weakness. It was always a testing moment but my Chi was strong enough and I felt in control. I launched into the lecture.

SEX AND DRUGS AND FREEFLOW

‘My topic today is“‘Sex and drugs and freeflow”. I’ll start with drugs. Illicit drugs are a multi-billion dollar, global business, probably one of the biggest industries in the world. Basically this is because they take away pain, they make you feel good, they make you happy. So I guess you could say that it is really the search for happiness that is one of the biggest industries in the world.

‘Put up your hand if you want to feel happy.’ Everyone in the room put their hands up and there were a few laughs.

‘We all want to feel good, and we all want to be happy. But drugs can only deliver this in the short term so eventually we have to find other more sustainable ways of achieving this result.This is an area I have been investigating and, based on my background of personal drug use and my subsequent research into Traditional Chinese Medicine, Energy medicine, Body–Mind therapy and spirituality, I believe that drugs create feelings of bliss because they allow energy, or Chi, to move freely in the body.This is a state which I call ‘freeflow’ and it is this that we need to experience pure happiness.The moment of orgasm or the rush you get from snorting cocaine are both good examples of freeflow.’

The freeflow state

‘The concept of freeflow is based on the idea that the body has an invisible energetic structure, generally referred to in Energy medicine as the Human Energy Field. Although this might sound New Age, this same idea forms the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been around for five thousand years. Generally speaking, both streams of practice would suggest that you feel good when Chi, or inner energy, flows freely in the body, and bad when Chi is stagnant or not flowing freely. The objective of my work as a therapist—in which I draw upon many therapeutic disciplines—is to clear the blockages or obstructions so that Chi can flow freely and you can feel good again.’

I turned to the whiteboard behind me and used a black marker to draw an outline of a body. It looked like one of those chalk bodies drawn at the sites of accidents but it would have to do. I then used a red marker to draw lines throughout the body with dots at intervals along the lines. Now it looked like a human subway map.

‘In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi flows within the body via pathways which are known in the West as the acupuncture meridians.These meridians have intersections and openings which are the acupuncture points.If you are in perfect health, the Chi flows along the meridians and at the acupuncture points it divides. It then flows outwards to nurture skin, tendons and muscles, which allows the body to move effortlessly. It also flows inwards to the organs establishing perfect organ function.’ I chose a green marker and roughly drew the lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys in the torso. It was not anatomically correct but the aim was to connect the organs to the red “subway map” of the meridians.

‘As well as having a physiological function, each of your organs also has a spiritual and emotional function. So, in the state of freeflow, where the organs have abundant Chi and function perfectly, you feel great physically, spiritually and emotionally.’All eyes were fixed on the whiteboard trying to grasp this information. Given the venue, most of my audience would have heard of acupuncture points and maybe even the Human Energy Field, but the idea that the condition of your organs might directly affect or even create your emotional state would probably be new to them. I paused for a moment before turning back to the board and pointing at each of the organs in turn.

‘My work fuses Traditional Chinese Medicine, Energy medicine and Body–Mind therapy, and it’s this fusion, rather than a pure application of any one of these approaches, which applies to most of what I say from now on. In the state of freeflow the Lungs let you embrace change, let go of the past and look forward to the future.The Heart generates feelings of love, inspiration and joy.The Liver makes you feel that your life is progressing as it should be and this makes you happy. The Spleen makes you feel energetic and provides a balanced sense of self. In addition your thoughts will flow smoothly and you will be able to grasp complex concepts and ideas easily.The Kidneys make you feel young and full of zest.You will have plenty of will-power and feel “supported” in everything you do.

‘This is freeflow, a blissfully happy state in which you love yourself, the world and everyone in it.You feel no pain, hold no grudges and only look forward. Life is full of promise. You sleep peacefully through the night and wake up full of energy and anticipation, eager to jump out of bed and get into another exciting and joyful day. Nothing and nobody affects your peace of mind.’ I let my arm drop.

‘Who feels like this all the time?’ I paused and scanned the room, but no one raised a hand.They were reacting as I had hoped. I rephrased the question.‘Who would like to feel like this all the time?’ Laughter erupted, some hands slowly rose, and eventually all hands were up, including mine.

‘So why don’t we feel like this? As you can see, we all have the mechanisms in place in our organs to make us feel fantastic all the time, so what is the problem?’ I picked up the red marker and drew a large dot on top of one of the acupuncture points in the shoulder of my diagram man, before answering my own question.‘The problem is that if there is a blockage at an acupuncture point, only a small amount of Chi can squeeze through.This is like a traffic jam where six lanes of traffic turn into one and then only one car at a time can pass.As a result the organs do not get enough Chi to function effectively and your spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing suffers.’ I drew a table on the whiteboard showing examples of some positive and negative states and emotions associated with each of the organs I had drawn.

The non-freeflow state

I started the organ circuit again by pointing at the Lungs. ‘Now, in the obstructed version in which the organs are not functioning properly, the Lungs make you feel constricted rather than spontaneous. You find it hard to accept change, detach from the past or embrace the future.You feel sadness or grief and have a sense of not being in control.

‘The Heart is also deprived of Chi, so it generates feelings of depression and disillusionment, you experience anxiety or insomnia or both and feel like you are in a state of shock.You are in a non-love relationship with yourself, others and the world.

‘Now the Liver makes you feel like you are driving with the handbrake permanently on, creating frustration, anger or resentment. As the Spleen can’t function properly, you feel constantly tired.You wake up and don’t want to get out of bed. When you do get up, you just can’t get going.The whole day is a drag. Your body aches and feels heavy and your muscles are tight. Your posture is hunched. You don’t ever feel really present. It takes a huge amount of effort to think and then even more of an effort to get your thoughts and your words across clearly. It is almost as if the muscles in your mouth don’t have the energy to do the job of speaking, so you have no desire to communicate with anyone.’

I could see quite a few people responding with surprised looks or slight nods.What we call ‘Spleen Chi deficiency’ in TCM, or lack of Chi in the Spleen, was becoming a major health issue and, as many people in the audience probably had that condition, I decided to go into more detail about the associated symptoms.

‘In the West most of us have no idea what the Spleen does, but Traditional Chinese Medicine sees its role as crucial: it is considered responsible for transforming foods into energy. However, due to factors such as our nutrient-poor diet of processed foods with high sugar and fat levels, this function is becoming seriously affected in many people. I believe Spleen Chi deficiency is now a serious health issue in Western society. It is a problematical condition too because if you become Spleen Chi deficient, you will have no appetite for healthy foods, which is what you need, but frequent cravings for sweet or high fat snacks, which make the condition worse.

‘With weakened Spleen function, your ability to concentrate and focus will also decline.Your mind feels dull and sort of “detached” from your body.You sit in front of a computer or book and read the same sentence over and over again.As the Spleen is also responsible for transportation of thought, you can start to lose track of what you were saying in the middle of a sentence. If the person you are talking to is thrown by this, they may stare at you, waiting for you to finish what you were saying. If you can’t pick up the thread it can start a cycle where you feel uneasy at social events.You know that something isn’t quite right but it is too strange to talk about, so you ignore it hoping it will go away, but it won’t. Eventually, you can end up trapped in your mind thinking things over obsessively and losing all objectivity. Then, in an attempt to seek some sort of relief or sense of movement, you may project your emotional anguish and confusion onto others in the form of accusation, anger or recrimination.’ I paused to let the implications sink in, then pointed at the Kidneys.

‘Weakened Kidney function can make you feel old and worn-out. You lack will-power, vitality and confidence and you are fearful about life. You also have the sense of being unsupported. Physically, your lower back hurts, your legs feel weak, your knees feel sore and the frequent need for urination makes everything even worse. Interest in sex declines and, if there is sexual activity, it is characterised in men by premature ejaculation or loss of erection in the middle of the act. In women there is a loss of libido. Quite simply, the spark of life is gone. Dark shadows under the eyes and pale skin are two signs of advanced Kidney Chi deficiency.’ I paused, and a few people glanced around, obviously wondering if they could spot any symptoms of this in their neighbours.

‘Who in this room can relate to any of these symptoms?’ I asked. Instantly every hand was raised, including mine, and everyone laughed again. I had to raise my voice to overpower the noise—a good sign.

‘So what can we do about it?’ An expectant silence met this question.

I moved back to the whiteboard and pointed to the blocked acupuncture point. ‘These obstructed acupuncture points are the problem because they stop the Chi flowing freely. So, if we want to feel good we need to get the body back to a state of freeflow, but the question is, how do we do this?’ I looked around the room, making eye contact with as many people as possible.

Drugs and freeflow

‘Fortunately, there is a method that will sort the problem out within minutes.’ Now I really had their attention. All eyes were focused on me, waiting for this magical solution. ‘A quick snort of some good quality cocaine would instantly make all these symptoms disappear and replace them with the thrilling and exhilarating experience of freeflow.’ As I had hoped, a stunned silence met this remark. Most people stared at me in total disbelief.This was supposed to be a natural health lecture and I appeared to be enthusiastically advocating the use of illicit drugs to deal with health problems.

‘This is because, like most stimulants, legal or illegal, cocaine forces an instant freeflow of Chi.As soon as the drug enters your system, Chi rushes along all the meridians.When it hits a blockage at an acupuncture point the drug acts like a bulldozer that pushes the traffic jam through the blocked intersection and forces the Chi to keep flowing. The pathway to the Lungs suddenly becomes free.As Lungs represent “the moment”, you instantly feel what it is like to truly live in the moment. All the pain of old relationships, disputes and grudges is gone, along with heaviness, grief or sadness. You feel completely spontaneous.When abundant Chi floods the Heart, shock, anxiety or depression are replaced by intense joy, excitement and love.’

I pointed to the Liver. ‘When the Liver comes under the influence of the cocaine-induced freeflow, anger and frustration instantly disappear. Stress also vanishes. Time loses its suffocating presence and you feel perfectly in tune with life. The drug freeflow artificially enhances your Spleen function too.Thinking becomes clear and structured again and information can be absorbed and understood in seconds. Formulating and expressing your thoughts is effortless, so communicating and problem solving become pleasurable and you actively seek people to talk to.

‘Abundant Chi in the Kidneys means that lack of confidence and fear are replaced by self-assurance and willpower. You feel like you’ve got “backbone” and “balls” and you have the energy to move or dance all night. Sexual energy reaches new heights too and you can make love for hours on end without the urge to climax.’ I glanced around the room: in spite of their discomfort with the method I’d proposed, the desire for lots of Kidney Chi was written on everyone’s faces.

‘Cocaine definitely works, it delivers dramatic results. In a recent book about the drug the author describes the effects as follows: “the moment you shove it up your nose it races into your bloodstream, heads directly into the pleasure centre of your brain, kicks down the door, jams your Fun Throttle forwards into ‘way too fast’ and dumps the clutch”(Streatfeild 2001, p. x), and I can confirm that every word of this is true. So, why not use cocaine all day long and enjoy the pleasures of freeflowing Chi?’ I paused, pretending to expect an answer, but there was only silence.

Drugs and Jing

‘Unfortunately the freeflow a drug like cocaine generates is not naturally induced, so ultimately it comes at a high price. If you use the vocabulary of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explain the fantastic rush you get from snorting cocaine, it does not come from something in that white powder,it occurs because the cocaine draws upon an internal power, known as Jing. Jing is the fuel for all our physical, emotional and spiritual activities.

‘Part of your Jing is given to you at birth.This is known as pre-natal Jing. The other part, the post-natal Jing, is derived from your food intake and managed by your lifestyle. Jing determines your basic constitutional strength and vitality.The more Jing you have the more you can enjoy life. Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is essentially a preventative medicine, aims to conserve, support and nurture your Jing.

‘Drugs do the exact opposite. Each drug high draws upon your store of Jing, initiates premature ageing and moves you one step closer to death. Powerful stimulants like cocaine need massive amounts of Jing to create the impression of perfect organ function.As Jing depletes you are less able to enjoy life and need more cocaine to feel good. However, if you continue using the drug it inevitably becomes a cycle of more organ damage, more side effects and less pleasure. It is in situations like this that cocaine, or synthetic stimulants such as speed, can act as gateway drugs to heroin.After a period of heroin addiction,however, the Jing is so depleted that no drug can give you a high.