Beyond Local Needling—A Systematic Approach to Acupuncture
Most acupuncture training teaches students to needle locally: shoulder pain gets needles in the shoulder, back pain gets needles in the back. Patients accept this because it makes intuitive sense. But it’s not the most effective way to practice.
In Chinese medicine, the body is connected through a network of channels. Pain in one area often originates elsewhere. Treating locally can provide temporary relief, but it doesn’t address the root cause—and it can even disrupt the channel network, making problems harder to resolve later.
My approach is different. It’s based on principles I learned from two mentors who transformed my understanding of acupuncture: Dr. Pan and Dr. Liou.
How I Practice
Pulse Diagnosis as Your Guide
The pulse is directly connected to our internal organs. When illness changes the pulse, it means the condition has penetrated the body’s defenses. Most practitioners treat based on what patients tell them—and often, that’s sufficient. But when the pulse tells a different story than the patient’s words, following the pulse can be life-saving.
In my training with Dr. Pan, I learned to take pulse diagnosis far beyond the basics. While standard teaching divides the pulse into three positions (each representing different organs), Dr. Pan divides each position into five horizontal sections. Each section reveals different information:
The outer position on the thumb side—if forceful, it may indicate shoulder problems
The middle section—relates to the chest and spine
The inner position—can reflect issues with the Yin Wei channel
A pulse that feels like it’s bouncing left and right—points to problems with the Yang Qiao channel
More importantly, I use the pulse as real-time feedback. After inserting each needle, I check how the pulse responds. This tells me immediately whether we’re moving in the right direction. By the time treatment finishes, your pulse should feel completely different—returned to a more balanced state, neither too weak nor too forceful. And with that pulse change, patients almost always experience immediate relief.
Channel Theory, Not Just Points
There are 12 primary channels, 8 extraordinary channels, and multiple connecting systems in the body. Each point on these channels has specific functions. Points below the knee and elbow—the five shu points—are particularly powerful because they directly affect specific organs and conditions.
For example:
For pain and dampness, I choose the shu point of the affected channel
For heat conditions or voice issues, the ying point works best
For deficiency, the yuan source point helps strengthen the channel
This isn’t guesswork. It’s precise selection based on your unique presentation. If your pain is constant, it’s likely a primary channel issue. If it comes and goes, we may need to address the sinew channels or extraordinary channels instead.
Take knee pain on the front of the knee, for instance. Four channels could be involved: stomach, spleen, gallbladder, or urinary bladder. If the pain is there 24/7, I start with the primary channel on the same side. After needling, I ask you to move and see if any pain remains. If it does, I may move to the opposite side’s connecting channels to treat the sinew channels.
Treating the Whole Person
Your body isn’t a collection of separate parts. Every channel connects to others, and each organ system influences multiple functions:
The lung channel starts at the esophagus, goes down to the large intestine, then ascends to the lung. From there, it crosses the collarbone and runs down the arm to the thumb. This means lung imbalances can affect not just breathing, but digestion, urination, and even menstrual cycles. When weakened by cold, it can cause frequent urination or urgency—especially on cold days.
The large intestine channel does far more than regulate bowels. Its yuan source point, LI 4, is famous for treating everything from headache to anxiety. But in my practice, LI 4 is used selectively. For heat in the channel, LI 2 is better. For pain, LI 3 is often more effective. Incorrect use of LI 4 can actually make pain worse.
The stomach channel runs from the side of your nose, around your jaw, up to your forehead, and down your neck, chest, and leg to your middle toes. Through its divergent channel, it connects to the heart. This is why overactive stomach energy can cause not just indigestion, but anxiety and palpitations.
The spleen channel in Chinese medicine is fundamentally different from the western understanding of the spleen. Here, it’s responsible for absorbing nutrients from food and transporting them to the lung for distribution throughout your body. It controls blood in the vessels—so easy bruising or periods that won’t stop often trace back to the spleen. Its channel ends at the root of the tongue, which is why stroke patients with slurred speech are treated through the spleen channel.
I could continue through each channel—the heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, san jiao, gallbladder, and liver—but the principle remains the same: your body is an interconnected whole. When I treat you, I’m not just addressing your primary complaint. I’m supporting your entire system.
Why work with me
Choosing me as your health coach means choosing a partner who is dedicated to your success. I stay current with the latest research and trends in nutrition to provide you with evidence-based advice. My approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and focused on helping you find what works best for you.
