Conscious Acupuncture for Structural Issues
- neck
- upper limbs
carpal tunnel
thoracic outlet
tennis elbow
weak hands
arthritis - lower limbs
hips
knees
ankles
feet
The site of pain is rarely its source in structural issues. Locating the site(s) of pain is the first order of operation. Matsumoto style, trigger-point anatomy, and an adapted Balance Method by Richard Tan using data from the Acugraph within the parameters determined by The Fifteen Symmetries discussed in this article, inform a Conscious Acupuncture approach to structural issues.
Matsumoto style is palpation driven. The style was developed by blind Japanese acupuncturists after the Meiji Restoration of the mid 1800s. Lacking sight, they developed sophisticated means by which to gather information about the body through touch. “Palpation,” is the word used to describe the feel a doctor obtains from touching. Treatments consist of a series of calls through massage to selected acupuncture points to determine the response at the site of pain. More times than not, the response is instantaneous.
Trigger-Point Anatomy applies anatomical knowledge to detecting the source not the site of pain. Tough connective tissue, lipomas (bumpy jelly formations), and stagnant blood from too much hot or cold and too much “wet” are often the culprits. It offers a perspective on where to look for stored (dis)stress in addition to a treatment approach.
The Tan Method (aka Balance Method) combines traditional channel theory with certain defined pairings primarily based on Chinese medical interpretations of the Book of Changes. The Fifteen Symmetries, in conjunction with the Acugraph, provides a more holistic approach than the Tan Method or Acugraph used separately. The reason is that they relate different types of information. The Tan Method is almost exclusively palpation driven. Sometimes the findings from palpation are equivocal. The Acugraph provides a visual representation of channel imbalances, but the findings do not necessarily relate to pain. Furthermore, treating channels in isolation usually creates imbalances that the graph itself detects. The Fifteen Symmetries is a chart indicating how the channels interrelate for maximized balance between the upper and lower, left and right halves of the body. Following the principles of symmetry should produce more efficacious and lasting results.
All fees are discussed in person after a complimentary interview and examination. Credit cards and cheques accepted. Each case is unique. Therefore, the phone is not an appropriate means by which to assess your situation, but it’s very effective for scheduling an appointment, ph. 323. 936.5152.
