Developed by Dr. Richard Tan
San Diego, CA
ACUPUNCTURE 1, 2, 3
3 OTHER BOOKS BY DR. TAN
 Simple
and effective method for treating
all types of pain
 Patients can often be treated sitting in
chair without undressing
 Pain improvement is immediate
 Treatment time 30-60 minutes
 Use one to 12 needles (varies)
 No electricity or Moxa
May need to repeat treatments at various
intervals
 1.
Identify the affected “sick” meridian(s)
 2.
•
Determine the balancing
 3.
Chose the acupoints to use
or “treating” meridian(s)
Assess desired response
If no improvement, reassess
Leave needles for 30-60 min.
Dr. Tan’s balancing meridians: first method: (opposite side)
LR-MH; TH-GB; KI-HT; SI-BL; SP-LU; LI-ST
Dr. Tan’s balancing meridians: third method: (opposite side)
TH-MH; GB-LR; SI-HT; BL-KI; LI-LU; ST-SP
DR. TAN’S METHOD

1. Identify “sick” meridian:
• Left hip Gall Bladder (GB 30)
• 2. Determine treating or
 balancing meridian (s):
 Right arm San Jiao
 3. Determine the acupoint(s)
 Using the “mirror format”
 Palpate for “ashi” (tender) points
 Right arm SJ 14 was chosen
NEEDLE IN SJ 14
DR. TAN’S METHOD

Left hip pain was 8/10

Needle was left for 30-60 min.

No electricity or moxa


Patient was able to continue to
work at her desk
After treatment, hip pain was
essentially gone. Patient was
very happy. But pain
gradually returned after 24
hours.
NEEDLE IN SJ 14
DR. TAN’S METHOD


The same procedure was
repeated several times over
the course of a month with
similar benefits.
Unfortunately, MRI showed
severe OA and AVN and
patient is scheduled to have
elective surgery
NEEDLE IN SJ 14
 70
year old man with osteoarthritis and
controlled DM II and remote B/L THR’s
 c/o
one month hx LBP,
• 3/10 at rest, 8/10 severity with activity
• No radiation or paresthesias
• Localizes pain around left L4 to S2 level
Video of Tan's balance method of
acupuncture for LBP.pptx

1. Determine the affected median:
 This case: left lower back “bladder meridian” at L4-S2
2. Find the balancing meridians:
a. Small intestine meridian (synergistic meridian)
b. Lung meridian
c. Kidney meridian (coupled meridian)
3. Determine the acupoints using the mirror method or the
imaging method.
a. SI 3-7
b. LU 6-10
c. KI 2 – 9
(palpate for “ashi” points)
Video of Tan's balance method of
acupuncture for LBP.pptx
 Daily
60 min treatment x 3 days
 Declined
 LBP
treatment after that
continued to improve and he was
able to exercise on the treadmill and be
free of disabling back pain

1. Determine the “sick” meridian:
for lateral epicondylitis: Large Intestine (LI 11)

2. Find the balancing “treating” meridians:
 A. Stomach meridian (on the opposite leg)
 B. or
 C. Lung meridian (opposite arm)




3. Determine the acupoints using the mirror method
A. ST 35 (opposite leg)
B. or
C. Lu 5 (opposite arm)
(palpate for “ashi” points, which are likely more therapeutic)
Leave needles in for 30-60 minutes, no electricity or Moxa.
May repeat daily or as needed.

1. Determine the “sick” meridian(s):
 Stomach meridian (St 35)
2. Find the balancing “treating” meridians:
a. Large intestine meridian (arm, opposite side of the body)
b. or
c. Spleen meridian (opposite leg)
3.
Determine the acupoints using the mirror format:
a. LI 11 (opposite side)
b. or
c. SP 9 (opposite side)
(palpate for “ashi” points, which are likely more therapeutic)
Leave needles in for 30-60 minutes, no electricity or Moxa.
May repeat daily or as needed.
* LI 11 is effective for treating knee pain of various etiologies. (use arm on
opposite side of body from painful knee.)
 1.
Locate the pain and determine the
“sick” meridian(s)
 2.
 3.
Determine the balancing or
“treating” meridian(s)
Using the mirroring format or the
imaging format, determine the acupoints
use “ashi” points
Pain should improve immediately.