Touch for Health Conferentie 2014
The Netherlands
Ontvouwen in overvloed
Reveal in Abundance
Re l ie vin g Pa in with Me r id ia n
Tap p in g –
Th e Ne u r o l o g i c a l Ba s i s a n d
Te c h n i q u e s
Author:
Adam Lehman , En. K.
Abstract
This paper builds on the topic of breaking the systemic neurological loops of the history of
pain and injury initiated in the paper and demonstration of Injury Recall Technique.
Here, the use of the Beginning/End points of meridians located on the face as a means of
relieving acute and chronic pain is addressed. The neurology of pain provides a
background for how the technique works, while the use of muscle monitoring leads the
practitioner to know when to apply the appropriate technique, and what points to use.
Three techniques will be presented – Nociceptor Stimulation/Blocking technique, Set
Point technique, and Location/Quality/Memory Technique.
Neurology of Pain – Part Dieux
In the paper and presentation of Injury Recall Technique, the pathways of nociception
were discussed as a means of showing how the history of pain can linger and create
systemic imbalances in the body, even after the offending injury has “healed.” But what
about acute pain? Or chronic pain that continues to linger for days, weeks, months, or
even years? The continued experience of pain is unpleasant, sometimes
even debilitating, and affects your ability to function and enjoy life.
The purpose of this discussion is to further explore the neurology of pain and provide
practical techniques to relieve pain. Three techniques will be discussed, each with their
own specific purpose and functioning through different neurological pathways. These
three techniques are:
1. Nociception Stimulation-Blocking Technique (NSB)
2. Set Point Technique (SP)
3. Location, Quality & Memory Technique (LQM)
All three techniques are identified through muscle monitoring in combination with
“something else.” The something else is necessary to bring the body’s attention to what it
is your asking of it. This detail is included in the procedures that accompany each
technique.
An important concept to consider when doing these techniques comes from the father of
Applied Kinesiology, George Goodheart, D.C. – “Measure, measure, measure!” This is
based on another of his mantras, “Don’t prove muscle testing with muscle testing.”
What this means is, it’s important to do more than simply find an imbalance with an
indicator muscle, do something, and then base the result strictly on going back to the
indicator muscle for what change you might find there. It’s important to consider other
parameters to assess change. This might be through a more generalized assessment of
range of motion – perhaps having the person bend over to touch their toes and note how
far they get, and having them turn their head in each direction and noticing if the range
of motion is equal on each side (as well as how far they turn, if they have any pain or
restriction in attempting to turn their head). These indicators give the practitioner more
substantial references to return to after balancing to assess the extent of change. They go
beyond what simply the indicator muscle is doing differently as a means of “proving”
something is different.
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Of course, when dealing with pain, the amount of pain reduction provides an excellent
indicator as well. Make sure to have the person subjectively rate their pain on a scale –
for instance, one to ten – and then re-assess it after any corrections have been made.
Don’t underestimate the difference this can make on the other physical indicators
either though! The more you have to measure, the more you can be confident that
changes that are made will last, and the more neurology is activated as a means of the
client noticing the difference too.
Before we dive in to these techniques, let’s first provide a definition of pain itself.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as: “An unpleasant
sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or
described in terms of such damage.”
An important consideration here is the “emotional experience” part. If the nociceptor
stimulation doesn’t reach the limbic system, you don’t actually experience the pain. The
limbic system is where we experience the quality of pain, the level of suffering, and
respond accordingly. Other areas of the brain are necessary to identify where the pain
is coming from, but if you don’t have an emotional experience of the pain, you won’t
even pay attention to it. So a shorter definition of pain might read, “An emotional
response to adequate activation of the nociceptive system.” (Wally Schmitt, D.C.,
Quintessential Applications)
NSB Technique
Try a little experiment with yourself.
Using your fingernails on one hand,
pinch or dig your nails into the back
of your other hand to cause some
discomfort. Maintain this pressure
and see how long the discomfort
lasts before it seems to reduce and
become less intense, perhaps even
going away altogether.
What did you experience? The result can
actually be quite different for different
people. Usually, the discomfort begins to
subside pretty quickly though. Why is
this?
As pain signals from the nociceptors in
your hand send their message to the
brain, there is a neurological loop
triggered that comes from the caudal
reticular nuclei in the pons that travels
back down to inhibit the nociceptor
pathway. It accomplishes this by
stimulating mechanoreceptor activity.
© McCord/Schmitt Quintessential Applications 2005
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Remember that nociceptors are nerves that pick up different types of sensory stimuli –
mechanical, chemical and thermal – and send the information onward for a variety of
responses.
The three main nociceptor responses are:
1. The flexor-withdrawal response mediated at the spinal level. This is a muscular
response in which flexor muscles are activate and extensors are inhibited to provide
a fast reaction.
2. Splinting – a muscular response in which both flexors and extensors are
inhibited, creating a collapse.
3. Vasoconstriction – an autonomic response to affect blood flow to an area of injury.
When pain centers are stimulated by continued nociception activity, the brain attempts
to inhibit the nociceptor pathways by stimulating mechanoreceptor activity in the area.
Consider what you do when you bump your leg on a chair, or your head against
something. You rub it! This stimulates mechanoreceptors that inhibit the pain pathway.
It’s these same receptors that the caudal reticular nuclei stimulate to reduce pain.
Sometimes it is more successful than others, and each individual may have differing
success based on their own neurological function.
Mechanoreceptor activity work in opposition to the above named nociceptor responses.
In addition to inhibiting the nociceptor activity itself, they restore alpha motor neuron
activity, which helps to negate muscle imbalance associated with the flexor-withdrawal
response (and splinting if collapse occurs).
Mechanoreceptors also block the sympathetic autonomic effects.
Theoretically, NSB technique activates this same neurological loop as a means of
interrupting the pain pathways. The technique is specific to acute pain, usually that has
happened recently. We identify the need for this technique by bringing the body’s
attention to the pain and checking an indicator muscle (IM). If a pain unlocks any
indicator muscle, then NSB technique is indicated.
An important consideration! When dealing with acute pain that may be part of a current
injury or illness, it’s critical to understand that just because the pain is gone, it doesn’t
mean that it’s OK to return to normal activity! For example, if someone is in pain because
they’ve broken their leg, and through these techniques they are able to eliminate their
pain, it doesn’t mean they should get up and start walking on their leg as if nothing is
wrong!
This can impede the healing process and even aggravate the injury and make it worse. It’s
important to make sure your client understands this and follows whatever regimen
(physical therapy, medication, etc.) that their primary physician or attending doctors
suggest.
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NSB Procedure
1. Assess the level of pain and any other indicators (e.g. – ROM assessments).
2. Using a clear, locking indicator muscle, monitor/test it while the client touches the pain
area or practitioner activates area by rubbing (keeping in mind client’s pain tolerance
and state of injury). If it unlocks, then NSB is indicated.
3. While continuing to touch/activate the pain area, tap each ipsilateral (same side)
meridian beginning/ end point located on the face (see chart in Appendix), and
recheck the indicator muscle.
a. When tapping a point negates the indicator change caused by the pain area, this is
the point to use for balancing.
4. Tap the indicated point 100 times.
5. Re-assess the pain. Repeat the process until pain reduction reaches its maximum level.
Note: Usually there is only one point involved. Occasionally, however, there may be another.
When complete with the identified Set Point, check the other beginning/end points to see if
another one shows. If so, repeat the tapping with that point.
Set Point Technique
Set Point Technique was originally developed by Wally Schmitt, D.C., and Michael
Liebowitz, D.C. It is the “next step” to NSB technique – it is for pain that is usually going
on a little longer and the body has adapted to. Therefore, it is not responding to touch by
showing an indicator muscle change. The technique is appropriate to look for with either
present or past pain, making it a good choice to check
after doing IRT for an old injury. As a result of the adaptation, or it being an old
pain/injury, touching
the pain area (as done in the NSB procedure) doesn’t cause a change in the indicator
muscle. Yet the person may still be experiencing pain or discomfort from the injury,
whether recent or old. As a result of this difference, you’re also working with a slightly
different neurological scenario as well.
With NSB, the pain is still acute. The nociceptor pathways are still active, which is why the
indicator muscle changes when touching the pain area. Therefore, the idea is to stimulate
the damping pathway, activating the mechanoreceptors as a means of toning down the
nociceptor activity, as explained above.
With Set Point technique, the IM is no longer responding to the nociceptor activity, but
the pain is still being felt despite lack of active nociceptor activity. As a result, it’s
necessary is to re-stimulate the nociceptors in order to identify which acupressure point
is going to help with the pain.
In this case, the “something else” considered is simply the touching of the pain spot to
activate the local nociceptors a little more to get the body to recognize them. This looks
the same as NSB technique, but the difference is the body’s response – in NSB,
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the body is reacting to the touch with an indicator change. In Set Point, the body is not
responding, so by circumstance, the neurological path being used is different.
An important note in this scenario is that if the client can’t reach or is otherwise unable
to touch the pain site to activate it, then the practitioner must do it. However, the
practitioner must do more than simply touch the area – more stimulation is necessary,
such as pressure or rubbing, to activate the nociceptors (of course, taking into account
the amount of pain that might cause – activate within tolerance). This is due to the lack
of recognition of “self ” regarding touch coming from an outside source.
As you might surmise at this point, the procedure is very similar to NSB, except that you
are working with a locking indicator muscle when you touch or activate the pain point
and checking for which acupoint to tap.
Set Point Procedure
1. Assess the level of pain and any other indicators (e.g. – ROM assessments).
2. Using a clear, locking indicator muscle, monitor/test while the client touches the pain
area or practitioner activates area by rubbing (keeping in mind client’s pain tolerance
and state of injury). If it doesn’t unlock, then checking for a Set Point imbalance is
indicated.
3. While continuing to touch/activate the pain area, tap each meridian beginning/end
point located on the face (see chart in Appendix), and recheck the indicator muscle.
a. If tapping a point causes an indicator change while contacting the pain area, this is
the point to use for balancing. If no points cause a change, then Set Point Technique
is not indicated.
4. Tap the indicated point 100 times.
5. Re-assess the pain. Repeat the process until pain reduction reaches its maximum level.
Note: Usually there is only one point involved. Occasionally, however, there may be
another. When complete with the identified Set Point, check the other beginning/end
points to see if another one shows. If so, repeat the tapping with that point.
Location, Quality, Memory Technique (LQM)
While NSB and Set Point techniques are for working with acute and/or somewhat recent
but on-going chronic pain, LQM is meant mainly for long term chronic pain – pain that
has been around for 6 months or longer – and/or its effects. This type of pain is generally
being stimulated or aggravated by other circumstances in the body, such as inflammation.
Therefore, there are often other things to do to address the on-going cause(s) of this
pain, such as taking essential fatty acids and/or antihistamines to provide the body a
means of using its own systems to naturally reduce the inflammation and eliminate the
pain.
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However, if you’ve addressed these factors and done other balancing – perhaps even
including NSB and/or Set Point techniques – and there is still pain being experienced at
the end of a session, then LQM may be helpful for your client to further reduce or
eliminate the pain prior to leaving your office. LQM inherently contains an emotional
component that, if not addressed prior, may be the final piece needed to eliminate the
pain.
Considering the above, and using the Quintessential Applications moniker of “What to do
first, next and last,” NSB and Set Point are in the “do first” category (after Injury Recall
Technique), while LQM is in the “do last” category, at the end of a session, as at this point,
you’re addressing the symptom and secondary considerations rather than the cause.
With these differences in mind, it’s understandable that LQM is affecting different
neurological pathways. Essentially, you’re relying on the “M” in this scenario – Memory.
Because there is history here, there are a couple of possibilities in regards to the memory.
There is the memory of the original injury/ trauma itself, with the circumstances and the
initial experience of the pain involved. As well, there may be an additional memory
involved with “after the fact” pain, which sometimes can reach a peak that is worse than
the original experience. Perhaps surgery was necessary after the underlying trauma, and
the pain that came after the surgery was worse than the injury itself. Both must be
assessed.
There are also the location and quality of pain pathways, and all must be addressed.
Nociceptor pain sensations project to the higher brain areas via the thalamocortical
pathways. As the name suggests, these pathways carry the signal to the thalamus, the
“routing station” of the higher brain centers. From there, signals are sent to various cortical
centers necessary for interpretation - the sensory cortex to identify where the pain is
being experienced, and for certain qualitative assessments of the pain (heat, pressure,
stabbing pain, etc.); the limbic brain for the emotional and suffering component the pain
encompasses; and temporal areas for the memory of the pain – the medial temporal gyri
for short term memory, and the inferior temporal gyri for long term memory. The
transition to long term memory can take some time based on how long the short term
memory neurons are stimulated, or be faster (and even immediate) if the pain is severe
and intense enough and has a corresponding traumatic emotional component.
LQM technique encompasses all these neuron pools, as they are all associated with each
other. Hence, they all be “light up” simultaneously, which is accomplished by merely
thinking about the pain. Bringing up the memory triggers the associated emotional
component as well as the location and quality. To address the two potentially different
components of the history of the pain, the client is asked to think about the pain in two
different ways – when the pain/injury originally occurred, and when the pain was at its
worst. If these were simultaneous, then the one thought will encompass both. Ask your
client if there was a time after the injury when the pain was worse than the original
occurrence. This will give you a hint as to whether or not this other situation may be
necessary.
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Again, this procedure is usually best done at the end of a session, when all other factors
have been addressed, but the person is still experiencing pain that hasn’t been resolved by
what has been done prior.
LQM Procedure
1. Have client/partner think about the pain. Indicator Change (I/C) means they would
benefit from this balancing procedure.
a. Ask client/partner to think about the pain when the pain/injury first occurred. I/C
= balance this scenario.
b. Ask client/partner to think about the pain when it was at its worst historically. I/C
= balance this scenario
Note: It can be both, in which case do each one separately.
2. Based on what showed in Step 1, ask client to think about the pain accordingly, and
briefly tap (3 taps) the beginning/end point of each meridian on the face to find
the one that negates the I/C caused by thinking about the pain in its respective
situation.
3. As the client/partner continues to think about the specific pain situation identified, tap
the point 100 time. Re-assess for that situation and repeat as necessary.
a. If both scenarios indicated a need for balancing in Step 1, repeat the process for the
other scenario.
Conclusion
Pain is a complicated mechanism in the body. There are many receptors in the body for
differing types of pain, and multiple neurological pathways that messages travel for our
response to and perception of pain. The body’s response to initial injury or illness might
also set up situations of pain being created by other stimuli which can last for extended
periods of time as it attempts to heal. Therefore, reducing or eliminating pain requires a
consideration of the multiple neurological possibilities, and techniques that can address
them all to provide clients with both short term and long term relief from this most
unpleasant of sensations.
Combining Injury Recall Technique with these three pain tapping techniques provides the
practitioner with a well rounded arsenal of pain relieving options. Muscle monitoring offers
the ability to identify which one(s) are well suited to help your client, as well as which
meridian beginning/end points to use to achieve the desired response. These techniques
have proven to be extremely effective in the reduction or elimination of pain. It is with this
intended result that your are encouraged to incorporate these techniques and help your
clients stop their pain now.
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Adam H. Lehman, En.K., has been passionately involved in Energy Kinesiology for over 25
years. He is the founder/director of the Institute of BioEnergetic Arts & Sciences in Sonoma,
California, where he maintains his private practice as a Wellness Consultant. He is
Founder/President of the non-profit Energy Kinesiology Awareness Council. Adam is the
Advanced International Trainer and Instructor Trainer for Applied Physiology, as well as a Touch
for Health Instructor and One Brain Facilitator, and has developed several techniques/trainings
based on his own research. He has trained in dozens of Energy Kinesiology modalities, as well as
related healing arts, and is devoted to the growth and awareness of the use of muscle monitoring
as a primary communication tool toward achieving health and wellness. Adam travels around
the US and the world providing trainings to those interested in learning more about Energy
Kinesiology and/or becoming professional practitioners.
Adam can be reached by email at: adam@kinesiohealth.com. His website is
www.kinesiohealth.com. He may also be reached by phone at 1-707-328-2838. To receive
updates on courses, offerings and schedules, go to the website and sign up for Adam’s mailing
list.
References
Schmitt, D.C., Walter
Stop Your Pain
Now! Schmitt, D.C., Walter and
McCord, D.C., Kerry
Quintessential Applications – What To Do First, Next &
Last
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Appendix: Me r i d i a n Be g i n n i n g / E n d Po i n t s on He a d
Triple Heater 23
Bladder 1
Stomach 1
Gall Bladder 1
Small Intestine 19
Large Intestine 20
Governing Vessel 26
Central Vessel 24
© Adam Lehman
2014
The chart is color coded for easy point identification, using 5 element colors. Triple Heater
is orange to distinguish it from Small Intestine. Large Intestine is the white point at the
nose. The profile view has been added to provide a better angle for a more accurate
depiction of certain points, and hence does not contain all the points.
Additional Note: The “zone” of the body in which the pain exists can give a clue as to
which acupoint might be the relevant one to use. For example, a direct midline injury is
more likely to require CV or GV tapping points. Close to the midline might be Bladder. Out
on the lateral portions of the body is more likely to be Small Intestine.
Written Description of Point Locations
Triple Heater 23
Bladder 1
Stomach 1
Gall Bladder 1
Small Intestine 19
Large Intestine 20
Governing Vessel 26
Central Vessel 24
– At the lateral (outer) tip of the eyebrows.
– Inner Canthus of the eye. Where the tears emerge from.
– At the center of the lower orbit of the eye, between the bone
and the eyeball. Touch the top of the bone and gently push
slightly toward the eye.
– Just posterior to the outer canthus of the eye. This places it
right at the front of the temple.
– Just in front of the ear, in the space that your finger drops
into when the person opens their jaw.
– Where the nose joins the face at the outer edge of the nostrils.
– The GV alarm point, between the upper lip and the nose on
the midline.
– The CV alarm point, in the depression between the lower lip
and the chin on the midline.
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Procedures
NSB Procedure
1. Assess the level of pain and any other indicators (e.g. – ROM assessments).
2. Using a clear, locking indicator muscle, monitor/test it while the client touches the pain
area or practitioner activates area by rubbing (keeping in mind client’s pain tolerance
and state of injury). If it unlocks, then NSB is indicated.
3. While continuing to touch/activate the pain area, tap each ipsilateral (same side)
meridian beginning/ end point located on the face (see chart in Appendix), and
recheck the indicator muscle.
a. When tapping a point negates the indicator change caused by the pain area, this is
the point to use for balancing.
4. Tap the indicated point 100 times.
5. Re-assess the pain. Repeat the process until pain reduction reaches its maximum level.
Note: Usually there is only one point involved. Occasionally, however, there may be
another. When complete with the identified Set Point, check the other beginning/end
points to see if another one shows. If so, repeat the tapping with that point.
Set Point Procedure
1. Assess the level of pain and any other indicators (e.g. – ROM assessments).
2. Using a clear, locking indicator muscle, monitor/test while the client touches the pain
area or practitioner activates area by rubbing (keeping in mind client’s pain tolerance
and state of injury). If it doesn’t unlock, then checking for a Set Point imbalance is
indicated.
3. While continuing to touch/activate the pain area, tap each meridian beginning/end
point located on the face (see chart in Appendix), and recheck the indicator muscle.
a. If tapping a point causes an indicator change while contacting the pain area, this is
the point to use for balancing. If no points cause a change, then Set Point Technique
is not indicated.
4. Tap the indicated point 100 times.
5. Re-assess the pain. Repeat the process until pain reduction reaches its maximum level.
Note: Usually there is only one point involved. Occasionally, however, there may be
another. When complete with the identified Set Point, check the other beginning/end
points to see if another one shows. If so, repeat the tapping with that point.
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LQM Procedure
1. Have client/partner think about the pain. Indicator Change (I/C) means they would
benefit from this balancing procedure.
a. Ask client/partner to think about the pain when the pain/injury first occurred. I/C
= balance this scenario.
b. Ask client/partner to think about the pain when it was at its worst historically. I/C
= balance this scenario
Note: It can be both, in which case do each one separately.
2. Based on what showed in Step 1, ask client to think about the pain accordingly, and
briefly tap (3 taps) the beginning/end point of each meridian on the face to find
the one that negates the I/C caused by thinking about the pain in its respective
situation.
3. As the client/partner continues to think about the specific pain situation identified, tap
the point 100 time. Re-assess for that situation and repeat as necessary.
a. If both scenarios indicated a need for balancing in Step 1, repeat the process for the
other scenario.
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