Japanese acupuncture related content that is of interest to practitioners or that contains information which assumes some background knowledge on the part of the reader.
On Apprenticeship While I was attending acupuncture school between 1991 and 1994, it was still possible to get licensed in New Mexico by studying with a mentor. If you logged the requisite number of hours of didactic study and clinic, you could sit for the licensing exam. I believe the mentor was required to have a minimum of 5 years experience. (A ridiculously brief amount of time.) Of course, the mentor could have much more than 5 years, as well. Shortly thereafter, only a degree from a certified acupuncture college became acceptable.
There are two things that you should remember, the first mistake most beginners make is to over treat their patients. Especially when the patient presents with a complex set of symptoms and multiple complaints, the typical response is to do a little of everything in the hopes of making a change somewhere, somehow. I noticed this was particularly true of recent graduates who are instilled with TCM differential diagnosis. It looks like there is a little Blood Stagnation, a little Liver Qi Stagnation, a little Qi Deficiency, and so forth.
Gathering the Ki
TONIFICATION
If we are to adhere to the Nan Jing’s basic tenant that all diseases start from a deficiency of the Essential Ki; then it follows that “tonification” will be our most frequently used needle technique. Almost every patient will receive a tonification technique on their most deficient meridians, and deficient areas, found during palpation.
