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
• or “treating” meridian(s)

⦿ 3. Chose the acupoints to use

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 NEEDLE IN SJ 14

⦿ 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
DR. TAN’S METHOD NEEDLE IN SJ 14

⦿ 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.
DR. TAN’S METHOD NEEDLE IN SJ 14

⦿ 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
⦿ 70year 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 treatment after that

⦿ LBP 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. Determine the balancing

or
“treating” meridian(s)

⦿ 3.
Using the mirroring format or the
imaging format, determine the acupoints
use “ashi” points
Pain should improve immediately.