Choosing a tandem point
One of the most common questions students and other
clinicians ask is: How do you know which acupuncture point to choose
as a tandem point? The reality is that a large number of points
can be effective for any one problem.
As Peter Deadman wrote: "The insertion of a needle
into the body in order to contact the qi will usually produce some
changes, whichever the points selected. In current practice throughout
the world there is enormous variety in point selection. Indeed this
'fuzziness' is not confined to the Western world. Within modern
and classical Chinese traditions there is also enormous variation
in understanding and predicting the effects of needling different
points, and a great variety of ways to treating different diseases."(6)
Nevertheless the experience of doing Tandem Point
therapy over thousands of hours has yielded some insights into which
acupuncture points are likely to be most effective in allowing trigger
points to release.
The following are good options for tandem points
- points where a patient feels referred pain (must be taken; migraines
are a special case--the patient should hold one or two points
in the head while the clinician holds points in the feet)
- the insertion and/or origin of the muscle including the trigger
point
- xi-cleft points on the same channel as that containing the trigger
point or downstream from the trigger point are particularly indicated
for pain and acute conditions (and for neck problems or referred
pain to the head, Li 6 is particularly indicated and can be taken
with a GB point or with Lu 6)
- master points of the eight extraordinary channels, especially
early in a session
- shu-stream points on the same channel or on its six divisions
partner, especially for yang channels and where there is pain
in the joints
- ying-spring points on the same channel or on its six divisions
partner, especially when heat is being produced
- points ½ cun distal to the ying-spring points, especially in
the feet
- points under the toes, between the head of the metatarsal and
the distal interphlangeal joint, usually in the same sagittal
plane as a channel
- luo-connecting points on the husband/wife channel
- if the clinician has done a five-element pattern analysis, appropriate
tonification/sedation points
- LI 11 if appropriate for the five-element pattern, and LI 10
if not
- source points, especially near the end of a session
Throughout the work, the clinician is feeling for the release
in the primary trigger point. Success is releasing that point and
allowing the muscle to reach its full length. The clinician can
determine if a tandem point is effective based on the response of
the primary trigger point. A good tandem point choice will immediately
cause a jump in the amplitude of the pulsation in the primary trigger
point. Within two seconds the primary trigger point will soften.
Frequently it will give off heat.
It is particularly important to eventually clear points upstream
and downstream from the trigger point in the Chinese conception
of how energy flows in the body.
HOME
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | PREVIOUS
| NEXT
P.O. Box 1023, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
|
|