Dialogues on Applied Channel Theory

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan and Yefim discuss the integration of tongue diagnosis with channel examination. What to do in cases when the presentation of the tongue doesn't match with the findings from channel examination and symptom pattern differentiation? Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song, please visit:  th...

Send us Fan Mail Recently Jonathan Chang and Nyssa Tang had the opportunity to treat the same patient on opposite sides of the globe and in this episode, they discuss their findings for the first time and how they chose their point combinations. This case demonstrates that the objective information which can be palpated in our patients’ channel systems can lead us to clear diagnoses and treatments...

Send us Fan Mail Acupuncturists first encountering Applied Channel Theory are sometimes confused about apparent differences between Dr. Wang's diagnostic approach and more common diagnostic models which focus on patterns arising from the Zang Fu (脏腑/yin-yang organs). In this episode, Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson discuss how a diagnostic model which places channels at the center can be...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jason Robertson attempts to get into Yefim Gamgoneisvili's head.  In the practice of East Asian Medicine, fine differentiation of herb properties, channel function and point function can make the difference between a mediocre treatment and the best possible results. With almost 40 years of clinical experience, Yefim's choice of point pairs sometimes invol...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan and Nyssa talk about two recent gynaecological cases. The cases are different according to the general pathology, channel changes and points selected. At the same time, the evolution of the treatments is described in detail, as the points that are selected shift as the patient’s condition changes.  Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you'...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan talks to Professor Zhang Wei-bo (张维波) about his research on the channels, which he calls the "Interstice-Interstitial Fluid" School of thought. His research has focused on the circulation of interstitial fluids within the channels, with recent research analyzing the unique content within these fluids and their relationship with the channel fu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson each discuss a recent case of temporal (Shaoyang) headache from their clinics.  Despite the similar location of the headaches, channel selection varied as the underlying patterns were actually quite different. Palpation of distal channels and local areas on the head are discussed.   Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. I...

Send us Fan Mail The opportunity to have apprenticed with Dr. Wang Ju Yi is an enormous privilege that comes with the responsibility to continue sharing his work on classical acupuncture. In part 2 of this episode of Dialogues on Applied Channel Theory, Nyssa Tang and Jonathan Chang chat about their experiences as apprentices and teachers of this work. The conversation touches on the challenge of...

Send us Fan Mail The opportunity to have apprenticed with Dr. Wang Ju Yi is an enormous privilege that comes with the responsibility to continue sharing his work on classical acupuncture. In part 1 of this episode of Dialogues on Applied Channel Theory, Nyssa Tang chats with Jason Robertson and Yefim Gamgoneishvili about their experiences as apprentices and teachers of this work. The conversations...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson discuss the curious dilemma of SP-21 and its association with the 'great collateral of the spleen' (脾大絡 pí dà luò) .  Dr. Wang's thinking on this point and the concept of this oft-forgotten "extra collateral' is discussed and two cases that may offer some insights are discussed.  Music by The Strayun: C...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Yefim talks to Jonathan about his recent trip to rural Guatemala. He discusses two cases that he saw while there. The first patient had arthritis due to tai yang pathology, while the second patient suffered from dizziness that was treated with the four gates.  Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan talks to Dr. Shelley Ochs about recent texts and artifacts excavated from the Han Dynasty tomb in Lao Guan Shan (老官山汉墓), Sichuan Province. She discusses how these findings are related to her PhD research on Bian Que, including his use of a channel based medicine. Later in the episode, Shelley also talks about a figurine with channel pathways discover...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan Chang and Nyssa Tang discuss some recent Shao Yin/Shao Yang cases where the channel changes made them rethink the pathophysiology and location of the disease. They discuss their evolving understanding of the inter-related Qi dynamics in these two systems and how symptoms manifest when they are dysregulated. Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan talks to Dr. Meng Xiao-nan from the Huguosi TCM Hospital about his recent clinical research on the treatment of post-stroke shoulder and hand syndrome. His research studied the use of Applied Channel Theory, such as channel palpation to achieve more precise diagnosis, while also applying Dr. Wang’s methods of acupuncture and different massage techniques for more effective...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Nyssa Tang and Jason Robertson discuss two less-often remembered xi-cleft points. KI-8/交信 / jiāo xìn   is the xi cleft of yin qiao vessel. KI-9 筑宾 / zhù bīn is the xi cleft of yin wei vessel.  Dr. Wang's experience with these points is discussed as are clinical cases from Nyssa and Jason.   Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're inter...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jason Robertson and Jonathan Chang discuss his recent trip to teach at the yearly international congress in Rothenburg Germany.  Jason asks Jonathan about his presentations on cardiology and the concept of 'constraint'  (鬱 yù).  For those interested in diving deeper into Jonathan's presentation, see his article here Music by The Strayun: Clancy of...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Yefim Gamgoneishvili and Jason Robertson discuss the centrality of placing a 'primary symptom' (主 症 zhǔ zhèng) at the heart of the diagnostic process.  Dr. Wang Juyi would often emphasize that the careful choice of a primary symptom was the crucial first step in the process of perceiving symptom-pattern-structure (症候结构  zhèng hòu jié gòu).  While...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Yefim and Jonathan discuss the treatment of acute knee pain.  Yefim shares his general approach to the treatment of this type of disorder, from treatment methods to diagnosis with the use of channel palpation.  Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song, please visit:  thestrayun.bandcamp.com/track/clanc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan shares a surprising belching case where channel palpation changed the course of his diagnosis and understanding of the patient’s physiology. He and Nyssa also discuss how Dr. Wang differentiated burps, the P6/SP4 point combination and its many uses.  Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song, pl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson discuss a case which shines a light on the interesting role channel palpation might play in Chinese herbal medicine.  What seemed like a fairly straightforward gynecological case using Wen Jing Tang (温经汤) offered potential insight into the Yang Ming system.  One of Dr. Wang's hopes was to integrate channel palpation more...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson have a dialogue on the concept of qi in the channels.  Conclusions are difficult but the idea that there is a physiological process (or connectivity/通/tōng) taking place within the anatomical spaces of the acupuncture channels was a foundational concept for Dr. Wang Juyi.  Questions such as "how might think about the effects...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan Chang describes to Jason Robertson interesting cases from his recent teaching in Spain, Poland and Canada.  In the process, a discussion arises regarding the importance of focusing on a 'chief complaint' or 'primary symptom' (主症 zhǔ zhèng) in order to construct a 'symptom-pattern-structure' (證候結構 zhèng hòu jié gòu).  Fo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Yefim and Jonathan discuss the extraordinary vessels, with a focus on Dr. Wang’s understanding of the Yin Qiao. Clinical application of KI-6 to regulate this vessel is also described.  Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song, please visit:  thestrayun.bandcamp.com/track/clancy-of-the-overflow

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan and Nyssa share some recent gynecology cases from their clinics using only acupuncture and moxibustion, and discuss the importance of nutrition in building healthy blood.  They also discuss how Dr. Wang respected and uplifted acupuncture as a powerful medicine that deserved the status of herbs in the clinic.   Hope you enjoy the conversation! Music by The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jonathan and Jason discuss the fascinating synergy of the annual TCM Kongress held in Rothenburg Germany.  This event was the last place Dr. Wang taught internationally in 2014 and one he enjoyed immensely.  This year, Jason participated in a roundtable discussion and demonstration of palpation in East Asian medicine. In addition, he discussed the anatomy and physi...