1. Developed by Dr. Richard Tan San Diego, CA
Acupuncture 1, 2, 3
Developed by Dr. Richard Tan
San Diego, CA

2. Dr. Richard Tan, O.M.D., L.Ac. Acupuncture 1, 2, 3
3 other books by Dr. Tan

3. Dr. Tan’s Balance Method
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 minutes
Use one to 12 needles (varies)
No electricity or Moxa
May need to repeat treatments at various intervals

4. Acupuncture 1, 2, 3 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 min.

5. Remember 3 Principal Meridian Sub-circuits!
Dr. Tan’s balancing meridians: first method: (opposite side)
LR-MH; TH-GB; KI-HT; SI-BL; SP-LU; LI-ST

6. Remember 3 Principal Meridian Sub-circuits!
Dr. Tan’s balancing meridians: third method: (opposite side)
TH-MH; GB-LR; SI-HT; BL-KI; LI-LU; ST-SP

7. Treating left hip pain 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

8. Treating left hip pain Dr. Tan’s method Needle in SJ 14
Left hip pain was 8/10
Needle was left for 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.

9. Treating left hip pain 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

10. Using Dr. Tan’s method for LBP
70 year 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

11. Using Dr. Tan’s method for LBP
Video of Tan's balance method of acupuncture for LBP.pptx

12. Tan’s method for LBP 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)
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)

13. Using Dr. Tan’s method for LBP
Video of Tan's balance method of acupuncture for LBP.pptx

14. Fred’s LBP treatment 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

15. Tan’s method for elbow pain: lateral epicondylitis
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)
C. Lu 5 (opposite arm)
(palpate for “ashi” points, which are likely more therapeutic)
Leave needles in for minutes, no electricity or Moxa.
May repeat daily or as needed.

16. Tan’s method for knee pain: patellofemoral syndrome
1. Determine the “sick” meridian(s):
Stomach meridian (St 35)
Find the balancing “treating” meridians:
Large intestine meridian (arm, opposite side of the body) or
Spleen meridian (opposite leg)
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 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.)

17. Patient live demonstrations
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.

18. Chinese Clock

19. Chinese Clock

20. Dr. Tan’s Imaging Format

21. Balancing Meridians

22. Tan’s Special Tx for Abdominal Symptoms

23. Tan’s Combination for LBP