First in a Series

ADVANCED •
PRINCIPLES
AND TECHNIQUES
Second Edition

~welve an~ ~welve

in Acupuncture
Unique Point
Applications and
Case Studies for
Effective Pain
Treatment

RICHARD TAN, O.M.D., L.Ac.

and
STEPHEN RUSH, L.Ac.
Efwelve an~ Efwelve
in Acupuncture
ADVANCED PRINCIPLES
AND TECHNIQUES
Second Edition

RICHARD TAN, O.M.D., L.Ac.

and
STEPHEN RUSH, L.Ac.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

 '

Copyright© 1991 by Richard Tan, O.M.D., L.Ac.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except in the
section "Case Treatment Matrix" and the "Feedback
Form," without prior written permission of the publisher.

For information contact Richard Tan, O.M.D., L.Ac.

4550 Kearny Villa Rd., Ste. 107, San Diego, CA 92123
Fax:(619)277-9037

Editors: Pam Gay, Cheryl Warnke, Keith Robbins

Design and Typography: Cheryl Warnke
Fonts: Times Roman, Gazelle

First Edition-March 1991

Second Edition-August 1996

Printed in San Diego, California.

 '

Acknowle~gments

This book represents the first step in the fulfillment

of a dream of a series of practical, timely, and lasting
acupuncture texts. I would like to express my thanks to
everyone who helped me with the initial project.

This book also represents the special encouragement

and collaboration of my longtime friend and fellow
practitioner Steve Rush, who co-authored this text.
My heartfelt thanks to my father, who initiated me into
he practice of acupuncture, and to my mother for her
solid encouragement every step of the way. Special
hanks to Pamela Gay, for her persistent efforts with
editing and keeping us organized.
I would also like to thank Cheryl Warnke for
contributing her skills in typesetting and design.

My love and appreciation to my wife and three sons for

their patience, strength, and understanding while
I was working on this extra task of writing the book.
My greatest appreciation is to the needles and herbs,
and the dynamic healing system in all of us.
 ' Contents
Preface.................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgments.................................................................. vi
Introduction ................ ............................................ .... .. ... .... .. 1
How to Use This Book.......................................................... 7
The Twelve Extra Points-Functions and Locations............ 13
TheTwelveRegularMeridianPoints-UniqueApplications .. 29
Five Case Studies of Ling Ku, Da Bai, Zong Bai Combination
Case 1: The Cane Man .. ... ... ... ... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... .. .. . 38
Case 2: The Limiting Low Back ....................................... 41
Case 3: The Overworked Knee ......... ........................ ........ 44
Case 4: Teen-Aged Sciatica .............................................. 46
Case 5: Elbow with Shooting Pain ... .. .. .. .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... .. ... 48
Three Case Studies of Chung Tze-Chung Hsien Combination
Case 1: The Scoliosis Housewife ...................................... 52
Case 2: Twice Rear-Ended Computer Operator ................ 55
Case 3: The Once-Treated Retired Mom .. .... .................... 57
Six Case Studies Involving Mu Huo, So Jing Dian, Gan Men
and Yen Huang
Case 1: Stroke Fingers .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. ... ... .. .. ... .... .. .. .. 60
Case 2: The Wheelchair Patient ....................... .... ............. 62
Case 3: A Once-Treated Pain in the Neck ......................... 64
Case 4: TMJ Syndrome and Accompanying Neck Pain ... 66
Case 5: Chronic Hepatitis.................................................. 68
Case 6: The Yellow Housewife......................................... 70
Three Case Studies Involving Mu Guan and Gu Guan
Case 1: The Travel Agent with Sore Hands ...................... 74
Case 2: Banker with Bone Swelling .................................. 77
Case 3: The Writer's Heel Spur ........................................ 80
Regular Meridian Point Case Studies
Case 1: Involving San Jiao 2, Lady with Tired Blood .. .. .. 84
Case 2: Involving Pericardium 3, A Pain in the Thumb ... 86
 '
Case 3: With Pericardium 7 & 6, A Twist in the Kitchen .... 89
Case 4: Pericardium 9, 11-Year-OldwithaSoreThroat .... 91
Case 5: Involving Heart 4, Hairdresser's Neck Pain ......... 92
Case 6: Involving Heart 4, OneTreatmentSurfer'sNeck .. 94
Case 7: Involving Heart 5, TwistedHipintheBasement ... 96
Case 8: With Small Intestine 4, Boy with Invasion
of Summer Heat in the Eyes ........................................ 98
Case 9: Pericardium 6, Tom Knee from Karate Class ...... 100
Case 10: Pericardium 6 & Liver 3, Dance Teacher
with Arthritic Knees .................................................. 102
Case 11: With Large Intestine 11, Steve's Knees ............. 104
Case 12: With Large Intestine 11, The Bicyclist's Knee .. 106
Three Case Studies Involving Large Intestine 12, 13 and 14
Case 1: The Dentist with Extreme Back Pain ................... 110
Case 2: The Woman Waking Up with Spine Pain ............ 112
Case 3: Large Intestine 14, TheHighPressureSalesman ... 114
Case Treatment Matrix .......................................................... 117
Some Final Considerations .................................................... 123
Feedback Form ...................................................................... 125
Conclusion ............................................................................. 127
Bibliography .......................................................................... 129
Index 1-Point Description and Case Studies ..................... 131
Index 2-Symptoms/Conditions ........................................... 132
Appendix 1: Regular Meridian Points-Locations ............... 133
Other Books by Richard Tan ................................................. 135
Order Form ............................................................................ 137

ii
 1're{ace

After being involved with the practice and profession of

acupuncture in the United States for several years, I am
surprised to fmd that so many American practitioners en-
counter so much trouble in the treatment of pain. Many
practitioners do not realize that acupuncture is often capable
of relieving pain within seconds, if proper point selection
and needle technique are employed. For some reason, in the
United States there seems to be a great deal of literature
available concerning acupuncture for a variety of chronic,
emotional, and stress-related problems. Yet there is very
little material being published that addresses effective
methods and strategies for the treatment of what acupunc-
ture is most noted for in the Orient-its treatment of pain.
My primary motive in writing this book is to enable the
reader to become familiar with some very powerful tech-
niques for pain treatment-the most essential and tradi-
tional application of acupuncture.
A widespread belief concerning acupuncture that I have
encountered is the concept that the patient must "believe in

iii
tv I Twelve and Twelve in Acupuncture
.,
it" or be "willing to give up their pain" before acupuncture
can be effective. While the significance of mental and
emotional factors in the overall healing process has been well
documented, I must take exception to the notion that it is
relevant to acupuncture's pain-relieving function.
In fact, I actually prefer patients who are openly skeptical
concerning the treatment of acupuncture. I feel that their
feedback relating to the effectiveness of the treatment is
more reliable than if they are influenced by a belief system
telling them that it should work-thus raising the possibility
of placebo or trance-phenomena effects. When applied cor-
rectly, the points and techniques of this book will be effec-
tive-regardless of the patient's mindset. Also, I feel that our
profession's reputation with other medical professionals will
be enhanced by an increase in our collective ability to
effectively treat pain of a non-psychosomatic origin.
Some of the twelve extra points discussed in this book are
from the notes of Master Tong Jing Tsang. Dr. Tong, a
brilliant acupuncturist known for his abilities in pain treat-
ment, has largely remained unknown to non-Chinese practi-
tioners. I have retained the names that the late Dr. Tong used
in referring to these points; even though, in the past, some of
these points were named differently by other doctors. A
written anatomical description of each point location is
provided, along with a graphic illustration for each of the
extra points. Steve and I have structured and indexed this
book into the style of a "workbook" or reference book, in
order to enhance its ease of use in a clinical situation. Please
refer to the "How to Use This Book" section for further
details. It is our intention that the case study format we have
 Preface I v
I

included will not only be informative, but also enjoyable to

read. It should be noted that while the extra point functions
are not entirely our original findings, many of the new
regular channel point functions are. These case studies have
been selected to be representative of the hundreds of cases we
have compiled in our research of these points and their
applications.
I have been involved in the study of Traditional Chinese
Medicine for over 20 years, and I have been fortunate enough
to have studied from several true masters. This book repre-
sents some of the best part of my knowledge in the treatment
of disorders involving pain.

Richard Tan, O.M.D., L.Ac.

AUTHORS' NoTE TO THE SECOND EDITION

Over the past five years we have had the gratifying opportu-
nity to reach many practitioners in our field with ideas via
this, our first book. Twelve and Twelve in Acupuncture has
enabled us to present effective distal point acupuncture
techniques to practitioners across the U.S. and abroad. It is
our hope that as a result the clinical efficacy of everyone who
has tried these methods in practice has been upgraded. Since
the publication of our second book, Twenty-Four More in
Acupuncture in 1994, we have received even more positive
feedback from readers who appreciate our endeavor to fill a
vi I Twelve and Twelve in Acupuncture
.. '
niche in the acupuncture literature for material focusing on
effective technique frrst, and philosophical theory second. In
the dozens of acupuncture seminars that Dr. Tan has con-
ducted around the country in these past few years, he has also
stressed the importance of our work's clinical effectiveness
by demonstrating (whenever it was allowed) his techniques
upon patients provided by those attending. The simple expe-
rience of witnessing the distal points quickly relieving pain,
restoring range of motion, and returning sensation to numb
or paralyzed body areas has impressed observers more than
any lecture or written material ever could have.
At this point in time, we are readying ourselves for the
process of fulfilling a promise that we made to our readers in
1991. The philosophical and theoretical foundations of Dr.
Tan's work are from many sources, and he has synthesized
them into a few highly efficient approaches, the exposition
of which will be the focus of our third book, due by the end
of 1997.
Please note that aside from "cleaning up" the copy, this
second printing is identical to the first edition, except for the
addition of one new appendix of point locations added for the
"regular" channel points.
Once again, we would like to offer our thanks and apprecia-
tion to all of our readers who have expressed their support of
our efforts over these last five years. Please stay tuned. The
best is yet to come.