Dr. Chuan-Min Wang - Direct Master Tung Disciple!

I must say the best part about my job is getting to learn clinical pearls from practitioners who have seen decades of clinical experience. What they've learned from years of trial and error is what I learn in just a few minutes - what a blessing!! How incredible is that!?!

Fellow Acupuncturist, Tina Chen, and I had the honor of having dinner with Dr. Chuan-Min Wang the night before his 9/24/16 class on Master Tung’s Five Zang System: Clinical Case Studies [1]. This was one of the most enlightening dinners to date as Dr. Wang shared a jewel of information that had been on Tina's mind for quite some time.

What was Tina's question?
What's the difference between needling from the yin side versus the yang side of the same point? For example, needling PC6 vs SJ5. When you insert the needle, wouldn't both points hit the same area in the body and yield the same results?

Most practitioners say the effect is different but do not offer much of an explanation. Anatomically and from a western perspective, it is the same point in the middle so theoretically it should be the same but clinically we know the effect and indications are clearly different.

Here's what Dr. Wang says and it's the best explanation thus far:
When needling the yang side, you are drawing the yin energy from inside outward and if you are needing from the yin side, you are drawing the yang energy inward.

The conversation continues... (translated from Chinese)
Tina: From what you said, can I draw the conclusion that needing a yin channel to bring yang inward is used more to strengthen the yang, or bodily functions, especially if the patient is yang deficient?

Dr. Wang: Correct!

Tina: So in needling the yang side of the body to bring out the yin, is it correct to say we are trying to cool down the inflammation, infection or heat on the outside of the body or yang stage of the disease?

Dr. Wang: Yes! Most Master Tung points are on the yang side of the body, especially the yangming channel because it's full of Qi and blood and can easily stimulate the body for better results (more movement of Qi and blood). Yin channels are not used as often except for the Lower Three Emperors and one other set [did not get the chance to write it down].

And that's it. Finally it makes sense! And we hope it does for you too! Dr. Wang is one of the most generous (and very humble!) Chinese doctors we know. He shares all his knowledge without reservation like a true Master. (Have you seen our eLotus YouTube videos with Dr. Wang demonstrating how to find and needle Master Tung points? The videos are in English [2], Mandarin [3], Spanish [4], Portuguese [5], and French [6] so far. See below for the links!)

And before we say goodbye, here's one more million dollar clinical tip that is relevant for whatever disease you are treating. Now this is important! Are you paying attention?

You can add a point which falls on the same channel at the time of your needling. For example, if you are treating someone from 1-3 pm (SI Time), you can add a point from the SI channel for better effect. This is the time when the Qi and blood in the SI is the fullest and you can sedate the channel if it's in excess for better clinical result. Dr. Wang said that during this same time, 1-3pm is also when the Liver is the weakest so it's the best time to tonify the liver. (Qi and blood is most abundant and circulate to the Liver from 1-3am so this is the best time to sedate the liver. And this 1-3 am is when the SI is the weakest).

Has anyone tried this before? If so, comment below. We'd love to hear your results!

If you are an Annual Gold Pass Member, find all of Dr. Chuan-Min Wang's videos here [7] to begin your complimentary viewing.

~Donna Chow, L.Ac.