Case 1

Date: 14th April, 2004 9:00 am  Name: Jennifer Sex: Female
Age: 24  Location: California
Chief Manifestation Symptom: headache, soreness and aches on the neck, getting tired easily, restlessness during the night.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are Small Intestine Meridian, Sanjiao Meridian, Kidney Meridian and Bladder Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Wangu (SI 4), Houxi (SI 3). In total, two needles were retained for 30 minutes with no stimulation.
What the patient reported: After the needles were inserted, the pain in her neck released within 1 minute. She reported how amazed she was at the quickness of the pain relief.
Analysis: Using the Five Elements Theory the patient is imbalanced between Fire and Water; Water is not controlling Fire so one premise to treat this would be to either increase or tonify Water and decrease or sedate Fire.  A 24-year-old patient generally manifests excess symptoms and it is easier to sedate the excesses giving quicker results; this was the basis for the suggested point selections in this case.These points release the excess energy of the Small Intestine Meridian which can cause neck problems.

Case 2

Date: 17th April , 2004 10:30 am  Name: Vincent Sex: Male
Age: 45  Location: California
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Vincent has suffered from neck problems for many years. During that time he had tried acupuncture many times using A Shi points located on the neck, but the problems persisted. Additionally, he tired easily every day. 
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are deficiency on the Sanjiao Meridian and Large Intestine Meridian and excess on the Stomach Meridian and Gallbladder Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Yemen (SJ 2), He Gu (LI 4).In total, two needles retained for 30 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient felt: All the aches in the neck disappeared in 5 minutes. He asked us "Why can these two usual and normal acupoints solve all the problems I have?" He felt spunky right after that treatment!
Analysis: These needles tonify the deficiency of Sanjiao Meridian and Large Intestine Meridian, which can then affect the release of the neck muscles.

Case 3

Date: 18th April, 2004 19:00 pm  Name: Allan Sex: Male
Age: 55  Location: California 
Chief Manifestations Symptom:  He reported daily neck pain beginning with an accident one year ago. Sometimes he was unable to move his neck and head.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are deficiency of Bladder Meridian and Large Intestine Meridan. 
Acupuncture Prescription: He Gu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Kunlun (BL 60), Fuyang (BL 59).In total, four needles retained for 30 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: After ten minutes, all the pain in his neck disappeared; he could move his neck easily and fully. He told us "I almost forgot I had had a neck problem!"
Analysis: Tonifying the deficiency of the Bladder Meridian and Large Intestine Meridian also can affect neck problems.

From the three cases above, you can see that there is more then one solution to a simple neck problem.

Shoulder Pain (Brachial Neuritis, Radiculitis NOS 723.4)

Case 1

Date: 28th May, 2004 9:00 am  Name: Sally Sex: Female
Age: 45  Location: California Ethnicity: Caucasian
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Sally had suffered from pain in her left shoulder for two years. She had tried both acupuncture and many herbal patches on the shoulder but the pain still remained. Recently her right leg also felt painfully tense.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are Spleen Meridian, Large Intestine Meridian and Liver Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Yinlingquan (Sp 9, right side), Quchi (LI 11, left side), Zhouliao (LI 12, left side). A total of three needles retained for 15 minutes.
What the patient felt: 80% of the pain was gone within 5 minutes, the tension in the right leg was also released. She said, "I really want to learn acupuncture from you!"
Analysis:The pain of the shoulder resulted from an abnormality of both the Large Intestine Meridian and Spleen Meridian. The EMAS Electro Meridian Acupuncture focused on meridian adjustment first, so just Yinlingquan (Sp 9,right side), Quchi (LI 11, left side, Zhouliao (LI 12, left side) were chosen. These two meridians were balanced and the pain in the shoulder as well as the tension in the right leg was released.

Case 2

Date: 20th April, 2004 17:00 pm  Name: Daniel Sex: Male
Age: 32  Location: California Ethnicity: Asian
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Soreness and aching of the right shoulder blade everyday, plus pain at the low back.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are Small Intestine Meridian, Large Intestine Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Wangu (SI 4), Houxi (SI 3). In total, only two needles were used and they were retained for 10 minutes.
What the patient reported: Three minutes after the needles were placed in the body the patient felt an obvious release in the shoulder blade. He told us it had been 3 years since he was without pain in that shoulder. Amazingly his lower back pain also disappeared.
Analysis: The pain in the shoulder resulted from an abnormality of the Small Intestine Meridian and the Large Intestine Meridian both of which course through the shoulder blade area. Also, he had wrist pain, so acupuncture points on the Small Intestine Meridian: Wangu (SI 4) and Houxi (SI 3) were chosen. After the Small Intestine Meridian was balanced the shoulder pain was relieved, as was the pain in his wrist. This points to the fact that not all acupuncture treatments and procedures require many needles, here only 2 needles were used.

Case 3

Date: 25th April, 2004 19:00 pm  Name: Alex Sex: Male
Age: 38  Location: California
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: He had suffered from pains in the right joint of his shoulder for five years and  also had sciatica.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are Gallbladder Meridian, Liver Meridian, Stomach Meridian, and Large Intestine Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Huantiao (GB 30 left side). Only one needle retained for 15 minutes.
What the patient reported: The sciatica improved after the treatment, and the pain in his shoulder joint disappeared within 5 minutes. He experienced amazing relief during this treatment.
Analysis:The patient had both sciatica and shoulder joint pain, both caused by an abnormality on the Gallbladder Meridian. It was very obvious to choose Huantiao (GB 30, left side) an acupuncture point on the Gallbladder Meridian. After balancing the Gallbladder Meridian, the pain on the shoulder also disappeared. This case requires further research to determine how the sciatic pain can be totally relieved.

Chest pain (786.50 A469), Chest tightness (786.59 A469)

Case 1

Date: 29th May, 2004 19:00 pm  Name: Ruban Sex: Male
Age: 32  Location: California
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: When he got up in the morning he felt a stabbing pain and oppression in his chest and he wasn't able to breathe very well.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are deficiency on Pericardium Meridian, Heart Meridian and Liver Meridian.  According to The Five Elements theory Wood is not supporting/nourishing Fire, additionally the patient is experiencing some "Plum Pit Syndrome".  This latter maybe related to anxiety or stress but this line of inquiry was not pursued during this treatment. 
Acupuncture Prescription: Jianshi (P 5), Neiguan (P 6), Daling (P 7)In total three needles for one hand retained for 20 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient felt: The stabbing pain and oppression in the chest were released within 1 minute. He was excited by the immediate effect of acupuncture!
Analysis: Tonify the deficiency of the Heart and Pericardium Meridian which will then release the chest oppression.

Case 2

Date: 29th April, 2004 15:00 pm  Name: Mary Sex: Female
Age: 36  Location: California
Chief Manifestations Symptom: She reported feeling stabbing pain and oppression in the chest and palpitations for two weeks, and also suffered from lower back pain.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are Sanjiao Meridian, Pericardium Meridian, and Kidney Meridian, the Water and Fire Elements were not in balance.
Acupuncture Prescription: Yangchi (SJ 4), Waiguan (SJ 5), In total, two needles on one side retained for 30 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient felt: The stabbing pain and oppression in the chest disappeared in 3 minutes, and the lower back pains were also released. She felt calmer and asked "Why can these two needles release all the pain at the same time?"
Analysis: Oppression in the chest can result from an excess in the Sanjiao Meridian. Releasing the energy of the Sanjiao Meridian will also release the oppression of the chest.

  Knee Pain (Bursitis/Knee 726.60)

Case 1 

Date: 20th May, 2004 15:00 pm  Name: Renee Sex: Female
Age: 46  Location: California
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Pain on right joint of the knee for ten days.
Abnormal Meridians: Main abnormal meridians are the Large Intestine Meridian, Spleen Meridian and Stomach Meridian.  Earth and Metal Elements are unbalanced, Earth is not able to support Metal.
Acupuncture Prescription: Quchi (LI 11, left side), Zhouliao (LI 12, left side). In total, two needles retained for 10 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: Knee pain disappeared in 30 seconds.  She said that acupuncture was absolutely much better than any other medicine! 
Analysis: We first discovered that Quchi (LI11) and Zhouliao (LI 12) appear to be able to release knee pain. Some diseases may result from an abnormal Meridian that is never thought about.

Case 1 

Date: 12th August, 2004 17:00 pm  Name: Susan  Sex: Female Age: 32  Location: California  Ethnicity: Chinese
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Itchy hands and body for seven days. She had tried to do acupuncture on herself using Hegu (LI 4) and Quchi (LI 11) but still had itching after the treatment.
Abnormal Meridians: Deficiency of Lung and Large Intestine Meridian, combined with Excess on SanJiao, Bladder and Stomach Meridians.  This is a Metal Deficiency with excess Fire, Earth and Water so the method of approach is to first quell the excesses and then treat the deficiency.
Acupuncture Prescription: Yemen (SJ 2), Zhongzhu (SJ 3)  In total, two needles retained for 15 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: Before the acupuncture treatment, she felt severe itching on the hand. After the needles were put in, she immediately felt a sensation of coolness from the finger to the shoulder; all the itching disappeared in 20 minutes.
Analysis: There was an excess one side of Sanjiao Meridian so we put needles along this meridian. After that, we checked the TCM text books to see if any of them discussed how these two points could have some effect on skin problems. It was discovered few textbook discussed how these two points may have some effects on skin problems. Actually it was the results from the EMAS that guided us to find that solution.

Case 1 

Date: 7th July, 2004 09:00 am  Name: Eddie Sex: Male
Age: 37  Location: California Ethnicity: Caucasian

Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Insomnia for three months, and also suffer from digestive problems.
Abnormal Meridians: Excess on Stomach and Liver Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Taichong (LI 3), Zusanli (ST 36). Totally two needles retained for 15 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: Eddie felt relaxed during the treatment and later became very sleepy.
Analysis: Releasing the excess of Liver Meridian affected the Stomach (Five element: Wood and the Earth relation). After the excesses of Liver and Stomach Meridian are released, insomnia and digestion problems disappeared at the same time.

Case 2 
Date: 3rd August, 2004  10:00 am  Name: Mary Sex: Female
Age: 38  Location: California  Ethnicity: Caucasian
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Insomnia lasting for four months, palpitations and excessive thirst, and heat on palms.
Abnormal Meridians: Excess on Pericardium, Heart Meridian, Deficient on Kidney Meridian and Stomach Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT7), Taixi(KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In total, four needles retained for 20 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: The patient felt calm and relaxed in just a few minutes.
Analysis: The insomnia resulted from the abnormality between the Heart and Kidney Meridian relationship. Sedate the Heart and Pericardium Meridian and tonify the Kidney Meridian, then the palpitations and thirst will disappear.  Later this will also resolve the insomnia problems.

Case 2

Date: 5th July, 2004 9:50 am  Name: Tim Sex: Male
Age: 27  Location: California Ethnicity: Caucasian
Chief Manifestation Symptom:s Headaches for two weeks.
Abnormal Meridians: Excess on Sanjiao Meridian, Stomach Meridian,deficient on Spleen Meridian and Kidney Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Yemen (SJ 2), Zhongzhu (SJ 3), Zusanli (ST 36). Taixi (KI 3) In total four needles retained for 15 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: Headache faded in five minute.
Analysis: The combination of these points to drain the excess and tonify the deficiency using distal points is often a very successful procedure when the complaint is not related to food intake or emotional stress and is of a recent origin.

Date: 28th July, 2004 11:30 am  Name: Ken Sex: Male
Age: 32  Location: California Ethnicity: Caucasian
Chief Manifestation Symptoms: Pain in the waist for three days.
Abnormal Meridains: Excess on Small Intestine Meridian, deficient on Gallbladder Meridian and Bladder Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Wangu (SI 4), Houxi (SI 3), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34). In total four needles retained for 10 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: Pain on the waist disappeared in 3 minutes.
Analysis: Adjust the excess of the Small Intestine Meridian first. We believe that there must be some connection between Small Intestine Meridian and the lumbago condition.

Case

Date: 12th August, 2004 15:30 am  Name: May Sex: Female
Age: 32  Location: California Ethnicity: Caucasian
Chief Manifestations Symptom: Dysmenorrhea during the period.
Abnormal Meridains: Excess on Sanjiao, Heart, Pericardium Meridian, deficient on Spleen, Kidney bladder and Gallbladder Meridian.
Acupuncture Prescription: Neiguan (PC 6), Yemen (SJ 2), Zhongzhu (SJ 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) ,Taixi (KI 3) In total, five needles retained for 10 minutes, no stimulation, no needling technique.
What the patient reported: She felt totally relaxed after this treatment and asked to make another appointment.
Analysis: This case is more complex because of the many meridians that are abnormal at the same time. First taking care of the present complaints, releasing the pain, and then later working with this patient to rebalance all the meridians will be needed.