Oriental Medicine and East Asian Medicine are the same…
…and have been functioning as a complete healthcare system for over 5,000 years throughout most of the world. The term “East Asian Medicine” has been adopted by Washington state to encompass this system. Sorenson Acupuncture provides Acupuncture and Oriental medicine to our community.
Oriental and East Asian Medicine includes:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Oriental Body Therapy
- Qigong & Exercise Therapy
- and much more…
more…
and a complete system of medicine that has been practiced and refined over thousands of years. It’s based on the concept that health is a result of balance between Yin & Yang, Qi & Blood.
An ancient Chinese proverb that says
~ ~ ~ When righteousness (Health) is abundant, evil (Disease) cannot enter. ~ ~ ~
Oriental Medicine addresses these concepts.
When disease results from disruption (Excess or Deficiency) in the flow of Qi & Blood, and imbalance of Yin & Yang, systems, organs, glands, and tissue are effected. Oriental Medicine strives to restore balance and function.
Qi literally translates to mean “Vital Air”. The essence of the air we breath is carried to every part of our body and influences our health. Qi has also been described to include the animating life force, spark of life, electromagnetic energy, and all forces that maintain the universe and the individuals’ body, mind, and spirit.
Blood (Includes lymph) is the fluid that carries Vital Air/Qi, vitamins, nutrients, hormones, and all other regulating factors to all of the organs and tissues of the body required for health.
Yin & Yang represent the duality in all things, and the continual dance between opposites, such as: Day & Night, Internal & External, Black & White, Hot & Cold, Health & Disease. Yin is cooling while yang is warming, yin is substance while yang is energetic. It is important to remember that there is yin within yang and yang within yin.
When imbalance or illness occurs, your East Asian Medical Practitioner (EAMP), will employ one or more of the following interventions.
- Acupuncture
- Herbal Medicine
- Oriental Body Therapy
- Qigong
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, is an ancient form of medicine which is gaining more and more popularity in the US for the treatment of both acute and chronic pain and disease. During a treatment, solid,thin needles are inserted at specific points, or “neural nodes” on the body. The stimulation of these points/nodes effects the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. Acupuncture stimulates a local immune response that triggering the release of endorphins and enkephalins, and other chemical hormones, which have pain-relieving, and regulating properties. It can release spasms to reduce pain, improve range of motion, strength and function. By increasing circulation of Blood & Qi, we restore balance to affected areas.
Randy has advanced training in multiple styles of acupuncture, including those described below
Master Tung Style Acupuncture
It’s been said by some that Master Tung Ching-Chang was the best acupuncturist known for the past 300+ years. He came from a long lineage of acupuncturist who guarded family secret styles and point fiercely. Master Tung expanded on his family secrets and chose to share them with a suffering world. One could easily dedicate a lifetime to the understanding and application of the extraordinary points and techniques he shared. A few of his direct students are alive today, practicing this style of acupuncture in all over the world.
I often utilize Dao Ma points due to there powerful and broad effect and clinical effectiveness. Dao Ma points are actually groups of 2-3 points in proximity, inserted into a “Reaction Areas”, or neural node, that stimulate a large zone, and/or body systems. For example: I may insert 2-3 needles into a leg Dao Ma “Seven Tigers Three Needles” and effect the entire back musculature from the base of the skull (C1) to the mid back (T12).
I use Dao Ma points as Acupressure Zones when teaching patients privately, in classes, and in workshops.
Richard Tan’s Balance & Imaging Methods
The Balance Method of Acupuncture evolved from Chinese Medical Classic texts including the I Ching, one of the oldest books anywhere. This method is also known as “I Ching Acupuncture”, “The Balance Method and Imaging Methods” can produce amazing results, even in stubborn cases quickly and effectively; making it an invaluable diagnostic tool, as well as treatment for pain.
This style of Acupuncture may also be utilized used to create a treatment matrix for difficult conditions which have not responded to other types of treatment.
Auricular Acupuncture
The ear is just one of many areas of the body that is applied with an “Imaging technique”. This means that any area or condition in the body can be treated using only the ear. I use the ear regularly as one of multiple images to effectivly treat your health conditions.
Motor Point and Sports Medicine Acupuncture
Sports Medicine Acupuncture incorporates principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Sports Medicine to view the patient’s injury from a truly integrated perspective. I Studied and practiced as an Intern for 3 years directly under Matt Callison, founder of “Sports Medicine Acupuncture”.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
I maintain an extensive Chinese Herbal Pharmacy of granular herbs with more than a hundred Classic formulas, Collection formulas, and Individual herbs. My herbal pharmacy continually expands to meet the needs of patients. I also work with external herbal applications.
I usually custom compound formulas for each herbal patient based on personal health objectives and your unique oriental medical diagnosis. This approach is known as “Fang Jia Fang” or The Art and Science of Herbal Combining. Diagnosis is based on questioning & listening, radial pulse and channel palpation, tongue & ear observation.
My primary Herbal teachers are:
Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang 張蔚炎, O.M.D., L.Ac.
Master Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine trained in Taiwan and a licensed acupuncturist in California and New York. He has over 40 years of concentrated clinical experience, applying his expertise in differential diagnosis and herbal prescription. Master Chang is the author of the pulse diagnosis manual, Pulsynergy.
I have attended Dr. Chang’s complete “Fang Jia Fang”, and “Pulsynergy” courses multiple times and many other course he has taught during the past few years.
John Chen, Pharm.D., Ph.D., O.M.D., L.Ac.
Dr. John Chen is a recognized authority in both western pharmacology and Chinese Herbal Medicine, having combined formal training in both fields with extensive research ‘on the ground’ in China. He teaches at the USC School of Pharmacy, Emperor’s College, Yo San University of TCM, OCOM, Five Branches, AOMA and ACTCM, and has taught numerous professional seminars across the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Chen’s published works include Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (2003, AOM Press), Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications (2008, AOM Press), and Chinese Herbal Formulas for Veterinarians (2012, AOM Press) for which works he is the lead author.
I have attended most of Dr. Chen’s classes through ‘Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine’. A partial list includes:
- Recognition and Prevention of Herb-Drug Interactions
- Internal Medicine: Herbal Alternatives to Drugs, Part 1-3
- Intro to Top 50 Drugs and Their Herbal Alternatives (Typically every year)
- Pain Management: Herbal Alternatives to Drugs
- And more…
…and when I have very difficult cases, I may consult directly with Dr. Chen
Oriental Body Therapies
Oriental Body Therapy includes many hands-on modalities including: Tuina, Acupressure, Massage, Moxabustion, and many more…
- TuiNa, a form of Chinese therapeutic massage.
- Acupressure is manual stimulation that draws upon the theories, experience, and practice of acupuncture, without the needles.
- Cupping & GuaSha are suction & scraping therapies that draws toxins out of the body and stimulates the immune system.
- Moxibustion is the controlled application of heat to Acupuncture points and neural nodes. It’s a stand alone therapy in northern China where the climate can be cold.
Qigong & Exercise Therapy
Includes, but is not limited to: Exercise, Meditation, and Energy Work.
I currently practice Emei Qigong, Sheng Zhen Qigong, and Yoga.
I practice Emei Qigong and the Wuji moving meditation regularly. I teach its individual exercise movements to patients based on individual need. It is a very gentle practice, easy to learn and appropriate for all. I am considered a direct decendant, taught directly by Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong.