What is the Balance Method?

The Balance Method, created by Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan of San Diego, California, is an innovative acupuncture system that simplifies complex principles of classical Chinese medicine into a practical and results-driven approach, particularly for pain management and various clinical conditions.

This acupuncture system emphasizes balancing the meridians to enhance healing throughout the body. Known for its immediate clinical effectiveness, the Balance Method is grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) meridian theory and draws from classical acupuncture texts such as the Neijing and the I Ching.

To learn the Balance Method, there is no better resource than its esteemed creator. Start today with one of Dr. Tan's recorded lectures!

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Acupuncture 1, 2, 3: Apply the Balance Method in Three Simple Steps

Dr. Tan's "Acupuncture 1, 2, 3" serves as a fundamental guide, providing a practical application of his Balance Method. This approach simplifies the complex theoretical foundation of the Balance Method into an easy-to-follow three-step protocol. It is accessible for beginners and highly effective for experienced practitioners. The protocol assists in selecting effective distal acupuncture points to treat a variety of clinical conditions, particularly in pain management. By maximizing treatment outcomes while using fewer needles, this method minimizes the risk of aggravating local pain areas.

Key Features and Benefits

• Immediate Results: One of the defining characteristics of Acupuncture 1, 2, 3 is its ability to produce rapid pain relief, often within seconds or minutes of needle insertion. Dr. Tan emphasized “instant results” as a way to build patient trust and practitioner confidence.
• Distal Needling: By treating points far from the affected area, the method minimizes discomfort and is ideal for sensitive patients or areas where local needling is impractical.
• Versatility: While best known for pain management, Acupuncture 1, 2, 3 can address a wide range of conditions, including internal disorders like digestive issues or insomnia.
• Accessibility: The method’s structured approach makes it easy for practitioners to learn and apply, even with limited TCM experience. Its reliance on clear systems and protocols reduces the need for extensive pattern differentiation.
• Clinical Pearls: Dr. Tan’s teachings are filled with practical tips, such as point combinations and case studies, that enhance clinical success and deepen understanding.

Read below for the details of the three steps.

Identify the Sick Meridian

The first step involves diagnosing the affected area or meridian where the patient experiences pain or dysfunction. For instance, if a patient has lateral knee pain, the Gallbladder meridian could be out of balance. For shoulder pains, the Large Intestine or Triple Heater (San Jiao) meridian may be involved.

It is important to note that the area of pain may follow a single meridian, span across multiple, or reside between meridians. Therefore, this step requires a thorough understanding of meridian anatomy and the symptoms associated with them, ensuring that the practitioner accurately identifies the "sick" or problematic area. This initial diagnosis is crucial for the effectiveness of the treatment, as successful treatment relies on an accurate diagnosis.

Select the Balancing Meridian

Once the sick meridian is identified, the practitioner chooses a meridian to treat that will restore balance to the body.

This selection is guided by Dr. Tan’s Five Systems (sometimes referred to as Six Systems), which are derived from classical TCM relationships. These systems provide a framework for selecting the appropriate meridian to harmonize and balance the sick meridian, ensuring a holistic and dynamic treatment that enhances treatment efficacy and optimize patient outcomes. These systems include:

BALANCE METHOD: SYSTEMS 1-5

Choose Acupuncture Points Using Mirroring or Imaging

The final step is to identify the best locations on the balancing meridian for needle insertion to achieve optimal treatment results. Based on Dr. Tan's Strategy of Twelve Magical Points, effective point selection relies on the principles of mirroring and imaging. These principles highlight the body's interconnectedness, where pain in one area can trigger tenderness, weakness, or tightness in other distant regions. By addressing these projected areas, you can restore balance and heal the original source of pain.

To effectively treat the source of pain, apply the principles of mirroring and imaging to identify target areas of the projected pain (which can manifest as tenderness, weakness, or tightness) for needle insertion. For the best outcomes, palpate for ashi points instead of directly using standard acupuncture points in the projected area.

I. MIRRORING: Upper Limb ↔ Lower Limb

Apply the mirroring principle to locate points on a limb to treat pain originating from another limb. Mirroring uses the upper limb to balance the lower limb, and vice versa. Refer to the following charts for the mapping between upper and lower limb areas through mirroring and reverse mirroring.

II. IMAGING: Head+Trunk ↔ Upper/Lower Limbs

Apply the imaging principle to locate points on a limb to treat pain originating in the head and trunk, and vice versa. Through imaging, areas in the head and trunk can balance either the upper or lower limbs; likewise, the upper and lower limbs can balance areas in the head and trunk. Refer to the following charts for mapping head and trunk areas to the upper or lower limbs.

Hologram Theory - Imaging of Various Body Parts to Acupuncture Points

The following chart provides a list of acupuncture points that correspond to specific body parts based on the Hologram Theory. Use these points as a visual reference to accurately locate the appropriate point for needling.

Case Study: A Patient with Lateral Knee Pain

To illustrate how the three steps in Acupuncture 1, 2, 3 apply, below we present a case of a patient seeking treatment for lateral knee pain.

Step 1: Identify the Sick Meridian

Lateral knee pain typically involves the Gallbladder (GB) meridian, as it runs along the lateral aspect of the leg and knee.

Step 2: Select the Balancing Meridian

Choose from the following balancing meridians to treat pain in the Gallbladder (GB) meridian:

Step 3: Choose Acupuncture Points

Using the mirroring method or imaging method, select acupuncture points on the balancing meridians that correspond to the knee's anatomical location.

With mirroring, the knee maps onto the elbow, therefore for lateral knee pain in the Gallbladder (GB) meridian, point selections are as follows: