TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π For the last several weeks, my allergies have been terrible! Itchy eyes, runny nose, hard to get out of bed, and sooo much Kleenex. And at least for me, using medications like Claritin or Allegra either do nothing, or they cause side effects that are worse than just having allergies. So here are some TCM ideas for allergies: some acupuncture points to deal with the symptoms, and a few other remedies you may not have ever tried before... A...
11 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π It's still really hot! At least where I am, it hasn't cooled down and it doesn't look like it's going to anytime soon. Last week we talked about πfoods to beat the heat and help you stay cool. This week we'll talk about the other side of it: acupuncture points to treat Summer-Heat... Free Four Gates CEU Course But real quick, I wanted to let you know that the CEU course Beyond Four Gates: Clinical Alternatives for Moving Liver Qi is now out....
18 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π Summer officially started last week, and it's hot! So let's talk about living in harmony with the season, and some strategies for beating the summer heat... Summer According to the Classics Chapter 2 of the Su Wen gives us advice on how to live in harmony with the seasons. Here's what it has to say about summer: The three months of summer, they denote opulence and blossoming. The qi of heaven and earth interact and the myriad beings bloom and...
25 days agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π Lately we've been talking about the point combination Four Gates for moving Liver qi, and last time we talked about some Jueyin alternatives that might be a better choice. This week we're going to switch over to the yang channels and talk about Shaoyang point pairs for moving qi. So what are these Shaoyang points, and when would we choose them over the Jueyin pairs? The Shaoyang Alternatives to Four Gates When we talked about Four Gates, we...
2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π Last week we talked about Four Gates for moving Liver Qiβwhere this point combination came from and what we can use it for. This week we're going to talk about some alternate point pairs that you might want to use instead of Four Gates. And both of these pairs are Jueyin points: LV-5 (Ligou) + PC-6 (Neiguan) LV-2 (Xingjian) + PC-7 (Daling) So let's go ahead and dive back into Liver Qi Stagnation... Coming Soon: Post-Natal Depression But...
2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π Everyone knows the point combination Four Gates: LV-3 (Taichong) + LI-4 (Hegu). Whether it's for irregular menses or just general stress, this is one of the most commonly-used point combinations for moving Liver qi. But where did it come from and what was it originally used for? Let's take a look at the history of Four Gates... SΓ¬ GuΔn - The Four Gates Much to my surprise, four gates (εε
³ sΓ¬ guΔn) actually goes back to the classics. It was...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π Have you ever had a patient come in after a stroke, and they have weakness or atrophy of the limb? They may have poor grip strength when you shake their hand or when they try to open a pickle jar. Or the may have some tingling and numbness down the arm. Well, there's a needling technique you can try that will activate the entire channel and draw qi and blood into the limb. It's called the Chain and Lock Method, and that's what we're talking...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π You're probably familiar with the Opening and Coupled points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels: For example you might use LU-7 (Lieque) to open the Ren Mai and treat reproductive issues. Or you might use SP-4 (Gongsun) to open the Chong Mai and calm rebellious qi. But did you know that this set of points has other uses as well? Turns out there's more to these eight points than just the Extraordinary Vessels... Gallbladder Sludge is here! But...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
TCMStudy Newsletter 07/26/26 Hey, it's Nicholas! π It's the season of spring! The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the butterflies are reveling in free movement. But for many people, it's also the season of allergies. That means congestion, sinus problems, and a runny nose. So let's talk about some overlooked points that can help open the nose... π Points that Benefit the Nose If I asked you to pick a point to open the nasal passages, your first choice would probably be LI-20...
3 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read