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 570208, February 12, 2012
By Mark
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It is really worth it. It is short to the point with basic but with fundemental knowledge for a beginner to work with
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 Needs more work. Some information not necessarily suitable for practice in the US., May 09, 2010
By Quadradox
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Based on the prior reviews, I wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, I was not able to do so, despite the fact I think it contains some useful information.
On the positive side, it is succinct -- nearly pocket-sized and contains many of the generally recognized most powerful points on the body, including specialized hand and ear points. It documents uses for some of the less commonly used "extra points." It is organized by mostly by symptom (and indeed is primarily a symptom management approach). Sometimes more than 1 point is actually recommended, but rarely more than 2 points. Specific instructions for his method of activating each point is provided in detail -- not always involving acupuncture; instead this may involve compresses, acupressure or rubbing with a coin. For most points he adds a short section of descriptive data about results. There is usually a brief case report. Finally, IF...IF IT WERE PRACTICAL, SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, then the simplicity of learning only a few single points would greatly simplify training and shorten treatment session time. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I do not feel that it meet those criteria adequately.
The book was troubling for the following reasons.
*** The least concerning problem was that it comes from the Foreign language Press in Beijing and thus is not edited optimally. The reader has to finish smoothing the translation to English -- most of the time doing so is easy and straightforward. In a few cases I felt it opened the possibility of mistaken assumptions. Something I don't like to risk in treating another being.
***It assumes an already experienced practitioner and does not mention when a points may be risky with inadequate technique -- i.e. GB20
***The results section doesn't address when the natural course of the problem would have resolved anyway without any special intervention. Doing so is not always possible for chronic diseases but is generally well characterized for short-term acute illnesses. This is notable for diseases like the common cold for which he reocmmended GB20. He states that 56%, 63.5% and 65% of cases were treated effectively in 2,4, and 6 days. I am not sure how that differs from the % of cases treated by the passage of time alone. Some diseases would clearly be expected to last much longer than the interval over which he reports having produced significant change, but the common cold is not one of those.
***There is no outcome data about comparisons between single points so that we know why he choose GB20 for this point rather than others also widely recommended, nor any discussion of the classic literature supporting his selection. (Likewise, there is no comparison with TCM or meridian-based therapies employing multiple needles.)
In many cases it is relatively easy to see that a given point has relevance, but not why it was the best point. This single-point method completely bypasses consideration of multiple factors contributing at a deeper level to a particular illness -- regardless of whether these factors are derived by eastern or western diagnostic techniques. I find that omission a bit hard to trust. We apparently have to take it on faith -- and to me that posses a substantially bigger task when only one point is used rather than a group of highly effective points or a meridian.
***In the US some of the author's advice could get a patient and their practitioner into VERY SERIOUS difficulty. (Respectfully, I acknowledge not having any idea how the same situations are handled in China.) For example, on the topic of "coronary atherosclerotic cardiopathy" he recommends deep needling of PC6 toward SJ5. If qi sensation is only local, then he advises pressing with a finger along the PC meridian. He says, "then if no qi up to the heart, stop for 5 minutes and do it again, this time let (???) needle obliquely towards heart. Once patient gets qi, retain the needles 30 minutes. Repeat daily, one course is 10 sessions." Alternatively he describes how acupressure can be performed by the patient as self-care. Under a final discussion heading, he clarifies that the first method with needles should be used in SEVERE and ACUTE cases, while acupressure can be used for mild and chronic cases.
This treatment scenario is frankly scary to me. In the US, for severe and acute cases the practitioner would be expected to first initiate calling for emergency services, if at all possible. And the response from these services would need to be well underway long before 30-40 minutes, most definitely before 10 once-daily sessions have been completed.
Besides these obvious concerns, PC6 is exquisitely close to the median nerve and deep needling even with great care can produce significant discomfort and if not so careful potentially nerve injury -- something that is not mentioned. I don't think that these would be very good experiences in the middle of an anginal attack. The author apparently assumes anyone practicing these techniques is sufficienctly trained, yet represents the books as almost a shortcut for longer traing -- hence my concern.
***Some information is frankly not accurate, though I can't easily determine how much of the problem is due to translational errors. For example, he defines hypotension as less than 90 mmHg systolic and less than 60 mmHg diastolic. he also states that acute hypotension "manifests coma and shock together in the same time" while chronic hypotension "manifests no symptoms or dizziness, giddiness, asthenia, etc". I agree that in adults a systolic <90 is USUALLY considered hypotensive, but not always. Beyond that, I have to disagree with the remainder of his assertions. A patient with acutely low pressures indeed may be in shock or coma, but clearly not always and it is critical to recognize the difference. Likewise some patients (particularly the elderly) with chronic pressures of 90-100 never adapt and do manifest profound symptoms -- they are sufficiently dizzy or lightheaded to have cognitive complications, have strokes, poor flow to vital organs such as the kidney, to have syncopal episodes and fall repeatedly,even breaking their hips or other bones.
***Credibility of the whole book is further compromised by pages 164-165 (the final text page) where the author discusses weight reduction. I quote:
"Reducing weight is for obesity...Clinically, obesity can be divided into simple and secondary types. The former is mainly due to over eating of greasy or sweet food that exceeds the normal consumption of body heat...Such patients do not present endocrinal dysfunctions pituitary their obesity. Secondary obesity is caused by hypothalamic pituitary lesions and over secretion of hydrocortisone. In the meantime, such patients belong to some neurological and endocrinal dysfunctions."
He recommends supine self-acupressure on Ren-4, daily for 30 minutes for a little more than 3 weeks. He reported that in 35 of 44 cases the patients lost 1-5 kg (2 to 10 pounds). He latter comments that "the patient's cooperation was required and that they should eat primarily vegetables and little meat, chicken or sugar. In addition, "the patient should do 1/2 hour of exercise every day".
Here is an example of a pressing need for at least some type of informal control group, with people on the same diet and exercise regimen minus the acupoint treatment. (I am not into demanding sham acupuncture controls as they are not always appropriate -- but something which at least contrasts another group undergoing the same intentionally added non-acupuncture interventions.) Caloric restriction and exercise are a recognized critical part of nearly every successful dietary program of eastern or western origin -- its not clear what rubbing Ren-4 adds to that. If anything significant could be attributed to it, then I think by now there would be a vast world-wide cult proclaiming the merits of lower belly massage.
In summary, if you buy this volume I definitely recommend using professional discretion. Beware. There may indeed be isolated pearls. I plan to keep my copy and scan through it intermittently. However, I feel that it is best to approach his treatment plans for diseases which pose significant danger for mortality or morbidity with marked skepticism. Ask what is missing here? What else do I have to consider? What are the consequences of being wrong? Most importantly, if available, when do I need to enlist truly urgent broader medical assistance first (such as in the case of an acute heart attack, I think alternative health providers in the United States would expect to call 911, request an ambulance, aspirin, oxygen and other things if necessary) before turning attention to supplemental interventions. In less desperate situations, it still seems prudent to ask yourself when you would serve the patient better by employing multiple points and/or working via an integrated medicine model in order to reach deeper than just puncturing one point per symptom.
10 of 12 people found the above review helpful.
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 It's good for what it is.... basic, simple, and fun!, June 21, 2008
By Doc
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I bought the book in LA Chinatown (greatwall bookstore) for $10.
Great little book, don't expect to treat it all with this book..
However, its great to use for the 1st time patient!
I enjoy using these points for intoduction to acupuncture.
The points are basic, the same ones we learned from school, and the case studies are as basic as they come.
I use the 3 point treatments more than the single ones, however, thats just my preference.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Buy it, you'll use it!, January 12, 2008
By Dr Bill
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Teacher Chen packs a great deal into this little book! Talk about minimalist treatment, this one takes the cake! This is definately not for the beginner. Point charts, while complete for this work, are general at best. This book is nearly "carry around" size (5.5 x 8 inches) and should work well for the practitioner.
Shudo Denmei's "Finding Effective Acupuncture Points" would make a perfect accompaniment for incredible healing work.
These are my two favorites this year!
8 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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practical acupuncture, December 18, 2007
By harold jitschak bueno de mesquita
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I like these "one point" acupuncture books.
quite a few of these points have been published in "journal of traditional chinese medicine" and i have used them with good experience.
The book is quite high in price, but i do recommend it!
2 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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