Rujukan

Contemporary Acupuncture Diagnosis - EMI"

John A. Amaro L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM), DC

In 1951 Dr.Yoshio Nakatani M.D., Ph.D developed a method of examining the meridian system of the body thru electronic measurements which altered the way acupuncture would be practiced throughout Japan, Europe, Australia and North America. Referred to as "Ryodoraku" by Nakatani its use would become international within 25 years of discovery.
In approximately 1957 a medical delegation from the People's Republic of China visited Japan and became fascinated with Dr. Nakatani's discovery. The Chinese delegation visited Nakatani's clinic making detailed observations into the procedure and were amazed at both the theory and therapeutic effects. Following the delegations return to The People's Republic of China, the daily newspapers published several articles concerning Ryodoraku examination and treatment together with case reports of treatment. Requests were made of Dr. Nakatani to visit the PRC however due to political concerns, Nakatani declined all invitations. Ultimately reports of ryodoraku and electronic evaluation of the meridian system would stop coming from China. It is agreed by authorities that needle/electronic analgesia developed in China was spawned by Nakatani's original work.
Nakatani first developed the procedure of electronic evaluation of the meridian system by measuring skin conductance at the Yuan (Source) point of the wrist and ankle. By doing so he created one of the most significant acupuncture diagnostic methods that has yet to be created in either contemporary or traditional acupuncture. When one compares the findings of learned Asian Masters of acupuncture using pulse diagnosis, with the findings of Ryodoraku, the meridians which are shown to be involved are identical. Masters of acupuncture are known to palpate the 12 pulse positions for as long as 15-30 minutes per wrist in select cases. Electronic evaluation of the 12 Yuan points takes less than a total of two minutes regardless of the complications of the case.



Electronic measurement evaluation of the patients Yuan points do not determine the same indications that analyzing the specific 28 pulse characteristics seen in proper pulse diagnosis do. It does however, determine if an individual meridian is excess or deficient in comparison to the entire meridian system average of the 12 primary meridians.
When one finds an elevated or deficient meridian on Ryodoraku, the treatment approach is to specifically tonifiy or sedate the acupuncture points known to replenish or deplete biomagnetic energy. By doing so this action will create balance in the meridians. Electronic measurements are ascertained by examining the bilateral 24 specific Yuan points of the wrist and ankles for only three seconds per point.



Ryodoraku is practiced by measuring the Source point with an inexpensive instrument designed specifically for this purpose. By adding the measured values of each of the 12 meridian exam points together, dividing by 24 (representing the 12 bilateral meridians) the practitioner may develop a base average, the status of the meridians may be determined by being too high or too low in relation to the base average. In the mid 1980's, the art of electronic evaluation for diagnostic purposes in acupuncture entered into high technology by incorporating computer enhanced evaluation.



One of the most significant discoveries of Ryodoraku was the discovery of split meridians which had never before been seen or described in the history of acupuncture until the discovery of Ryodoraku. For example, in pulse diagnosis, the pulse of the Spleen, Lung and San Jiao meridian are always found in the right wrist, whereas the Gallbladder, Kidney and Liver are always analyzed in the left wrist. When one derives a diagnosis from the 28 pulse qualities, it can reveal a multitude of factors which can only be ascertained thru the pulse, however it cannot and does not reveal what the Ryodoraku has discovered.
Because Ryodoraku evaluation utilizes measurements of the Yuan points bilaterally, it often reveals especially in severe cases, the meridians exhibiting a split in numerical value between left and right sides of the body. As Ryodoraku measures the Yuan points of both sides of the body, it is able to detect a diagnostic situation that was virtually unknown until the invention of the Ryodoraku. By utilizing the LUO point of the split meridian, a correction can be made in a split (left to right) meridian. LUO points classically and traditionally are used to link a coupled meridian, such as Lung / Large Intestine. In Auriculotherapy, this correction between splits can be treated by the Master Oscillation Point.
Evaluation of the Musculo-Tendino meridians seen in Orthopedic conditions are ascertained by the same procedure but using the Tsing (Jing-Well) points. Yuan point and Tsing point evaluation are two entirely different examinations of two different meridian systems.
The system of Ryodoraku was re-named "Electro Meridian Imaging" (EMI) by
Dr. John A. Amaro in 1982. It gave the procedure a more contemporary descriptive term for todays patient. This electronic method of evaluation is reliable, duplicable, easy to learn and employ, as well as being extremely simple to explain to the patient. It is literally changing the way acupuncture is being used both diagnostically and therapeutically internationally.
With EMI being available to acupuncturists and physicians through computer enhanced imaging, it has become state of the art to allow a trained technician or practitioner themselves to conduct this significant diagnosis in less than two minutes. The computer hardware requirement is of an easy to use simple design that currently requires a computer running a minimum of 486K with a Windows operation system. It is attractive, professional and impressive to both the doctor and patient. Referrals for this electronic acupuncture examination are numerous to overwhelming. The typical Western minded patient exhibits much more confidence in this contemporary electronic computer enhanced style of examination than ancient pulse diagnosis. It allows the patient to take home a printed copy of their graphic interpretation as well as diagnostic criteria. In addition, a copy of involved meridians may be printed or specific points the patient may use at home to accelerate clinical response.
Space limits the full explanation of this procedure. Should any reader of this column wish an "Electro Meridian (EMI) descriptive booklet which shows the examination procedure in detail along with the computer screens from the software, simply send your request to DrAmaro@IAMA.edu You may also send your request directly to www.acupuncturetoday.com see "Columnist" go to Dr.Amaro at Contemporary Asian Healing go to "Talk Back" and log your request.


 2. The Korean "Four Point" System

John A. Amaro L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM), DC

In my last article "Acupuncture Diagnosis in a Chiropractic/Medical Practice" (Dynamic Chiropractic - October 18, 1999), I discussed the high technology acupuncture examination known as "Ryodoraku" or "Electro Meridian imaging" to determine the status of the meridian system.
Since pulse diagnosis as classically taught, only allows the practitioner to see a maximum of 6 to 8 patients a day, many practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have begun to use modern diagnostic procedures along with classical acupuncture stimulation techniques.
Of course one of the most important issues in clinical acupuncture is without question the establishing of a proper diagnosis. This includes determining which of the 12 meridians are involved by either being too high in electro magnetic energy, too low or split between left and right sides of the body.
Once the status of the meridians are determined by Electro Meridian Imaging (Ryodoraku) or by Traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis, it is imperative to balance the meridians to normalcy by toniflying the low meridians and sedating the high ones. In Five Element acupuncture, balancing between involved meridians is classical and focuses on borrowing excessive energy to supply those meridians that are too low.
Acupuncture has numerous approaches around the world to include virtually every Asian nation. However, the Koreans approximately 600 years ago, developed one of the most significant techniques of balancing the meridians which is virtually unknown to most acupuncturists except those in Korea and extreme northern China. The procedure is also very well known in the northern islands of Japan.
The technique requires the use of four specific acupuncture points for each meridian that is shown to be either too high or too low. Whereas in Chinese acupuncture, the utilization of the single "tonification" or "sedation" point is all that is classically used.
Even though simple tonification and sedation will suffice in most cases, for those stubborn conditions that are having great difficulty in establishing a balance, this Korean system is ideal. This technique will balance meridians when other procedures will not.
The four steps for a "deficient" meridian are:
1. Tonify the Horary point of the Mother organ
2. Tonify the Mother organs element point on the affected organ
3. Sedate the Horary point of the controlling meridian (KO cycle)
4. Sedate the controlling organs element point on the affected organ
The four steps for an "excessive" meridian are:
1. Tonify the Horary point of the controlling organ (KO cycle)
2. Tonify the controlling organs element point on the affected organ
3. Sedate the Horary point on the "son" organ
4. Sedate the son organs element point on the affected organ
The fact of the matter is, once a meridian is determined to be too high or too low, rather than going through the procedure of figuring out which points to use, the points are always the same for each meridian either being too high or too low. Follow the provided chart to achieve some of the most spectacular clinical results you will ever experience.
When the following meridians are "DEFICIENT" treat:

Meridian	TONIFY	SEDATE
LUNG	SP3 LU9	HT8 LU10
LARGE INTESTINE	ST36 LI11	SI5 LI5
STOMACH	SI5 ST41	GB41 ST43
SPLEEN	HT8 SP2	LIV1 SP1
HEART	LIV1 HT9	KI10 HT3
SMALL INTESTINE	GB41 SI3	BL66 SI2
BLADDER	LI1 BL67	ST36 BL54
KIDNEY	LU8 KI7	SP3 KI3
PERICARDIUM	LIV1 P9	KI10 P3
TRI-HEATER	GB41 TH3	BL66 TH2
GALLBLADDER	BL66 GB43	LI1 GB44
LIVER	KI10 LIV8	LU8 LIV4

When the following meridians are "EXCESSIVE" treat:

Meridian	TONIFY	SEDATE
LUNG	HT8 LU10	KI10 LU5
LARGE INTESTINE	SI5 LI5	BL66 LI2
STOMACH	GB41 ST43	LI1 ST45
SPLEEN	LIV1 SP1	LU8 SP5
HEART	KI10 HT3	SP3 HT7
SMALL INTESTINE	BL66 GB40	ST36 SI8
BLADDER	ST36 BL54	GB41 BL65
KIDNEY	SP3 KI3	LIV1 KI1
PERICARDIUM	KI10 P3	SP3 P7
TRI-HEATER	BL66 TH2	ST36 TH10
GALLBLADDER	LI1 GB44	SI5 GB38
LIVER	LU8 LIV4	HT8 LIV2

Try balancing the involved meridians you have discovered with EMI evaluation with this ancient Korean approach. It has few equals. I personally use it in the most difficult cases.