I have come to the realization that almost everyone who comes in for treatment has some sort of neck and/or shoulder tension–whether they are complaining of pain or not.

Also, patients who have a lot of stress and anxiety (and of course the neck and shoulder tension that goes with it) also have a lot of splits in their graph. I think all patients benefit from a little attention to the neck and shoulders now and again.

Relieving tension helps the whole treatment to go better and it is a wonderful preventative technique to avoid musculoskeletal problems later.

AcuGraph gives an array of treatment strategies for any given case presentation, depending on which icon you click, in the upper left corner of your screen.

You can choose from:

• Basic Treatment: Rydoraku theory
• Advanced treatment: Five element theory
• Expert Treatment: Rydoraku and/or five element theory–depending on the patient’s previous history
• Auricular Treatment: Channel theory in the ear
• Back Shu Treatment: TCM theory
• Divergent Treatment: TCM theory
• Spinal Subluxations: Chiropractic theory
• AcuHerb: Channel theory
• Custom Treatment: Anything you choose!

One of the things I love about AcuGraph is the fact that I can use the resources available in the system and/or customize the program according to my own treatment methods.

I have developed a treatment protocol that I use in my private practice that addresses balancing the graph AND treating muscle tension in the back, neck and shoulders. I call it the Neck Pain / Shoulder Pain Balance Treatment.

Disclosure: My educational background is in TCM. Many instructors had differing opinions with regard to the need to “tonify” or “sedate” an acupuncture point. Some even taught that if you simply treat the point, the body will know what to do with the energy.

Within AcuGraph, if you click on the icon for back shu treatment recommendations, it only gives suggestions for treating the excess and deficient channels, and splits are typically addressed by treating with Luo points or Divergent channel recommendations.

This custom Neck Pain / Shoulder Pain Balance Treatment. was created by me, personally, with my experience that treating the Shu points will balance the meridians–regardless of whether it presents with a split, a deficiency or an excess.

I have created custom treatment recommendations into my AcuGraph system so that anytime an EXCESS, DEFICIENCY and/or a SPLIT comes up, the “custom protocol” automatically suggests treating the back Shu points.

This way, if I choose to do my own custom Neck Pain / Shoulder Pain Balance Treatment, I can just print out the custom treatment and walk into the treatment room with a list of everything I need to treat quickly and effectively.

Custom treatment protocols are really EASY to create:

• Click on Reference
• Click on Treatment
• Click on Custom
• Click on New
• Click on Excess, Deficiency or Split, as applicable
• Type in the recommended point or treatment for the imbalance you selected
• Click on Save

I simply took the time to put a recommendation under every excess, deficiency, and split to treat the back Shu point. Because I don’t always remember exactly which vertebra each point is under, I also put a reminder about the location–so that this treatment could be done without looking anything up. This allows me to print off the custom treatment recommendation and everything is at my fingertips for QUICK and EFFECTIVE treatment.

Example Patient: This patient came in with a lot of tension and stress. I decided that she would benefit from my Tension/Balance Treatment. So, I simply clicked on the custom treatment recommendation and it spit out a list of back shu points to balance this graph. After I treated the Shu points on her back it was really easy to add in needles for her upper back and shoulder tension.

Custom Treatment Recommendations

• Lung Meridian Split: BL 13 FeiShu (Lung Shu) – 1.5 from T3
• Tripple Heater Meridian Split: BL 22 SanJiaoShu (Triple Burner Shu) – 1.5 from L1
• Small Intestine Meridian Split: BL 27 XiaoChangShu (Small Intestine Shu) – S1 Sacral Foramen
• Pericardium Meridian Excessive: BL 14 JueYinShu (Terminal Yin Back Shu) – 1.5 from T4
• Large Intestine Meridian Excessive: BL 25 DaChangShu (Large Intestine Back Shu) – 1.5 from L4
• Spleen Meridian Deficient: BL 20 Pishu (Spleen back Shu) – 1.5 from T11

Points to add in: There are a variety of points I might add in for the tension. Here are a few of my favorites:

SI 11 Tian Zong (Heavenly Gathering): Pain in the shoulder blade, arm and elbow, fullness in the chest.

GB 21 Jian Jing (Shoulder Well): Stiffness in the neck, shoulder and back, inability to move the arm.

BL58 Fei Yang (Soaring Upwards): Lumbar pain, headache, swelling and pain in the lower limbs.

BL 60 Kun Lun (Kunlun Mountains): Headache, stiff neck, weakness of the shoulder and arm, lumbar pain.

SI 3 Hou Xi (Back Stream) & BL 62 Shen Mai (Extending Vessel): Opens the Governing Vessel (spine).

I hope you enjoy experimenting with my Neck Pain / Shoulder Pain Balance Treatment.

Giving the patient scientific evidence of how their condition is improving is VERY beneficial.  I’ve found that patients tend to share their graph results with at least 3 family members or friends.

Providing the patients with scientific evidence that confirms how much better they’re feeling has resulted in more referrals for my practice.

If you’re not using the AcuGraph in your practice you are missing ALL of these benefits. 

Maybe you have questions than what this little article has provided? I know I did! Click here to view a short video and be sure to sign-up for the next Webinar.

Have you created any custom recommendations for your patients?

If so, we would love to hear about them.

Have a great week!

Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac.Acupuncture Research Analyst
Miridia Technology Inc.