Continuing education
Understanding channel interactions is key to effective acupuncture treatments. In this 2-day course, you will gain deep insight into how channels interact based on their inherent nature and characteristics. Through exploring the Unified Acupuncture Theory (UAT) model, you will learn how to recognize and optimize channel relationships for better clinical results.
This course breaks down various channel interaction approaches to their fundamental building blocks, allowing you to understand and apply various systems easily and effectively. You'll gain a clear understanding of how channels interact using 6 different systems and how principles from multiple traditions - including Dr. Tan's Balance Method, I-Ching, Distal Needling with Imaging and Mirroring, 5 Element Theory, Saam Acupuncture, Master Tung's Acupuncture, Japanese Meridian Theory, and Applied Channel Theory - are unified into a coherent system that underlies all these principles.
Understanding Channel Interactions
To learn how meridians interact, start by remembering this simple rule: do not put needles where there is already pain, but instead choose a distal location to relieve the pain and treat the underlying problem. This is the root of meridian interactions and all other distal needling approaches.
The key is recognizing that effective point selection comes from understanding how channels naturally interact. Rather than memorizing point combinations, you'll learn to:
This means you can say goodbye to memorizing acupuncture points and applying rigid treatment plans. Jonathan Shubs will guide you in understanding channel dynamics, allowing you to develop flexible, effective treatment strategies based on natural channel relationships.
Course Benefits
For practitioners already familiar with distal needling or balance method systems, this course will deepen your understanding of what you're already practicing, increasing both efficiency and efficacy. You'll gain:
Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us that each point has specific functions and indications, often without explaining why or how the point works. This course demystifies this seemingly empirical information, giving you confidence in your treatment strategy while helping you understand why your patients will get better.
A note from Jonathan on the course
There are many approaches that teach the same basic idea. Dr. Tan’s Balance method, Master Tung’s acupuncture, Distal Needling, to name a few, give you a basic simple system that if applied exactly as taught, will give clinical results.
What makes UAT meridian interactions different is that it breaks down the systems and the logic into bite-size bits and reassembles them so not only do you have a system that you can use, but you have a system that you can understand. This means that in this course you will get all the information you would get from any other distal needling approach AND you will leave with understanding why it works. Many people say, “why do I need to know why it works? If it works that is good enough for me.” As much as I can understand that view, I have to disagree. Because IF you have a system that you do not understand but can use then you can not adjust, incorporate your previous or new knowledge, or evolve as a therapist. Without understanding you are limiting yourself. And I would argue that it is a disservice to yourself and especially to your patients.
My opinion is that with UAT Meridian Interactions you learn how to do it, why it works and most importantly you learn to incorporate all the other styles of acupuncture you have learned or will learn. With other courses you are limited to only using their method. With UAT you are invited to understand the mechanisms of the system and then create your own style.
Theory objectives
Clinical objectives
Course structure
Day 1: theory of meridians and seeing all 6 systems
Day 2: application of all six systems going meridian by meridian and complex case studies.
Material and hand-outs
The course has 4 handouts as well as a PowerPoint presentation.
Jonathan Shubs