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Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture: Principles and Practice
by Richard A. Feely, DO
Reviewed By Stephen M. Burns, MD
THIS MUST-HAVE BOOK is clearly written, well organized,
and represents a golden opportunity to add Yamamoto
New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) to one's acupuncture armamentarium.
Whether your preferred learning mode is
well-crafted prose, illustrations, algorithms, or step-by-step
"live" demonstrations on the enclosed DVD, this small volume
offers it all.
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The text may be seen as comprising roughly five segments
or elements. The first segment begins with a definition and
brief history of YNSA and describes its place among the various
acupuncture microsystems. The two YNSA systems for
diagnosis are briefly described. The text then embarks on a
consideration of the needling of YNSA Basic and Ypsilon
points to relieve somatic and visceral problems. Throughout
this chapter and the text, the author references principles of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Five Elements/Five
Phases, and French Energetics, making this book accessible to
readers approaching it from many backgrounds.
The second segment is the longest chapter in the book, in
which the author explores the great traditions of Oriental
Medicine, focusing on the roots, philosophy, and key principles,
as well as a careful explanation of the terminology.
The material covered may be daunting for those with less
familiarity with the various aspects of TCM, but others will
find it rewarding and succinctly presented. These 20. pages
offer a rich summary of many complex ideas beginning with
the concepts of Qi, Blood, Essence, and Spirit, and moving
into a succinct discourse on the nature of Yin and Yang and
their applications in medicine. Next comes a consideration
of the Five Phases/Five Elements system, amply illustrated
with charts and tables, that leads into a description of the
various clinical syndromes that can be expected with either
repletion or vacuity states. A brief look at diagnosis by the
TCM Eight Principles method is followed by a longer consideration
of Acupuncture Channel Theory and its implications
for explaining the electrical action of the YNSA needle
on the biomagnetic field of the scalp. Bruce Pomeranz's
17 different lines of modern experimental scientific evidence
supporting acupuncture are briefly visited. The chapter
closes with Feely's contention that the YNSA needle produces
its effects by biomechanically separating high-density,
electrically resistant microcalcium bridges in the scalp,
thereby evoking an electrical potential change in the scalp
and affecting the entire fascial system.
After a very brief review of the indications, contraindications,
and side effects of YNSA, the author begins the third
segment of the text: the algorithms for using the YNSA neck
diagnosis points and the YNSA abdominal diagnosis points.
Both are well explained with descriptive texts, schematic diagrams,
and clear anatomical diagrams. However, without the
enclosed DVD, one might feel unprepared to fully evaluate a
patient with just these algorithms.
The fourth segment includes the two chapters on the YNSA
Basic and Ypsilon points, with a few extra points included.
Each chapter describes the point itself and the technique used
to piqure the point, along with the indications for its use. The
chapter on Ypsilon points also provides a list of the 12 primary
channel pathways and a succinct description of how
pathology in each channel will likely manifest. As noted, the
DVD provides clinical demonstrations of finding and palpating
the points, clarifying the diagnostic algorithm, and the location
of the Basic and Ypsilon points.
The final segment of the book is largely focused on clinical
YNSA applications. Feely spends a few pages describing
some YNSA special points and their specific medical
indications. After an in-depth look at “everything you need
to know about needles and needling, he provides 25 YNSA
treatment protocols that are largely weighted toward the relief
of pain, but include non-pain syndromes such as aphasia,
stroke, and tinnitus.
Twelve illustrative case reports complete the main text. A
traditional Western medicine format of "chief complaint, history,
key physical findings, and diagnosis" is used to introduce
the problem. The treatment chosen is then described, with the
specific YNSA diagnostics and treatment included last.
The 3 appendices are brief but quite useful. They include
5 colored diagrams demonstrating the YNSA collection of
points, a sample 2-page YNSA acupuncture clinic note, and
14 useful Internet resources, including several "must know"
sites that should be saved as "favorites" on each acupuncturist's
computer.
I found this book to be an excellent reference work, extremely
well organized, and I greatly enjoyed the small
touches such as the appendices and the Chinese proverbs that
bracket each chapter. Feely's readily apparent mastery of the
principles of TCM, Five Elements, and French Energetics,
and his facility for explaining them, helped to ground scalp
acupuncture in an innovative, logical approach consistent with
the major fields of Oriental Medicine. I heartily recommend
adding this slim volume to your acupuncture library and
adding the techniques to your daily practice.
Reviewed by
Stephen M. Burns, Colonel, USAF, MC, MD, FS
79th Medical Operations Squadron
Malcolm Grow Medical Center
1050 West Perimeter Road
Andrews AFB, MD 20762
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