An Exploration of Favorite Points- Lessons from Applied Channel Theory

We hope to offer a similar series in 2026 with Jason Robertson, Yefim Gamgoneishvili, Nyssa Tang, and Jonathan Chang.

Starting January 2023, we held an interactive four-part live seminar that took place in San Diego with a series of three-day intensive hands-on classes. Applied Channel Theory (經絡醫學 jīng luò yī xué) is a current of thinking in contemporary acupuncture which strives to reintroduce classical physiological systems in the modern clinic. Developed by Beijing professor Wang Juyi (王居易) during 50 years of practice, it is an approach to diagnosis and treatment which allows for innovation and flexibility.  The goal of this series is not to provide a collection of protocols for individual diseases but instead to foster a conceptualization in each student’s mind of a moving, living system. Through the development and application of a classical way of seeing physiology and pathology, students will open doors to new clinical insight while creating skills for truly individualized acupuncture treatments.

At the heart of Applied Channel Theory is a belief that clinical results will improve significantly if one can combine classical systems with palpatory diagnostic technique.  For this reason, a true transmission of Professor Wang’s life work must include not only theory but also technical training in careful channel examination. Before his passing in 2017, Dr. Wang would invite students for two-week extended seminars in his Beijing clinic.  Lectures would be followed by clinical demonstration and hands-on palpation practice so that each student could develop an acupuncture style of their own that is rooted in core classical foundations.

It is exciting to have an opportunity to re-create this more thorough training in Applied Channel Theory for students in the 21st century.  The structure of the class will involve a free online introduction followed by four live seminars over a 7-month period. By spreading the information out over a series of interactive lectures, students will be able to learn at a natural pace while slowly integrating this palpation-based system into their own clinical work.

This class was a rare opportunity to study with three official apprentices of Professor Wang Juyi.

Class Details:

Part One- January 13-15, 2023 (three days) - 9AM-5PM daily - Dr. Jason Robertson, DAHM, MS

Taiyin and Yangming Systems, Diagnosis and Treatment

This first three-day event will provide a more thorough overview of the fundamentals of Applied Channel Theory, channel palpation in diagnosis and six-channel physiology.  Days two and three will explore the physiology of the Taiyin (lung/spleen) and Yangming (large intestine/stomach) systems.  Class format will alternate between lecture and hands-on practice. Cost of the course is $650. $585 (10% discount) If paid by January 1. — approved for 22 California and NCCAOM CEUs —

    Subjects Covered:

• Exposition of six channel physiology

• Practice of the distal channel palpation techniques of Wang Juyi 

• An exploration of Taiyin and Yangming physiology 

• Discussion and palpation practice diagnosing the Taiyin and Yangming channels

• Discussion and point location practice of effective Taiyin/Yangming point pairs 

• Clinical Application of Taiyin and Yangming Point Pairings

Part Two- March 10-12, 2023 (three days) -  9AM-5PM daily - Yefim Gamgoneishvili, MS

Shaoyin and Taiyang Systems, Diagnosis and Treatment

The second three-day event will include a detailed discussion of the source, collateral and cleft points.  Days two and three will explore the physiology of the Shaoyin (heart/kidney) and Taiyang (small intestine/bladder) systems.  Class format will alternate between lecture and hands-on practice. Cost of the course is $650. $585 (10% discount) If paid by February 10, 2023. — 21 NCCAOM and CA CEUs are approved —

    Subjects Covered:

• The concept of source qi and the uses of the 12 source points

• Discussion of collateral points and their clinical application

• Discussion of the xi-cleft points and their clinical application 

• An exploration of Shaoyin and Taiyang physiology 

• Discussion and palpation practice diagnosing the Shaoyin and Taiyang channels

• Discussion and point location practice of effective Shaoyin/Taiyang point pairs 

• Clinical Application of Shaoyin and Taiyang Point Pairings

Part Three- May 12-14, 2023 (three days) -  9AM-5PM daily -  Nyssa Tang, MS

Jueyin and Shaoyang Systems, Diagnosis and Treatment

The third three-day event will include a detailed discussion of the five transport points.  Days two and three will explore the physiology of the Jueyin (pericardium/liver) and Shaoyang (sanjiao/gallbladder) systems.  Class format will alternate between lecture and hands-on practice.  Cost of the course is $650. $585 (10% discount) If paid by April 12, 2023. — Approved for 21 NCCAOM and CA CEUs —

    Subjects Covered:

• The development of channel qi and clinical application of the five transport points

• Discussion of cleft points and their clinical application

• An exploration of Jueyin and Shaoyang physiology 

• Discussion and palpation practice diagnosing the Jueyin and Shaoyang channels

• Discussion and point location practice of effective Jueyin/Shaoyang point pairs 

• Clinical Application of Jueyin and Shaoyang Point Pairings

Part Four- July 7-9, 2023 (three days) -  9AM-5PM daily - Yefim Gamgoneisvili, MS

Clinical Practicum and a discussion of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels

For the final three-day event, students will have an opportunity to present questions about previously presented material, fine-tune point location skills and observe patient treatments live.  Intentionally held a few months after the third class meeting, this gathering will serve to cement ongoing clinical application of Applied Channel Theory. This final class will also include a discussion of Dr. Wang’s understanding and clinical application of Extraordinary Vessel theory. This material will include a review of the description of the extraordinary vessels in the Classic of Difficulties (Nanjing).  Cost of the course is $650. $585 (10% discount) If paid by June 7, 2023. — approved for 21 NCCAOM and CA CEUs —

    Subjects Covered:

• Student Questions about clinical application 

• Live Case Demonstrations

• A discussion of the theory and application of the eight extraordinary vessels

• Practice of needle technique as the final step on proper point location

• Introduction and clinical application of the Extraordinary Vessels in ACT 

More information about Applied Channel Theory, including articles in English and Chinese can be found at www.channelpalpation.org

California and NCCAOM CEUs are approved for all portions. Email emsablosky@gmail.com to sign up or for questions.

*Please not the refund policy: 20% refund if no show or less than 2 days before the start of the portion for which you are registered. 40% refund given if cancellation up to 5 days in advance and 70% if two weeks or more in advance*

About the Instructors

Dr. Jason D. Robertson is the co-author of Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine (Eastland Press, 2008) with his teacher Professor Wang Ju-yi (王居易). Mr. Robertson has studied Chinese language for 30 years and trained in Chinese medicine in Chengdu and Beijing. He currently maintains a private practice in Seattle, WA USA and is a full-time faculty member at the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine (www.sieam.edu). Dr. Robertson has taught courses on acupuncture channel theory and diagnosis around the world and is one of five official apprentices of Wang Juyi.

Yefim Gamgoneishvili has been teaching Chinese Medicine since 1997. In 1998 he met Dr. Wang Ju Yi and started studying Applied Channel Theory, which became the core of his clinical approach. For many years he organized numerous student trips to Beijing for training in Applied Channel Theory. Yefim teaches seminars on the subject of Applied Channel Theory and channel-based orthopedics in the United States and abroad and is one of five official apprentices of Wang Juyi.

Nyssa Tang is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a Masters degree from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York. She first met Dr. Wang Ju Yi in 2003 and is one of his five senior apprentices. She has been in private practice in New York City since 2005, utilizing Applied Channel Theory to treat a wide variety of conditions. In addition to seeing patients, Nyssa continues to teach Dr. Wang’s theories and techniques in post-graduate courses, both domestically and abroad.