Institute of Neijing Research

Institute of Neijing Research Scholar-physicians researching and practicing the medicine and culture of the Huangdi Neijing 黃帝內經

Mai-vessel (脈) assessment to determine exact pathological characteristics of the jing-longitudinal patterned pathways (經...
04/09/2026

Mai-vessel (脈) assessment to determine exact pathological characteristics of the jing-longitudinal patterned pathways (經) extends far beyond the radial pulse in the Neijing. Direct palpation of movement quality and subsequent tissue changes at any and ALL pulsation sites followed by direct needling to them (aka maici 脈刺) is one of more distinctive traits of this tradition (and further defines the INR P.A.T.H method). Especially when assessing the shou shaoyin xinmai (手少陰心脈）or heart channel - where the majority of diseases seen in clinic today related to this path-organ relationship actually are manifestations of illness in surrounding circulatory structure (namely the xinbaoluo 心包絡, pericardium addressed via its pathway).

To truly determine whether the heart channel has disease we must clearly assess the gateway to its most vital guest, the Shen 神. Here we can receive and perceive the clearest of messages about heart-zang functionality. It is also here we can impact it through direct needling if need be. Of course this does not mean the channel complex does not have xue-cavities (穴), in fact the environmental terrain is frequently treated in clinic.

For those of you in the INR Clinic Neijing Program we will be assessing the shou shaoyin, its manifested illness and subsequent diagnosis shortly. One of the shortest discussions with profound depth.

It’s a true rarity that I feel an excited anticipation about modern Chinese medical texts. I have been familiar with Hua...
31/08/2026

It’s a true rarity that I feel an excited anticipation about modern Chinese medical texts. I have been familiar with Huang Long Xiang’s work for a while, crossing paths with his early papers on occasion, having a book or two on my shelf. To be honest, due to both my own strict study and idiotic ignorance, I did not pay him as much attention as he deserves. It was Corey who brought his extensive research to me, and once I realised the depth of his commitment I knew just how vital his works are and will be.

Huang is not a Neijing researcher—what he does goes far beyond single text inquiry. He draws from multiple sources, over multiple timelines, in a unique way that clears the lenses of our investigation into any text pertaining to the study of acupuncture. This too, is a rarity. His ability to create links in historic artefact, language, and structure really shines through all of his works (which I have now sat with properly!). Corey’s translation does all of this justice, and it’s really only the beginning.

This book should not be read. It should be studied. There is a distinct difference between these two acts that must be embodied in order for this medicine to properly surge forward as a future practice.

Thank you Corey for approaching me to contribute to this work. I guess that little seminar over a decade ago on renying / cunkou (in Kansas!?) you attended was somewhat worth it after all!

This year, at the AACMAC 2026, I’ll be presenting a short talk on some of the patho-physiological models within the syst...
23/07/2026

This year, at the AACMAC 2026, I’ll be presenting a short talk on some of the patho-physiological models within the system of the INR. Models which guide clinical rationale, needling strategy, and broaden perspective of delving into complex chronic disease. The presentation will draw from the source text of the Huangdi Neijing, looking at overflow and linear paths of disease metamorphosis, the beautifully presented Lingshujing pathological lodgement theory, as well as the last two decades of my clinical practice exploring these ideas.

Layered into this will of course be the core of the INR’s treatment intervention: level-based needling. Where tool and technique reign supreme.

Unfortunately, due to family commitments, my talk will not be in person but via the online portion. My thanks the AACMA in their understand of my last minute change in this.

Looking forward to it!!

I have been so fortunate in my clinical life to have studied to great depths the unique approaches of technical acupunct...
20/06/2026

I have been so fortunate in my clinical life to have studied to great depths the unique approaches of technical acupuncture.

One such approach that has had significant impact on my lectures and practice is fire-quenching needling (焠刺) which can be linked to standard fire / heated needling (火針 or 燔針）. I was fortunate enough to learn foundations as a teen both before and after college, then a brief stint in Beijing sitting with He Puren studying He Santong (note I do not consider myself a student of He, it was visiting practice over years not much else).

However, immense clinical efficacy aside, cuici became a cornerstone of my lectures - it is very performative, exciting, and tangible in the classroom. It’s also a great teaching tool for those wishing to enhance their freehand needling confidence.

Why mention this? From 2027 the INR will be offering a number of proper certification courses in technical needling of the Neijing. Courses designed for all levels, from those new to needling to those with decades of experience. All firmly principled in our lineages approach and the source material. Clinically accurate level based and action efficient needling rooted in structured diagnostics is so vital for all of us to better our engagement in clinic.

In light of this we will be adjusting so much of the foundational theory lectures, releasing many publicly for the first time, and restructuring our website. So please stay tuned - and as always if you’d like to register interest for future in person workshops please email the INR: [email protected]

Photo courtesy of Ethan Murchie from the INR’s latest workshop in London Millers Way Project

Restricting your practice to distal needling is not medicine. Restricting your practice to local needling is not medicin...
25/05/2026

Restricting your practice to distal needling is not medicine. Restricting your practice to local needling is not medicine. Restricting your practice to fewer needles is not medicine. Restricting your practice to many needles is not medicine.

Restricting any component of your clinical engagement is not medicine.

However:

Understanding precisely why, how, and where pathology has lodged, where it has come from, and where it is heading based on refined clinical diagnostics is medicine.

Engaging that pathology through the correct number and type of needles, the correct technique, at the correct level, is medicine.

This fad, and it is a fad, of purposefully restricting one’s practice for the sake of it does not align with how this medicine was designed or implemented. Doing this instead of learning the underlying mechanisms of the systems that have been designed by the founders is nothing but damaging.

There is no distal or local.
No few or many.

There is only what is right.

22/05/2026

Understanding our needling tools (九針) interaction with cold (寒) is so important to classical acupuncture. It literally defines most of the Neijing’s approach to pathology!

This video is part of a recent 4 day cifa (刺法, or needling technique) practicum in London - it follows a rather intense demonstration of bone needling utilising Duanci (短刺) for deep set bone-obstruction (骨痺). After needling, further palpation was required on a very taut and rubbery subject (thank you James)! And I decided to demonstrate how the chisel / knife needle (針刀) can be combined with the commonly practiced Qici (齊刺) for the sake of concentrated cold lodged within the fen-divisions (分) of the hip. Even a fourth needle was required and produced deep satisfying sensations.

This is deep needling with a thick (.70) flat chisel head needle. It is a unique approach to creating space in hard to reach places where cold likes to linger. Of course not all my techniques are deep and utilise thick needles, as I’ll share shortly, some are delicate and require a subtle approach. This is level-based needling and forms so much of how acupuncture was, is, and should be practiced.

Thank you to Deborah Wolfe for filming my demonstration!

As acupuncture-physicians our goal should at all times be to engage action efficient needling. How we interact with the ...
30/04/2026

As acupuncture-physicians our goal should at all times be to engage action efficient needling. How we interact with the five-fold tissue matrix, with the varying divisions and spaces between them, with the circulatory movements of the still and moving vessels all demands precision in action. This is needling technique. And part of that refinement is the selection of the correct tool, whether lightly brushing the skin, separating flesh, or deeply scraping the bone.

These needles, mostly handmade by David White (me!) are to assist my students next week in our 4 day clinical practicum for the INR Clinical Neijing Program in London . They are rough on purpose, but the tips (for the most part) are true to classical description. These ones are non-insertion arrow, millet, and rounded needles used for pressure on the skin structures, mai-vessels, and various spaces of the flesh divisions. Of course we will be needling with insertion needles like mad too.

Our goal will be refinement of the correct pressure at various site of the body, experimenting with different needle tips, thickness, lengths. Tool and technique.

This will naturally be blended with correct diagnostic procedure and identifiers to round out the INR Pathological Assessment to Treatment Homogeneity (PATH) methodology.

Looking forward to it!

On occasion the Neijing just delivers some absolute gems in disease management. The Lingshu Jingjin, or the channel tend...
20/03/2026

On occasion the Neijing just delivers some absolute gems in disease management. The Lingshu Jingjin, or the channel tendons / sinews is one of the most complete and straightforward vertical pathway-to-treatment sections of the entire text. Clear cut descriptions and perfect, no nonsense, needling (mainly revolving around an INR speciality, cuici or fire-quenching needling). However, when the tendinous pathway of the zuyangming - stomach becomes contorted with disease, often resulting in facial paralysis, we are given another option of intervention: cake them in horse fat, force them to have good feed, and slap them silly!

What a magical text.

Letters on letters on letters. And some videos. It was not uncommon for me to receive a single page in a large envelope ...
23/02/2026

Letters on letters on letters. And some videos. It was not uncommon for me to receive a single page in a large envelope from Dr. Tai. Musings on needling, disease, core theories, and of course, quotes too. Most times it would include an invitation to Yumcha - where the real instruction would take place.

I remember one time in Sydney, at the then wonderful Marigold restaurant in Chinatown. Tai and I sat talking, he ordered. He would sit there berating me about my association with certain “practitioners” who were “big bellied, small brained”. A knife or chopstick aggressively coming toward my face. Or it would be a needle technique, where a dumpling or piece of pork was the victim. When he had finished his point, the food would be slid across the table for me to consume. I would laugh every time - like I was literally eating his words!

One thing stuck with me recently, as I needle fresh patients in a fresh setting. He’d say “tongxue, roujin” or “move / unblock the blood, (then) soften the tendons”. In Neijing acupuncture, there must be protocol in certain disease presentations that should be abided by, like drainage before restoration. I think this applies to so much in life. I can’t wait for our next Yumcha! ~ D White.

Images:

Daodejing Chapter 2 quote from a letter.
Tai’s hands needling Jing.
Videos of his practice from 22 years ago and few of my case study texts.
A book on spinal trauma and some of his speciality needling.
Yumcha

Dr Tai would say: “診脈, 經络触診, 刺脈, 刺分 平脈” (zhenmai, jingluochuzhen, cimai, cifen, pingmai). Essentially this means: “palp...
20/02/2026

Dr Tai would say: “診脈, 經络触診, 刺脈, 刺分 平脈” (zhenmai, jingluochuzhen, cimai, cifen, pingmai). Essentially this means: “palpate the pulse, palpate the jingluo, needle the pulse, needle the divisions, balance the pulse.” This is what ultimately led to me creating the P.A.T.H (Pathological Assessment to Treatment Homogeneity) system within Lingshu acupuncture. Understanding that through assessment of pathological patterning via Mai-vessel and tissue palpation we can quickly treat said vessels and tissues with the right tool and right technique. It is aimed at being a no non-sense approach.

Sometimes he’d just point and harshly direct me: “刺空cikong” or “needle the empty spaces”. It was like a strike with a Keisaku to my back - a “stop mucking around and create space” instruction. I am yet to come across any practitioner with his direct and incredible needling technique.

Image: Dr Tai inspecting a patient with paralysis and needling the 人迎脈 (renyingmai).

Address

Sydney, NSW

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute of Neijing Research posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Institute of Neijing Research:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category