In this week's acupuncture storytime, we visit a case that blew my mind on a shift at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle 10 years ago. A young mother can't lift her arm above her head. The diagnosis is frozen shoulder. After application of a single needle, she instantly lifts her arm with a full range of motion. I'd never seen anything like this before. That encounter opened my mind to what acupuncture can accomplish and changed the course of my study and practice forever.

Basic Frozen Shoulder Protocol. (LI and SJ Channel Injury)

Opposite Side of Injury: ShenGuan, ST38, LU5, SanChaSan, Ah Shi points around KID3, ST41, LIV4, GB40,

Same Side of Injury: LI3 or LI4, SJ3 or SJ4,

+ Light Tui Na and Exercise to site of Injury

(If pain extends into deltoids and bicep, add CeSanLi, CeXiaSanLi opposite side of the injury)

(If palpation to the shoulder bones is painful, rather than tendons or muscles, add GB31 and gently tap the femur on the same side of the injury. I've seen this work like magic to relieve bone pain instantly as part of a well conceived treatment plan. Just be very gentle)