The toolbox of the acupuncturist - Ineke van der Ham on Applied Channel Theory

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In this episode of our series The Toolbox of the Acupuncturist, we talk with Ineke van der Ham.

Which acupuncture style do you use most in your practice and why does this particular style appeal to you?
‘I have been strongly influenced by Dr. Wang Ju Yi, the developer of Applied Channel Theory. That is what you see most in my treatments. After his book was published, I discovered that he was giving a weekend seminar in Dublin. I attended that. He mentioned that later that year he would be offering an intensive three-month training in his practice in Beijing, with patients in the morning and theory in the afternoon. I followed that training. After that, I spent at least two weeks each year shadowing him in his practice, until the year before his passing.

What appeals to me the most is not only that I have been able to expand my diagnostic capabilities with meridian palpation (physically examining an energy pathway on the body), but especially the simplicity and purity of the point combinations he uses. When you read the book Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine, you see that Dr. Wang works a lot with specific point combinations. He looks at the relationships between meridians: for example, within the same element (such as Wood or Fire), based on the time when a meridian is least or most active (the so-called opposition time), but especially within what is called the Liu Jing, or the six classical meridian systems as mentioned in the Nei Jing - an ancient book that lays an important foundation within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

He did not invent these combinations himself; they are based on classical texts from Chinese medicine, with which he was deeply familiar and frequently quoted. You could say that this approach does not form a new system, but rather a pure, classical form of Chinese medicine. This is in stark contrast to the more standardized TCM developed after the Mao era, which we often consider as the Chinese medicine in the West.’

What does a treatment according to this style look like in practice? Can you give an example of how you have treated a specific complaint with this?
'What I find beautiful about a treatment according to the Applied Channel Theory is that you don't start needling right away, but first feel how the meridians are doing. You do this with your hands, palpating the part of the meridians on the arms up to the elbows and on the legs up to the knees. On the trunk, you palpate the Ren Mai and Du Mai, the two central meridians. It complements other diagnostic methods, such as looking at the tongue or feeling the pulse. But with meridian palpation, you really feel where the energy is stuck or flowing well, you feel changes in the 'landscape' as it were, and that often provides surprising insights.

For example: suppose someone has complaints that fit what we call 'Liver Qi stagnation' – which simply means that the liver energy cannot flow properly –, which can manifest as tension or irritability. The standard approach would then be to needle two well-known points (Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3) that help move that energy again. But if you first feel the meridians, you may discover that the tension is actually somewhere else, for example, in the Triple Burner and Gallbladder meridians. In that case, you choose different points, namely Triple Burner 6 and Gallbladder 34, which better suit what the body needs at that moment.

You don't make that choice lightly. Each point not only has a physical effect but also a deeper meaning. For example, Triple Burner 6 is called 'Zhi Gou', which means 'branching gutter'. In ancient Chinese texts, the Triple Burner system is seen as an internal channel through which energy and fluids circulate. Knowing that theory, you also treat with more respect. That's something I learned from Dr. Wang and which inspires me immensely.

For example, if there is stagnation with heat, think of complaints like insomnia and irritability or a lot of inner restlessness, then you choose different points again, such as Gallbladder 41 and Triple Burner 5. This way, the treatment always closely aligns with what the body is showing at that moment. That makes it very precise and personal.

When do you notice that this style really makes a difference for a client?
'I use fewer needles than many colleagues because I aim for treatments in which all points have a mutual relationship. This makes the treatment less tiring for the client and, in my experience, more effective. It's difficult to say exactly how much of a difference that makes for the client, but I notice that clients experience the treatments as pleasant and achieve good results.'

Do you also combine this style with other techniques or treatment methods? If so, how do you ensure good coordination?
'Yes, I use other techniques besides acupuncture, just like Dr. Wang did. Think of cupping (where glass or silicone cups are placed on the skin to stimulate blood circulation), gua sha (scraping the skin with a special stone or metal disc to release tension), tuina massage, bloodletting, and prescribing Chinese herbs. Sometimes I also work with tuning forks or essential oils, depending on what someone needs.

In addition, I am very enthusiastic about the approach of Kiiko Matsumoto, another acupuncture style from Japan. I sometimes use it as a complement to Applied Channel Theory, but usually I alternate between them, not combining them within one treatment. Except in one case: the so-called 'oketsu test'. This is a method from the Kiiko style where you can feel if there is blood stagnation in the lower abdomen. If so, with a targeted treatment, you can improve circulation. Since the majority of my patients are women with gynecological complaints, I routinely apply this test. It often provides valuable information that helps to further tailor the treatment.'

What have you learned over the years about working with this style and has your way of treating changed?
'Perhaps the most important thing I learned from Dr. Wang is to accurately locate each point by palpating the meridian well (examining with my fingers). That precise, individual location is essential to achieve a good 'DeQi': that tingling or streaming sensation indicating that the point is activated and the Qi is flowing. Dr. Wang considered meridians as the space between structures in the body, so palpation is very important to him. The thoroughness in point location and palpation is what has deepened my way of treating.'

Keep an eye on our series for more acupuncture styles
With this pure and accessible form of acupuncture, Ineke van der Ham offers her clients treatments that remain true to classical Chinese Medicine, but with a keen focus on personal diagnostics and effectiveness. Want to learn more about the different styles of acupuncture? Keep an eye on our series The Acupuncturist's Toolbox!