Welcome, future acupuncturists and fellow learners! Dr. Richard Lai here, and I’m so excited you’ve joined me for another episode of “Study Acupuncture With Me.” If you’re looking to build clinical confidence, ace board exams, or simply refresh your TCM basics, you’re in the right place—and I’m here to guide you every step of the way, just like your favorite professor who truly wants you to succeed.

In this episode, we’ll dive deep into understanding anxiety from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, focusing on the heart organ’s role, shen disturbances, and the interconnected patterns with the spleen, liver, and kidney. You’ll not only learn how to identify key symptoms and patterns, but also how to approach treatment point selection with clarity and confidence. My goal is to make these concepts easy and practical—so you feel fully supported in clinic and when studying for your exams!

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Warm welcome & goals of the podcast

• 00:27 – Heart functions in TCM & the concept of Shen

• 01:45 – The heart’s relationship to blood, spirit, tongue, and complexion

• 02:30 – What is anxiety in TCM? Shen disturbance & clinical signs

• 03:13 – Deficiency vs. Excess patterns: Heart blood/yin deficiency, Heart fire blazing

• 04:47 – Interconnected organ patterns: Spleen, Liver, Kidney involvement

• 07:28 – Diagnostic strategies: Excess vs. deficiency & treatment principles

• 07:51 – Key acupuncture points for calming Shen and restoring harmony

• 09:08 – Holistic TCM approach & empowering final encouragement

I’d love to hear how this episode helps you—drop a comment on my socials, subscribe to “Study Acupuncture With Me,” and don’t forget to visit www.studyacuwithme.com/quickwin to join my quickwin newsletter to get an exam question a week right into your inbox (explanation INCLUDED)

Keep shining, happy studying, and remember: I’m cheering for you every step of the way!

Hey there, acupuncture rockstars! Dr. Richard Lai here, and welcome to the "Study Acupuncture With Me" podcast. I’m so glad you’re here—think of this as your safe and encouraging space to unravel tricky TCM topics, gain clarity, and build confidence for both clinic life and board exams.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the real-world challenge of “mixed patterns” with a special focus on Spleen Qi Deficiency combined with Damp Accumulation—a pattern you’ll see all the time in the clinic! I’ll walk you step-by-step through recognizing key symptoms, understanding the reasoning behind TCM diagnosis, and developing treatment strategies that adapt to your patient’s needs. You’ll also pick up actionable tips, practical analogies, and my personal thoughts on treating root vs. branch—and how to do all this with a patient-centered mindset.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to confidently spot the signs of Spleen Qi Deficiency and Damp Accumulation

• The logic behind treatment principles for mixed excess/deficiency patterns

• Practical point selections and how to tailor them to different patients

• Real-life applications to get you ready for clinic and exam day

• 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Introduction

• 00:45 – Case Presentation: Patient Symptoms & Exam Findings

• 01:56 – Diagnosis Breakdown: Spleen Qi Deficiency & Damp Accumulation

• 03:02 – Easy-to-Understand Analogies for Patient Education

• 04:20 – Treating Root vs. Manifestation: When & Why

• 06:12 – Acupuncture Point Selection & Real-World Application

• 07:44 – The Art of Personalizing Treatment

• 08:46 – Closing Thoughts & Next Steps

If this episode helped you, I’d love to hear what pattern you want to break down next! Drop a comment on my socials, subscribe to the podcast, and don’t forget to visit www.studyacuwithme.com/quickwin to join our email list—you’ll get a weekly exam type question every single week! Readable in FIVE MINUTEs

Let’s keep learning and growing together. Until next time, happy studying!

Hey there, future acupuncture all-stars! Dr. Richard Lai here—and I’m so glad you’re joining me for another episode of “Study Acupuncture with Me.” Whether you’re sneaking in some study time between classes or listening on your commute, you’re in the right place to grow your skills and confidence.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the differences—and the surprising similarities—between acupuncture evaluation techniques and Western physical examination methods. We’ll walk through each step of the evaluation process together, explore the “four pillars” of Chinese medicine diagnosis, and see how they compare (and blend beautifully!) with Western medical approaches. Plus, I’ll share real-world tips to help you connect all these concepts, not just for your board exams—but for your future clinic, too. Remember, progress is better than perfection, and I’m here to help you use your most precious resource: your time.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode:

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Personal intro & overcoming perfectionism as a student/practitioner

• 01:20 – Why evaluation is the foundation of effective acupuncture treatment

• 02:44 – Chinese Medicine: The Four Pillars of Diagnosis (observation, palpation, listening/smelling, asking)

• 04:02 – Western Physical Examination: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation

• 07:37 – Real-life examples: How both systems approach patient assessment

• 10:12 – Clinical workflow: How to weave acu and Western techniques together

• 11:51 – Decoding symptoms: Sorting info for a clear diagnosis and strong treatment plan

• 13:31 – Explaining your diagnosis in patient-friendly language for better trust and outcomes

• 14:15 – Quick recap & encouragement for your journey

If you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Comment on my socials, let me know your questions, and don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast so you never miss a new release. For free study resources and to join my email list (so you can snag my Quick Win newsletter and more), visit www.studyacuwithme.com/quickwin

Happy studying, and remember—you’ve got this!