No, it is not like that. This statement truly underrates the treatment scope of the Tung’s acupuncture. Back to those old days when I followed Master Tung in the clinic, I remember most patients came to see him for various types of difficult, complicated and miscellaneous diseases. Master Tung treated several diseases of a patient at one time. In my clinical practice, most patients came to see me for difficult, complicated and miscellaneous diseases too. I also treat several diseases of a patient in the same treatment. It is not true that only one disease can be treated in the same treatment when using Tung’s acupuncture. Since the indications listed in Master Tung’s original book were very simple, if a person copies the applications mechanically without elucidation, he will feel that way. If that statement was true, then what about points of the fourteen channels? Are they also treating one disease at a time? If a patient suffers from several diseases at a time and only one disease is addressed at a time, then how long is it going to take to treat him?

There are a few principles that need users’ attention when treating several diseases with single point. First is Master Tung’s “Dong Qi (activating qi)” needling technique. Some acupuncturists may not know or do not apply Dong Qi needling technique to the treatments. Many points are able to treat multiple diseases, for example Xinmen (33.12) (heart gate) treats coccyx pain and knee pain. If the patient only has the coccyx pain, when treated by Xinmen point without Dong Qi needling technique, since only one disease attracts the energy of the needling point, it will still work; although if combining with Dong Qi needling technique, the result will be better. However, if the patient has several diseases, the energy of the single needling point Xinmen will be attracted and distributed among the several diseases and can not concentrate in treating certain disease. If the Dong Qi needling technique is applied, by activating the affected site to attract the energy of the point, then the effect will be more concentrated. Several diseases can be addressed at the same time. Take Xinmen as the example again, if the patient has coccyx and knee pains at the same time, he can exercise his lower back first and then his knee or vice versa while the acupuncturist twirls the needle. In this case, both diseases can be treated properly.

Another principle for single point treating multiple diseases is “focused disease, focused treatment.” If the disease is concentrated in one organ or one site, then the treatment is specialized in it. To treat multiple or miscellaneous diseases, the primary symptoms/patterns are addressed in the first priority and secondary symptoms/patterns are treated concurrently. This is achieved by mastering the “disease mechanism”. If the disease mechanism is the same while the symptoms are numerous and complicated, only single or a small set of points are sufficient to treat multiple diseases. Details for “Yi Bing Tong Zhi (different diseases treated by the same treatment methods) have been described in previous discussion questions. Here I would not waste any more space for that.

This question may be answered with the following descriptions. 1. Treating pains: In general, in treating the pain syndromes, needling the opposite side of the body is more appropriate. The reason is because the nerves cross to the opposite side of the body. This matches the so-called “cross channel needling is called Miaoci, which means to needle the right side of the body when the disease is located in the left side”. (Ode of Elucidate Mysteries).2.Treating functional disorders: Either the opposite or the same (affected) side of points may be selected, though sometimes the affected side is more effective. For example, needling the opposite side point to treat the frozen shoulder is effective, but sometimes needling the affected side is more effective. However, if the disorder is with pain, then selecting the opposite side point is better. Or in this case, points on both sides may be selected. Treating tinnitus, needling Fengshi (GB31) is very effective; however, needling the Fengshi (GB31) on the affected side is even better. Treating Bell’s palsy (facial never paralysis), when the face slants toward to the right side, which indicates the disease (paralysis) is located on the left side, the left side (affected side) points should be selected. 3.Blood-letting: Because the blood vessels flow circularly without crossing to the other side, blood-letting in general is performed at the affected side of the body. Although some points such as Jing-well points are selected on the opposite side as that in Miaoci, those cases are somehow treating pains as well. 4.Supplementing or reducing technique: in some cases, selecting the affected side is more appropriate.5.Moxibustion: Moxibustion is usually on the local and affected side. For example moxa on the Yangchi (SJ4) (affected side) to treat uterus leaning to one side and hernia. The above are the general guidelines. The clinical applications should be flexible and change accordingly.