Ryodoraku evaluation of the acupuncture meridians also known as "ELECTRO MERIDIAN IMAGING" or "Electronic Pulse Diagnosis" is an extremely accurate diagnostic meridian examination. The exam may be accomplished in less than two minutes and may be performed by either the doctor or trained technician. First discovered and developed by Dr. Yoshio Nakatani of Japan in 1952, it's use has revolutionized the way acupuncture is being practiced by both medical practitioners and traditionally trained acupuncturists globally. Just as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) relies on the ancient principles and proper evaluation of the 28 pulse characteristics, "ELECTRO MERIDIAN IMAGING" may be referred to as Contermporary Asian Medicine (CAM) which is technologically advanced electronic diagnosis and treatment.

1 Press the power button "on" then depress the "null" or "meter" button to insure the meter reads "200" milliamps. You may also accomplish the same by placing the metal ground and the metal probe together. This should also produce a reading of "200" milliamps. If the meter reads less than 200 turn the "Calibrate" knob until the reading is 200. This adjustment must be made with the "meter" or "null" button depressed or the two metal probes in direct contact. Should you notice the instrument is constanly in need of calibration to maintain a 200 reading, it is time to change batteries.

2. Have the patient hold the metal ground with a firm contact however too firm or too loose a contact may affect general readings. Too firm a grip will create higher readings, whereas a loose contact will produce weaker readings. The object is to hold the ground about the same as you would a childs hand. The ground may be held in either hand or if unable to grasp due to arthritis etc. may be held in contact with the body at the elbow or knee. Jewelry which may interfere with the readings should be removed. Jewelry which is not in contact with the probe or ground will cause no concern.

3. Moisten one end of a Qtip which has been broken from the stem and place inside of the wand probe making sure the moist cotton on the Qtip is in contact with the metal of the probe. The Qtip should be moist but not too wet or too dry as this will also affect general readings. Dripping wet will create higher readings, too dry will cause lower readings. The object is to have it moist but not dripping. Dipping the Qtip in water to maintain moisture during the exam is appropriate. Three drops of liquid ionic minerals to the dipping water is ideal but not essential.

General factors may affect the readings such as oils, lotions or excessive perspiration which may alter the readings to read higher than usual. It is advised not to vigorously rub the examination site prior to testing with a towel if the skin is too moist, instead, dabbing lightly will acomplish the goal of removing excess moisture from the test site without creating friction over the examination points. However, skin which is extremely dry does not alter electronic readings artificially.

EMI Diagnosis Instrument

4. With the patient seated or lying comfortably, begin by placing the wand probe with the moistened Qtip on the yuan points (source) of the hand beginning with the LU followed by P (CX), HT, SI, TH, and LI. Continue to the yuan points of the foot. SP, LIV, KI, BL, GB, and ST. Hold the testing probe on the point to be examined for three seconds with a consistent light but firm pressure. It is vital to not press too hard or too soft on the point to be examined. Use as much pressure as you would on a tomato to determine ripeness. It is preferable to test the points from left to right sides of each meridian. It is not necessary to change hands of the ground probe during the examination.

Gently glide the examining probe with the Qtip over the test point without first palpating, touching, or probing the point as this can affect your readings by altering the electro-conductivity of the area. The Qtip is wide enough to accurately examine the point, therefore pinpoint accuracy is not necessary. Pressure over the point either too hard or too soft during the exam can alter the accuracy.

In essence, to create the most accurate Electro Meridian Imaging examination possible, the patient should hold the grounding probe not too hard or not too soft. The moist Qtip should not be too wet or too dry. The pressure from the examining probe should not be too firm or too soft. The examiner should not palpate the point to be examined prior to the exam. If the area to be examined is extremely moist due to perspiration or if the patient is wearing moistening lotions, the area should be gently patted dry rather than rubbed dry.

Electro Meridan Imaging (EMI) examination should always be conducted prior to the administration of any treatment to include chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, massage, reiki or any modality which may alter bioenergetics. It is vital to hold the test probe on the point for only three seconds.

Yuan (Source) (Nakatani) vs. Tsing (Akabane)

When the practitoner is examining the YUAN points (Source) they are specifically determining the MAIN meridian channels whereas examination of the TSING points (Akabane) is specific to the Musculo-tendino meridians of the body. These are two separate and distinct examinations. Ryodoraku as developed by Nakatani utilizes Yuan (source) point examination and is generally more accepted as an overall determination of the meridian system. They are both however, used globally.

The Examination

Once the "rules" have all been applied and the point is being examined according to proper protocol, it is important to watch where the analog needle reaches and stabilizes at the three second exam time. For example, assuming the needle reaches and stabilizes at "85" for a given side of a meridian, than this is the value assigned to that meridian. This is the number which is either entered into the computer corresponding to the meridian being tested, or entered manually on the Electro Meridian Imaging (EMI) evaluation form. The examination continues through each meridian in order of its position on the wrist and ankle examining both left and right sides of the body.
Under normal circumstances, the needle on the meter will have a steady rise to a specific reading where it stabilizes.


If the examiner continues to hold on the point after the three second exam time, the meter will continue to rise as electrical conductivity of the skin will be broken down. Therefore, the three second exam time is of extreme importance. Should the meter surge dramatically then stabilize at a lower reading, take the reading where it stabilizes.

Following the proper conductance of the EMI examination by using the manual method of evaluation, it is necessary to determine the base average of the patient.

5. Add together all of the readings for each of the 24 meridians examined. In the example graph shown on the preceeding page, the addition of all the meridian values total 2,230 this figure is then divided by 24 which represents the 12 meridians bilateral. In the example case. the result of division was "92.9".

Round the number off, in this case "93" and add 15 to create the top range and subract 15 for the low range. In this case, adding 15 to 93 (base average) is 108 and subracting 15 from 93 (base average) is 78.

The normal range for this patient for this specific graph is between "78" and "108".

Draw a horizontal line from left to right of the graph over "108" and do the same over "78". The meridians which bilaterally fall within the range are considered normal as to biomagnetic resonance and electical conductivity. Those which are outside the range either too high or too low must be treated as to tonification or sedation. In the example case TH and LIV were both elevated. In this case, the sedation point of the meridian would be used which is illustrated in the table below the graph, namely TH 10 and LIV 2.

In the case of a meridian which shows extreme splits of 25 points or more, it is necessary to utilize the LUO point of the meridian. Note in the example that the Pericardium meridian (Master of the heart / CirculationSex / Heart Constrictor) is shown to be split with the left side being within the range and the right side below. This does not mean that the practitioner would tonify the right side to bring the low side into balance. In this application, the LUO point is used, in this case, P6 (NeiGuan). Split meridians are much more of a health factor than meridians which are high or low.

In the example graph, where the KI meridian is shown to be split with the left side above the range and the right side below, the practitioner would not tonify the right side by using the tonification point and sedate the left by using the sedation point, here again the LUO point would be used, KI4. Splits between right and left sides of individual meridians were unknown until the invention of Electro Meridian Imaging (EMI). LUO points are also used in discrepancies of "coupled meridians" such as ST/SP where one is elevated and the other depressed, treat the deficient side. In the case of coupled meridians being elevated and depressed, tonification and sedation can also be utilized.

The number one rule to remember is in additon to points used for balancing, to always treat additional acupoints and areas based on acupuncture protocol if the condition warrants.
In many cases, balancing the meridians may be the only treatment.

THE TREATMENT POINTS
SEDATION POINTS (DISPERSE) (XUE/XIE)


TONIFICATION POINTS (ENHANCE) (BUE/BU)


LUO POINTS
(for imbalances of right and left of same meridian or coupled meridians between "coupled" meridians when one is high and the other low)

ELECTRO MERIDIAN IMAGING (EMI) COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Electro Meridian Imaging may be conducted utilizing computer technology by entering the values of each meridian directly into the computer as the Ryodoraku test point. is being measured. The meridian test point (Yuan or Tsing), is graphically illustrated which the patient may view on the computer screen during the exam. It also creates ease for the practitioner and/or clinical assistant who may perform the exam. Examination time is approximately two minutes to conduct.

Following the completion of the electronic examination where the values for each meridian examined were entered in the computer through the EMI computer software, the program instantly provides the mathematical average of the graph and automatically determines the proper placement of the high and low extremes illustrating the average range for that particular patient.

The computer software graphically illustrates on one of four graph styles which the practitioner may choose, which meridians are out of their physiologic normal balance by being too high, too low or split between left and right sides. The graph appears in color which the examiner may individually set the colors for "highs", "lows", "splits" and "optional" treatment. In addition, the program illustrates which acupuncture points are recommended for treatment by naming the point as well as graphically illustrating the precise location.

Meridians which are shown to be out of normal balance, in addition to illustrating what specific acupuncture points are used for balancing, specifically shows the spinal relflex areas suggesting what area of the spine may be involved according to "Tui Na" and Chiropractic principles. Graph and/or symptom page may be printed and given to patient or stored as hard copy in patients file.

In addition, 30 charts may be viewed to include each of the 12 meridians, Alarm (MU) points, Associated (SHU) points, Horary, Hsi, Five Elements, Source (YUAN), Tsing, Tonification, Sedation, Luo, 30 Primary Acupoints, Auriculotherapy points on three charts and Chinese Herb recommendations on three charts.

SOAP notes may be entered for each patient and each graph and information is permanently stored in the computer for referencing and comparison.

Electro Meridian Imaging Acupuncture Diagnosis, has revolutionized the practice of Medical and Traditional Acupuncture internationally!

ELECTRONIC MERIDIAN DIAGNOSIS IN A
CHIROPRACTIC / MEDICAL PRACTICE