@michaelmax @KristinWisgirda @Tobydaly1
Good afternoon,
I have been dissecting the Saam resources available to me and I have a question about a passage from The
Classical Roots and Clinical Application of the Saam Acupuncture Tradition.
In the article on page 35 it states “However, I want to emphasize that my teacher, Sunim Doam constantly reminded
me to avoid clinging too rigidly to this unmodified combinations.”
Can you please elaborate on this passage? I have a different path to East Asian medicine and using some of my
other skills, I am occasionally finding some interesting things where a point or two my vary from the traditional
points outlined in class. For example, even if still supplementing the patient, one my need to “drain” fire. This can
involve the source point, the child point, the mother point, the horary point, etc. Is this what Sunim Doam was
referencing?
KristinWisgirda: June 23, 2020, 11:32pm
danosu77:
I have been dissecting the Saam resources available to me
Awesome! Another serious student.
However, that particular article is not the most practical presentation of the information for a new Saam clinician.
Toby includes material in that article that is not consistent with the way that he practices or teaches. I can’t speak
for Toby but my take is that he likely reason for these inconsistencies is that Toby was on his death bed when he
wrote that article and he wanted to include as much information from his teacher as possible, with less concern
about what newbie Saam students really need to hear to learn the system.
In all class and clinic discussions, Toby has always put the highest value on what he saw Sunim Doam actually
practice (gems). He values his own ideas (rocks) less. The rocks that Toby feels confident enough to share involve
his understandings of the diagnosis and use of channel archetypes. NONE of them involve messing with the point
combinations. From what I have seen in class and following him in the clinic is that Toby rigidly clings to the
unmodified combinations that he saw Sunim Doam use. Clinical efficacy is the most likely reason.
If Toby is holding that Sunim Doam’s reminder in his back pocket until he feels that he has taken the unmodified
point combinations as far as they can go, I feel obliged to do the same.
As well, reading the italicized line in question, consider that it was said to Toby and not to you or I. As new
student, I will cling rigidly to unmodified combinations because I am still learning so much with just these.
In the early days of my Sa’am practice, I would do hybrid treatments, usually adding points contralaterally to a
Saam 4 point combo. The impulse to modify is understandable as one transitions out of a different style of practice.
My clinical results have improved greatly by closely following the method Toby gives in the intro course.15/01/2024, 12:35Saam Article by Daly – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/saam-article-by-daly/1100/print2/3
The 4 point combos send such a powerful and clear message. Why mess with them? If you distort the combos, you
will be sending the body a different message than the one intended potentially adding more chaos to the treatment
room which usually doesn’t need more chaos.
Food for thought: As you consider subbing in source points remember that in Kidney supplementation you drain
the source point of the Kidney. Interesting!
Another notable inconsistency between what is presented in the article and what Toby practices and now teaches is
all of the information on draining treatment. He rarely drains in the way that is presented in that article. As well, he
strongly recommends that new practitioners NOT drain because improper draining can cause irreparable harm.
michaelmax: June 24, 2020, 9:12pm
Hi @danosu77, glad you made it to the forum!
I’ve heard Toby say that you can mix in other points as they make sense to you. But in practice I rarely see him do
that.
Sometimes I will mix in a point or two. But in the beginning I think this is not a good idea, for a few reasons.
1. If you stick with treating one side in the beginning you’ll more quickly understand if your treatments were
‘on’ or ‘off’ as you’ll get quick feedback. And because you’re only using that one side and nothing else, then
you don’t have to try to figure out “which needles caused what reaction.”
2. The system will “teach” you faster if you keep it simple in the beginning. Again, minimal input gives you a
clarity with the output.
3. One side, when your diagnosis is on is surprisingly powerful. You will not believe it at first, but committing
to work this way for a while will show you.
4. Often more needles will “muddy” the waters and dilute the power of the four needles.
Again, you can add in other points, but I would wait until you feel like you first understand the system before
adding in modifications.
danosu77: June 24, 2020, 9:39pm
Hi @michaelmax,
Really, what has happened, a couple of times inadvertently, is that the body has lead to a couple of other points.
The interesting thing, is those treatments worked really well. They also made sense from a more traditional Korean
Saam approach!
Such fun things to learn!
michaelmax: June 24, 2020, 9:58pm
15/01/2024, 12:35Saam Article by Daly – Qiological Community
https://forum.qiological.com/t/saam-article-by-daly/1100/print3/3
Oh yes @danosu77, this one is a real rabbit hole. You’ve been warned!!