Study Acupuncture with Me

Dr. Richard Lai DPT L.Ac
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Isn't learning Acupuncture at school confusing? And isn't it hard to find time after class to really get into the material? Here's where I come in! I'm Dr. Richard Lai, Doctor of PT and L.Ac; I'm all about clinical reasoning and rationale when it comes to treating my patients, and through this podcast I bring you educational content that will help you towards clinical success in the healthcare world. Whether you're in school and studying for the boards or out there in the real world, I review theory, points, business and more!

  1. 2 days ago

    Cold Stagnation in the Liver Channel — Why It Causes Genital and Lower Abdominal Pain

    When you hear "liver," your mind probably jumps to Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Yang Rising, or Liver Blood Deficiency — the big ones they drilled into us in school. But there's another liver pattern that rarely gets attention, and once it clicks, it clicks completely. In this episode we build Cold Stagnation in the Liver Channel from the ground up — starting not with the organ, but with the channel itself. You'll learn why the pathway matters, what cold actually does when it invades, and how the entire symptom picture flows directly from the nature of cold. We walk through the channel pathway, the two key qualities of cold, the one temperature question that can hand you the whole diagnosis, and treatment with point selection and Moxa. Free weekly board exam question → studyacuwithme.com/quickwin Until next time — God bless and happy studying.

    12 min

  2. 5 Jun

    Heart Blood vs Liver Blood Deficiency — The Insomnia Pattern That Trips Everyone Up

    Two patients. Same complaint — they can't sleep. But if you treat them the same way, one of them isn't going to get better. In this episode we break down Heart Blood Deficiency vs Liver Blood Deficiency — two patterns that look nearly identical on the surface but require completely different approaches. We cover how to tell them apart, what questions to ask, and how treatment strategy shifts depending on which organ is involved. Free weekly board exam question → studyacuwithme.com/quickwin Until next time — God bless and happy studying.

    15 min

  3. 15 May

    Menopause in TCM — Why It's Never Just One Pattern

    This episode started with a hat pick. I wrote down three TCM patterns, folded them up, and pulled one at random. What came out — menopause. This one was also inspired by a question from Noriko, who asked specifically about insomnia during menopause. So today we're breaking down menopause through a TCM lens — what's actually happening in the body, why the symptoms feel the way they do, and why not every woman goes through it the same way. Because in TCM, menopause isn't just one pattern. We go through all of them — Kidney Yin deficiency, Kidney Yang deficiency, both deficient together, Liver Qi stagnation over Kidney deficiency, and Heart-Kidney disharmony. Each one presents differently. Each one has a different tongue and pulse picture. Each one leads to a different treatment approach. This is what makes TCM so clinically rich. We don't treat a diagnosis on paper. We treat the person in front of us. This Friday's Quick Win newsletter includes the full acupuncture point breakdown for every pattern discussed in this episode. Sign up for free at studyacuwithme.com/quickwin

    16 min

  4. 5 May

    Blood Stasis — The Pattern That's Almost Never Alone | TCM Explained

    Blood stasis is one of the most commonly seen patterns in clinic — and one that trips up a lot of students. In this episode we break it down from the ground up. What blood stasis actually is, why it almost never occurs on its own, what causes it, and how to recognize it in your patients. We also walk through real clinical scenarios — menstrual patterns, post-trauma presentations, Qi deficiency with blood stasis — so you can see how this pattern shows up in practice, not just on paper. And we cover treatment. Why moving blood alone isn't always enough, why you have to treat the root cause, and which acupuncture points to reach for and why. The bruise is your memory palace for this one.Purple. Fixed. Tender to touch. Once that clicks — the whole pattern makes sense. Want a free weekly case study delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Quick Win newsletter at studyacuwithme.com/quickwin Alright everyone — God bless and happy studying.

    19 min

  5. 25 Apr

    Why Do Patients Plateau in TCM?

    Patients plateau. It happens more than people talk about. The first few sessions go well — progress is good, everyone feels confident. And then it stops. Every session starts to feel the same and you're not sure why. In this episode we break down the real reason patients plateau in TCM — and it's almost never about the acupuncture failing. Most of the time the pattern has simply changed, and that means it's time to reassess. We also talk about the other reason progress stalls that doesn't get discussed enough — when something in the patient's life is actively maintaining the pattern. And what that conversation actually looks like in clinic. Plateaus aren't a dead end. They're a signal. Want a free weekly case study delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Quick Win newsletter at studyacuwithme.com/quickwin

    6 min

  6. 19 Apr

    Stop Looking at the Form — Look at the Patient | The Art of Observation in TCM

    Before you look at the intake form. Before you ask a single question. Your patient is already telling you something the moment they walk through the door. In this episode we're talking about the Looking pillar of TCM diagnosis — what observation actually means in Chinese medicine, what you're looking for in complexion, movement, eyes, and vitality, and how to start forming a clinical hypothesis before the conversation even begins. This is a skill that takes time to develop — but once you use it intentionally, it changes how you work with every patient. Want a free weekly case study delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Quick Win newsletter at studyacuwithme.com/quickwin

    15 min

  7. 25 Feb

    Exploring ADHD Through the Lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Welcome back to Study Acupuncture with Me—where we dive deep into the art and science of Traditional Chinese Medicine together. I’m so glad you’re here, and I’m honored to be a part of your journey as you build your clinical knowledge and confidence. In this episode, we take an open-hearted look at ADHD through the lens of TCM. You’ll hear us break down how ADHD symptoms might map to traditional patterns of imbalance like Heart Fire, liver qi stagnation, phlegm, and spleen deficiency. We’re not replacing psychiatric care with acupuncture, but we’re uncovering how we can support regulation, stability, and resilience in our neurodivergent patients. We cover everything from the Western diagnosis to practical TCM interpretation—plus how you can measure progress in your clinical practice, even when the changes are subtle. Here’s what you’ll find in this episode: Timestamps 00:00 : Welcoming listeners & sharing the inspiration from a viewer’s comment 01:53 : ADHD in the DSM: Symptoms & Western diagnosis 04:06 : TCM perspective: Patterns like Heart Fire, yin deficiency, and Shen disturbance 07:23 : Emotional regulation & the liver’s role 09:02 : Inattention, phlegm, and spleen Qi patterns 11:10 : Kidney’s connection to the nervous system 13:35 : Treating regulation, not chasing a cure—measuring subtle progress 16:25 : Neurodivergence & TCM: Embracing support and stability over perfection 17:48 : Closing thoughts, call for feedback & encouragement to keep learning If this episode sparked new thoughts, I’d love to hear your questions and experiences! Comment on my socials, subscribe to Study Acupuncture with Me, and visit www.studyacuwithme.com and join my email list. Happy studying!

    18 min

  8. 19 Feb

    TCM view on Acute vs Chronic conditions: How to treat them correctly

    Welcome, acupuncture scholars! It’s your favorite professor here, ready to help you unravel one of the trickiest concepts in TCM—and boost your confidence in the clinic. Whether you’re feeling stuck on diagnosis or just craving clarity, you’re in the right place! In this episode, we dive deep into the all-important difference between treating acute versus chronic conditions in Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you’ve ever wondered why sometimes your treatments seem to make things worse or why kidney and spleen deficiency patterns confuse you, this lesson is for you. Together, we’ll demystify the distinction, walk through real-world examples, and share simple strategies to help you tailor your treatment—and get results for your patients. What you’ll learn: How and why acute and chronic patterns present differently in TCM Why treating acute injuries like chronic issues is a major student mistake Step-by-step guide for determining if a patient’s condition is acute or chronic Practical treatment strategies for each phase How to handle complex cases with both acute and chronic components Timestamps for Main Sections: 00:00 – Introduction & the biggest student mistake in acupuncture 01:01 – Why pattern confusion happens: kidney, spleen, and acute vs. chronic 01:50 – How to spot an acute condition 02:19 – Classic chronic symptoms & patient presentation 03:22 – Acute phase: what’s happening in the body and how to treat it 04:23 – When NOT to tonify: the risk of trapping pathogens 05:34 – Chronic phase: nourishing, supporting, and rebuilding 06:25 – Complex conditions: deficiency with excess, dampness and spleen 08:03 – Real-life diagnosis checklist: how to sort out acute vs. chronic 09:20 – What happens if you do nothing? Acute vs. chronic timelines 10:15 – How to handle patients with both acute and chronic layers 11:02 – Final checklist & key takeaways Ready for your next step?Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments—your insights are what inspire these episodes! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a clinical pearl. And swing by www.studyacuwithme.com to join my email list. Let’s keep learning together! Happy studying, and see you in the next episode!

    11 min
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About

Isn't learning Acupuncture at school confusing? And isn't it hard to find time after class to really get into the material? Here's where I come in! I'm Dr. Richard Lai, Doctor of PT and L.Ac; I'm all about clinical reasoning and rationale when it comes to treating my patients, and through this podcast I bring you educational content that will help you towards clinical success in the healthcare world. Whether you're in school and studying for the boards or out there in the real world, I review theory, points, business and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Richard Lai DPT L.Ac
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Richard Lai DPT L.Ac
  • Show Website
    Study Acupuncture with Me

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