The Pulse of Balance

Seasonal Fall Newsletter

From the Tan Academy of Balance team!

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FIND IN THIS SEASONAL NEWSLETTER:

• Practitioner Case Study
• BSA Mentorship Cohort 6 began September 13 – 14, 2025
• October Balance System Acupuncture Learning Lab – October 20, 2025

As we step into fall, nature is showing us how to transition gently – cooler days, changing leaves, and a natural slowing down in the world around us. This season invites us to pause, reflect, and adjust our routines in a way that supports our wellbeing. Just as the environment shifts to prepare for rest and renewal, we too can take this time to slow down, focus on self-care, and find balance in the middle of the busyness of everyday life. Embracing this gentle transition can help us stay connected to the natural rhythm of the year and support our overall health.

We hope to see you soon! 
Martina, Tan Shīfu, Suzanne Lǎoshī and the Tan Academy of Balance Team

See you online, in person, or in the Tan Balance Hub.

Practitioner Case Study

August 17, 2025

Presented by Julie Gazard, Ac

French-speaking ambassador of Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) based in Montreal, and Certified BSA Practitioner of Dr. Sonia Tan and the Tan Academy of Balance, Julie takes great pleasure in introducing people to acupuncture and its many benefits. It was initially out of curiosity that she began to study acupuncture in her late twenties. Based in Montreal for almost 10 years, she discovered Balance Method Acupuncture in 2017. It was like a revelation. This brought her answers to many unanswered questions. She is now very grateful to be part of the Tan Academy of Balance as a BSA assistant teacher-in-training. One of her dreams is to pass the knowledge on by travelling and spending time with local communities.

CASE STUDY

Patient: 43 y/o female

CC : blurred vision, nausea and headaches

Western medical Dx: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to workplace accident

The patient came to the clinic for her first acupuncture treatment two months after a work-related injury. At the time of injury, she was caring for children outdoors and a heavy object struck the front of her head. She applied ice for approximately ten minutes and felt okay for three days, after which she began to feel nauseous.

Despite the onset of symptoms, she continued her usual routine, including work, attending a live concert, going to the gym, and engaging in social activities. About a week later, her symptoms worsened. She was then diagnosed with a Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI).

Since the accident, she has been treated by a physiotherapist and an Occupational Therapist (OT) and remains on work leave. Her symptoms include difficulty staying focused, almost constant blurred vision, and light sensitivity. She also finds that she needs more time to recover from her activities.

Her headaches are mild, and she experiences nausea about three times a week. After ten days of treatment, she reports improvement and feels she is approximately 60% functional.

Pulse: thin, slightly jittery

Channel Dx: All foot Yang channels + Kidney

Recommended treatment frequency: 1-2 x/week

First Tx: 

Tx strategy: 12 Magical focused on fronto-temporal headache + eyes + nausea

Ax Supine: 

RIGHT: PC 6, HT 5, LU 7. LEFT: LI 3, SJ 3, SI 3. 

RIGHT: BL 67, ST 45, GB 44.  LEFT:  KI 2, SP 2, LR 2.

Her first acupuncture session was a positive experience. During the treatment, she reported crying, though she didn’t feel any specific emotion.

Second Tx: 

The patient reports that her visual symptoms have improved by 50%, but she is still nauseated.

Tx Strategy: Same 12 Magical points, but flipped Yin-Yang sides.

Third Tx: 

She has not experienced any nausea since her last treatment. Today, she reports tightness at the base of her neck, more on the right side than the left, after doing her at-home strengthening exercises. She also has a slight headache around BL 2. She continues to feel an improvement in her blurred vision.

Tx Strategy: LI-KI-BL-LU Global Balance + single balance with SI

RIGHT: LU 9-7Ax3. LEFT: Ling Gu, Da Bai, SI 5A.

RIGHT: BL 59, 63. LEFT: KI 3-8Ax3.

+ Auricular: Shenmen, Sympathic, Neck

After the treatment, the patient reported no more neck pain.

Fourth Tx: 

The patient woke up with a light headache on her forehead, located in the BL and GB channels. She has no nausea but can still feel some pain in her neck. Her vision, however, is better.

Pulse: Tight

Tx Strategy: LI-KI-BL-LU Global Balance + Jueyin-Shaoyang Global Balance + single balance on HT to treat the blurred vision + HA

RIGHT: LI 11, SJ 10A. LEFT: LU5, LU5.25Ax1, PC 3, HT 3, HT 3.25Ax2.

RIGHT: LR 8TAx2, KI 10Ax2. LEFT: GB 33-32Ax2, GB 34T, BL 40.

She reported tears and emotional waves during the session. She felt “purified” after the treatment. 

Tx Five: 

No headaches since her last treatment five days ago. She noted that her vision became blurred again after physical exertion. Today, she reports a low tolerance for noise.

Tx Strategy: Same 12 Magical points as previously, focused on the head, eyes and neck.

Tx Six: 

Since her last treatment nine days ago, she had no blurred vision until today. She experienced slight nausea on Sunday and again this morning. She also had a temporal headache after having coffee with a colleague.

Tx Strategy: Same 12 Magical points as previous Tx, but switched sides. 

The patient felt deeply relaxed during treatment. 

Tx Seven: 

She was happy to have a symptom-free weekend with friends. However, she experienced a persistent headache for two days, beginning the following Monday. Today, the headache is “on and off,” and her vision is a little blurry. She speculates that her symptoms may be due to a lack of sleep over the weekend.

Channel Dx: BL, GB, ST are blocked

Tx Strategy: 12 Magical attack on head and eyes.

RIGHT: SI 8, SJ 10, LI 1.1 LEFT: LU 5, PC 3, HT3.

RIGHT: LR 8TAx3, Xi Yan, SP 9, KD 10.  LEFT: GB 32-34T Ax5, ST35, ST 36A, BL 40. 

The headache and blurred vision resolved after this treatment.

Tx Eight: 

She had an episode of blurred vision two days ago after a poor night’s sleep. Today, she has a light headache on her forehead and temples, worse on the right side around BL 2. She also reports a cold sore on her upper lip, the third one in the past month.

Tx Strategy: Taiyin-Yangming III-VI + single balance on KI

RIGHT: LU 5+9, LU 5.25Ax2, HT 2.8-3Ax3. LEFT: LI 3+11, SI 1

RIGHT: ST 36 + 43.  LEFT: SP 3 + 9, SP 1, 5, 8Ax3; Xi Yan; KI 10-9.8Ax3

+3 needles above the nostrils

Headache resolved after treatment. 

Tx Nine (one week later): 

The patient reports that she no longer has a cold sore or headaches. Her concentration has also improved. Blurred vision episodes still occur occasionally.

She expressed a desire to be more physically active. Her sleep is still interrupted by wake-ups. She has also recently begun a desensitization treatment for a wasp allergy.

Tx Strategy: Taiyin-Yangming III-VI + Shen calming points

RIGHT: LI 3, 11. LEFT: LU 5, 9.

RIGHT: SP 3, 9. LEFT: ST 36, 43.

+ DU 20, 24 

+ Ear ShenMen

Tx Ten: 

She reports that she had a headache on her right temple after her OT session. The headache worsens with exercise and fatigue.

Tx Strategy: Jueyin-Shaoyin-Shaoyang III-VI

RIGHT: PC 3, 7; HT 3; 7. LEFT: SJ 3, 10.

RIGHT: GB 34T, 32-33Ax3, 41. LEFT: KI 3,10; LR 8T-7Ax5, 3.

After the treatment, her headache was reduced by more than 50%, and she felt energized upon leaving.

OUTCOME: 

Overall, the patient notices a quicker reduction in her blurred vision and she no longer experiences frequent nausea. After two months of acupuncture treatment, she reports an improvement in her functional level, from 60% of pre-injury function to 85%. She is continuing weekly follow-up treatments, has begun to work half-time and is exercising more.

Mentorship Program News

Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner (BSAP) Certificate Mentorship Program

We were very excited to begin the first of the advanced levels in the BSAP mentorship with the passionate students of Cohort 6 last week!

Our next cohort will start in September 2026 – applications will be available on June 1, 2026.

Based on a long lineage of ancient, authentic teachings of Classical Chinese medicine and applied channel theory, the 80+hour BSAP mentorship program brings acupuncture to life. It includes all advanced levels of Balance Acupuncture (3-9) and Grand Rounds classes that include cases, adjunct topics, and guest lectures. The program dives deep into advanced Balance System Acupuncture strategies to effectively deliver more immediate, lasting results. The program builds on the content of the Balance Method as taught by Dr. Richard Teh-fu Tan to Dr. Sonia F. Tan, and incorporates her experience as an academic teacher and clinician applying the Balance Method. Dr. Sonia F. Tan’s evolution of the program is team taught, with refined teaching methods as well as hands-on demos, case work, feedback mechanisms, adjunct topics and multiple case studies incorporated into the program.

Teaching alongside Dr. Sonia F. Tan is her team of Certified BSA Teachers and teaching assistants. Grand Rounds incorporates guest speakers and case studies to enhance and anchor learning. Students will gain increased confidence in their competency through applied learning in a feedback and testing environment. This program goes beyond a typical continuing education course to deepen your understanding and application of classical acupuncture.

For more information, check out our Programs Document page here ↓

October Balance System Acupuncture Learning Lab

October 20, 2025

Join Suzanne Lǎoshī for our Learning Lab series, this time focusing on OBGYN treatment strategies! Work through real-patient cases that demonstrate the different applications and approaches to treating gynecological conditions. Bring your questions on treating gynecological and other women’ s health conditions! 

Who should join? Students interested in diving deeper into Balance System Acupuncture, channel theory, holography and Classical Chinese medicine.

Strongly Recommended PREREQUISITE: A minimum of BSA Level 2: Multiple System balancing) through Tan Academy of Balance (in person or webinars) or an equivalent course through another provider.

Join online for one hour from wherever you are!

We’ll begin promptly at 1:00 pm Pacific time on October 20, 2025!

Registration ends on October 17 at 5:00 pm PT.

Fee: free for premium members of the Tan Balance Hub (the private Tan Academy learning community). Coupon code is in the Tan Balance Hub Activity Feed. 

Non-premium members $8.99. Register on the TAB Hub through the Events tile.

* Please note: CEUs are only available for those who attend Learning Labs live online and complete the feedback survey.

* Learning Labs are recorded and available on the Tan Balance Hub Members Area. 

Sign up as a premium member for free access! 

Email hello@tanbalance.com for more information.

Stay connected and unlock more on the Tan Balance Hub!

Ready to deepen your Balance Method journey? The Tan Balance Hub private community offers an exclusive space designed just for you

On our free side, you’ll have access to:

• All of our mentorship program information and academic calendar
• Find A Practitioner Search
• TAB Teaches quick tip videos
• Events and Teaching schedule links
• And more!

On our paid member side, here’s what you’ll gain:

• Ask questions and receive support from BSA trained practitioners, including Certified BSA Certified Level 9 and BSA Teachers!
• Stay in the loop with insider updates and announcements
• Access a growing library of member-only recordings
• Enjoy exclusive discounts on future offerings
• List your Practice in our directory (minimum BSA Level 2 training required)

Our community app is built with your learning in mind. It delivers silent notifications so you can focus, and there are no distractions nor algorithms—just pure, relevant content.

This isn’t just an app; it’s your go-to place to ask questions, find support, and continue learning alongside a dedicated network of Balance System practitioners. Your community is here for you—come be part of it.

Email hello@tanbalance.com for more information.

Continued Learning Resources

         Books

Tan Academy of Balance Books

Dr. Sonia Tan authored this book as a reference textbook for BSA Levels 1+2: Single + Multiple Balance. It is an essential clinical reference.

Available in English, Spanish & International French!

Find a Practitioner

Find a Practitioner!
 Find trained or certified practitioners in your area.

~ Inspiring Confidence ~ Creating Balance ~ Motivating Evolution ~