Acupuncture treatment is based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory of meridians, aiming to regulate the balance of Qi and blood to achieve therapeutic effects. In contrast, Origin Point Therapy is founded on the theory of remote soft tissue injuries and cold constitution, providing patients with long-term healing benefits.
Although the point selection strategies in these two methods differ, a practitioner who is well-trained in both can skillfully integrate them to deliver optimal results for the patient.
The manual pressing techniques used in Origin Point Therapy mainly target remote injury points in the body. This method is known for its rapid and noticeable effects. However, for patients who are sensitive to pain, unable to tolerate intense pressure, or physically weak and lacking energy, alternative treatment options may be needed to achieve similar therapeutic goals without added strain.
In Origin Point Medicine, the three core healing tools — manual pressure therapy (pressing), external heat sources, and internal heat sources — offer cancer patients a cost-effective, practical, and self-manageable long-term healing method. When applied consistently and correctly, these approaches often bring surprising relief from cancer-related discomfort.
However, for some patients with advanced illness or weakened constitution, the body may lack the internal warmth (vital energy) needed to respond to the pressing technique. Additionally, patients with extremely cold and tight muscle conditions may experience intense pain during manual therapy, leading to resistance, fatigue, or in some cases, even fainting. In such situations, vigorous pressing is not appropriate.
This is particularly common in late-stage cancer patients. In these cases, the focus of treatment should shift toward external and internal warming therapies, along with gentle Origin Point pressing. Once the relatively tense Origin Points are identified, applying acupuncture at these locations becomes a vital and life-supporting strategy, helping to reduce symptoms while being more tolerable for fragile patients.
A late-stage colon cancer patient once visited our clinic, requiring assistance from family members just to walk in. During tongue diagnosis, we observed signs of severe fecal accumulation—stagnation so significant it had risen to the oral cavity. The patient’s tumor had grown so large that when lying down, multiple masses were visible on the abdomen without palpation. He had not had a bowel movement for several weeks and was unable to eat—vomiting any time he tried to consume food. At this stage, even warming therapies like ginger tea were ineffective, as the digestive system had completely shut down.
When attempting to apply Origin Point manual pressure therapy, even the lightest touch on the back caused severe pain, making pressing nearly impossible. This type of presentation is not uncommon in late-stage cancer patients. In such cases, based on prior experience in locating abnormal tissue textures along the back’s Origin Points, we can instead apply acupuncture to those specific areas.
In this patient’s case, after only 20 minutes of Origin Point acupuncture, he was able to get up and immediately go to the restroom. Following just 3–4 more sessions, he returned to the clinic driving himself, was eating normally, and having daily bowel movements. The results were remarkable, and both the patient and his family were overjoyed. (Unfortunately, his condition later deteriorated after following unverified folk remedies, consuming cold herbal teas and chilled watermelon, which aggravated his symptoms.)
With years of clinical experience in Origin Point pressing and acupuncture, Melbourne acupuncturist in South Yarra, Dr. Alex Chen has proven that acupuncture needles, being less painful yet able to reach deep tissue, offer an excellent alternative for patients who cannot tolerate pressure-based therapies. By treating the Origin Point as an acupuncture point, he has found that acupuncture not only avoids pain but produces fast and powerful results—ideal for frail patients, those highly sensitive to pain, and even for general use.
Dr. Chen often combines Origin Point acupuncture with traditional meridian-based acupuncture, enhancing both the immediacy and longevity of the treatment’s effects.
In essence, Origin Point Therapy acts like a “master switch”, addressing broad areas of dysfunction quickly and efficiently. In contrast, traditional meridian acupuncture functions like a “fine-tuning switch”, ideal for precise symptom modulation.
By integrating both systems:
Because both treatments often yield immediate results, physicians can conveniently alternate between them based on patient response, creating a complementary and adaptive treatment strategy. In doing so, they can also provide practical at-home care guidance, empowering patients and families to participate actively in their healing process.
