a master acupuncturist must understand the principles of yin & yang, the five elements, the pathways and symptoms of the jing-luo, the symptoms of the zang fu according to the eight conditions, and the causes of disease. above all, the master acupuncturist must understand the level of qi of the patient i.e. their qi of birth, and the relationship of changes between the yin and the yang and the five elements of the body and the five movements and the six qi. art is a creative activity and the art of master acupuncture relies on the creative skills and abilities of the acupuncturist: the ability to create a five element pattern from the 4 methods of diagnosis, with special emphasis on pulse diagnosis; the ability to create a balancing prescription of acupuncture points for relief of symptoms and promotion of health & harmony; the skill in locating acupuncture points; the skill involved in needle technique.
