Rod Richmond, L.Ac.

My interest in health and healing began at a young age when my father introduced me to weightlifting, gymnastics, trampoline, and using diet and supplementation. I found myself drawn to martial arts and they in turn brought me to the healing arts. I was not the first to recognize that the study of martial and healing arts helps to keep one balanced. I have enjoyed practicing, learning, and integrating healing and self-development systems including, but not limited to, Kriya Yoga, Qigong, Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and bodywork. All through these practices I recognized that I was in pursuit of a more direct relationship with the “Life Force”, also known as Qi, Ki or Prana.

When in my first year of acupuncture school, I was introduced to non-inserted needles and techniques. I immediately felt a connection to this approach to this gentle treatment style. One of the reasons was that when I engaged with these tools, I needed to quiet myself and listen, really listen with my hands, my heart, and my mind. This internal quietness allowed me to perceive the presence of the Life Force in my patients and myself in a way that I had not experienced before.

It was, my great good fortune to find an instructor who had explored, studied, and practiced with some of the best practitioners of gentle styles of acupuncture. I am grateful that I recognized Bob Quinn L.Ac, DAOM,  as my primary mentor early on in my acupuncture education.

One of my mentor’s many strengths was his ability to share the numerous different styles he had explored and used in his own practice. He encouraged us to approach acupuncture like a jazz  musician. That is, to learn the different parts and bring them together in an effective and harmonized treatment, unique to that patient and the moment we shared. This guidance and support shaped how I practice, creating a fusion of techniques that flow together in a harmonious whole that is layered and effective and at the same time gentle.

Dr. Quinn wrote:

“Mr. Richmond is a graduate of NUNM’s School of Classical Chinese Medicine. The program there teaches a number of non-TCM acupuncture styles, e.g., Classical Japanese Meridian Therapy, Japanese Shakujyu, the Mukaino Method, Zhu Scalp, and a few others. I mention this because the treatments I have observed are best described as fusion-style that likely would make little sense to someone who practiced a pure TCM approach. … I can say that he is clearly delivering effective treatments that are well received and appreciated. It took me at least five years of practice before I had the skill that Mr. Richmond now demonstrates in all his treatments. It is inspiring to see his dedication to his new career.”

Training:

Many of the gentle styles of acupuncture I practice originate in Japan, as they have a long tradition of blind practitioners who have developed a highly sensitive sense of touch and perception. This acute sense of perception and  touch has allowed them to perceive that the body will respond to a light touch and minimal interaction through either inserted or non-inserted needles and tools. I have spent much of my training developing my sense of touch and treatment along these lines. I was fortunate to have secured a post-graduate internship with my mentor where I could dive more deeply into these gentle aspects of acupuncture.

Some of the skills I immersed myself in during this mentorship were:

• Hara (Abdominal) diagnosis and treatment
• Teishin, Enshin etc. (Non-inserted tools)
• Gentle Acupuncture (Minimally inserted needle applications)
• Mukaino Method (Relief of musculoskeletal pain associated with movement)
• Moxibustion (Various styles of herbal heat application)
• Sotai & Yin Sotai (Neuromuscular release and retraining style of bodywork)
• Qigong Tuina (Yin-Yang Channel Pulsing. A subtle style of bodywork)

At the end of my mentorship, Dr. Quinn, wrote this on my behalf:

“…I was familiar with Rod from my time teaching at NUNM’s CCM program while he was a student there. Beyond being a classroom teacher for him, I was also on a number of occasions his clinical supervisor in the intern clinic. Because of this exposure I was already fairly well acquainted with his clinical skills. He was always an unusually dedicated student, and that has not changed in the last few years.

I would like to make a few general comments about Rod’s clinical skills. I have been in TCM for 24 years now, having gotten my license in 1998. I have taught at OCOM, NUNM, and ASOM in AZ. I have taught seminars in Israel and Europe on a number of occasions, in addition to all over the US. I have a good sense of what the average student looks like. Rod Richmond’s clinical skills, especially his manual skills with bodywork, moxa and needling, are far above average…”

Education

National University of Natural Medicine, (MSOM)

– National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) Portland, Oregon, USA

Certifications and Trainings

Diplomate of Acupuncture – NCCAOM

Japanese Meridian Therapy – Bob Quinn DAOM, LAc & Daniel Silver LAc

Hari Program  – Takayuki Koei Kuwahara LAc

The Dr. Bear Method  – ‘Dr. Bear’, Mr. Anryu Iwashina LAc

Koshi Balancing Method– Dr. Jeffrey Dann, Ph.D., L.Ac

Engaging Vitality – Dan Bensky, DO., Marguerite Dinkins, MAcOM – LAc