Letter From Dr. Erika Kirgis, Germany
Dear Dr. Ma,
With delight I read your book. I felt such a relief, that finally someone cleared up some mysteries that had been lingering around for decades. Coming from western medicine and from a traditional background I had already realized that this medicine relying on “prescription” , that equalizes “cases” because of the same diagnosis, was highly inefficient. Discovering Dry needling for me was like an expansion towards more personalized treatments
The real challenge started when Janet Travell taught at our Institute and I were introduced to myofascial pain and Triggerponts. From then on I was convinced that the crucial treatment is that which works on the myofascial blockages.
The way you describe the needle-technique and the needling depth, the treatment-time and the results, it sounds like a frat step forward at Triggerpuncture that I mainly practice. As you describe, the art is to ‘feel’ the Trigger points whether they are active or passive.
You call them HAs or SAs and I agree, some are subjective and patients are aware of them, some are HAs and the patient is unaware but they are crucial to be treated as well, if they are located in the vicinity of the pain.
I am impressed by your pragmatic approach and the structured systematization you introduced.
Equally impressive and thus unknown to me is the fact of predictability of the number of treatments needed and of the period before the next incident in the same tissue-area will occur.
To my understanding the reason for re-injury lies in the loss of electrical potential of the cell membrane. It usually is 70-90mv in the healthy cell and diminishes with every injury, inflammation or irritation of any kind. (Nowadays my treatment after successful elimination of the local pain continues with bioelectrcal stimulation over the area- PAPIMI, see there,- and it is actually possible to raise the electrical potential difference with this device and restore normal conditions in the tissue thus preventing re-injury).
In all I feel a liberation and a renewal has happened to the medical world. As much as I am impressed by the medical art, I would also agree to let go of ancient rituals and beliefs and ignorance. Thank you for your courageous and encouraging book
Dr. Erika Kirgis
Germany