When patients visit Erin, a key component of her intake process is doing a thorough Shen-Hammer Pulse diagnosis, a skill she feels fortunate to have learned under Professor Laisha Canner, AP, MAOM during her years at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine. This pulse system, also known as Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis® is a sophisticated diagnostic method rooted in the teachings of Dr. John H.F. Shen and refined by Dr. Leon Hammer. The system has remained intact for hundreds of years through diligent teacher to student transmission. Shen-Hammer Pulse diagnosis has become a cornerstone of Erin’s practice, enabling an individualized approach to healing that sets her apart as a acupuncture physician.
The Tradition of Treating the Individual
Tracing its lineage to the Pulse Classics of Li Shi Zhen and Wang Shu He, enriched by the Menghe-Ding tradition, the Shen-Hammer Pulse System is preventive and root-cause medicine at its best. This method examines 28 pulse positions on the wrists to inform a patient’s constitution, past health history, current conditions, and potential future pathologies.
The Shen-Hammer Pulse system serves as one of the “languages” of the body, reflecting not only physical health but also emotional, psychological, and lifestyle factors—ranging from effects of past traumas to environmental stressors. Dr. Hammer emphasized, the Shen-Hammer system enables practitioners to treat the individual, not merely the disease, aligning seamlessly with Erin’s commitment to fostering genuine, long-term healing.
Addressing Imbalances to Achieve Optimal Health
The Shen-Hammer Pulse System allows Erin to identify and address imbalances before they become serious, offering patients a path to sustainable wellness. Its emphasis on preventive care allows her to tailor acupuncture, herbal remedies, and lifestyle recommendations to each patient’s unique needs. Drawing from Dr. Hammer’s seminal work, Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies, Erin views emotional and mental health through the lens of Oriental Medicine, addressing root causes such as trauma or chronic stress and their effects on the body. This holistic perspective resonates deeply with patients seeking more than symptom relief—they want to understand and reveal optimal health in their whole being.
East Meets West for Compassionate, Individualized Care
The Shen-Hammer Pulse System reflects Dr. Hammer’s vision of bridging Eastern and Western medicine. Erin is honored to carry this legacy forward, using the pulse to see her patients as unique individuals, each with a distinct path to healing. Inspired by Dr. Hammer’s words—“the dragon rises from within us”—she continues to refine her skills, embodying the transformative power of the Shen-Hammer Pulse system in her practice to provide compassionate, individualized care.