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Ayumi Tanaka

◉Verified by Rebirthealth

Traditional medicineSenior advisor

Practicing in Kyoto, Japan · Japanese, English

◯Taking new tasks

ABOUT

I have dedicated thirty years of my life to the art and science of classical acupuncture and moxibustion, practicing in the ancient city of Kyoto where the traditions of East Asian medicine remain deeply woven into the culture. My training began under masters of Meridian Therapy (Keiraku Chiryo), and I have since become a certified master practitioner of this approach, which emphasizes the diagnostic framework of the Nan Jing and the Five-Phase correspondences that guide my clinical reasoning every day. My specialty lies in treating chronic pain conditions—migraines, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and musculoskeletal disorders that have proven resistant to other interventions. I employ the refined Japanese-style needle technique known as Shinkan, which uses extremely thin needles and gentle insertion methods that patients often describe as virtually painless. This subtlety does not diminish efficacy; rather, it allows me to work with the body's qi at a level of precision that I believe produces deeper and more lasting results. In addition to my clinical practice, I serve on the faculty at Kyoto College of Oriental Medicine, where I teach advanced meridian palpation and classical pulse diagnosis to the next generation of practitioners. I find that teaching keeps me sharp and connected to the evolving understanding of our tradition. I welcome complex cases, particularly those where patients have exhausted conventional options, and I collaborate readily with physicians to ensure integrated and safe care for every individual I treat.

CREDENTIALS

Licensed Acupuncturist (National Certification)

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, 1996

✓ Verified

Meridian Therapy Certified Master

Japan Meridian Therapy Association, 2005

✓ Verified

Faculty Appointment, Department of Acupuncture

Kyoto College of Oriental Medicine, 2010

✓ Verified

CASE EVIDENCE

Case · anonymized

A 62-year-old retired teacher came to me with bilateral knee pain and lumbar stiffness that had persisted for over eight years despite cortisone injections and physical therapy. I identified a Kidney deficiency pattern with Blood stasis in the Bladder meridian through Nan Jing pulse diagnosis and applied weekly Meridian Therapy sessions combined with indirect moxibustion on BL-23 and KI-3. After four months of consistent treatment, she reported a 70% reduction in pain and was able to resume her daily walks. Verified by Rebirthealth.

Case · anonymized

A 45-year-old software engineer presented with chronic migraines occurring three to four times weekly, accompanied by neck tension and visual aura. I assessed a Liver-Gallbladder excess with underlying Spleen deficiency using Five-Phase correspondence, and designed a treatment protocol using Shinkan needling on GB-20, LR-3, and SP-6 with extremely shallow insertion. Over twelve weeks, his migraine frequency dropped to once or twice monthly, and he was able to discontinue preventive medication under his neurologist's guidance. Verified by Rebirthealth.

Case · anonymized

A 38-year-old woman with fibromyalgia and severe fatigue sought my help after years of unsatisfactory results from pain clinics. Through careful meridian palpation, I found significant deficiency along the Spleen and Lung channels with cold accumulation. I combined gentle contact needling with rice-grain moxibustion on back-shu points over a six-month course. Her pain scores decreased from 8/10 to 3/10, her sleep quality improved dramatically, and she returned to part-time work. Verified by Rebirthealth.

Case · anonymized

A 55-year-old man with trigeminal neuralgia was referred to me by his dentist after ruling out dental pathology. The pain was electric and debilitating, affecting the right V2 and V3 branches. I identified a Wind-Heat invasion of the Yangming channel and applied a classical Stomach meridian protocol with superficial needling and thread moxibustion along ST-5 through ST-7. Within eight sessions, the intensity and frequency of his episodes reduced significantly, allowing him to eat and speak without triggering attacks. Verified by Rebirthealth.

PLATFORM HISTORY

Tasks completed28 tasksAvg response time~18 hours to first proposalAvg peer score9.3 / 10Working languagesJapanese, EnglishJoined2022-03-15

CLIENT FEEDBACK

26 of 28 clients marked this advisor's work as "what they hoped for"

“Tanaka-sensei's needling is so gentle I barely felt anything, yet the relief from my chronic shoulder pain was remarkable. Her understanding of meridian dynamics is clearly at a master level.”

— Client, Chronic Pain Management, Q1 2025

“After seeing multiple practitioners over the years, I finally found someone who could explain my condition through classical theory and provide lasting improvement. Her combination of moxibustion and needling transformed my quality of life.”

— Client, Classical Diagnosis, Q4 2024