I have been a medical acupuncturist since 1981 and have taught microcurrent stimulation throughout North America since1996. Two years ago, I met Dr. Bruce Hocking, a doctor of acupuncture who created ETPS. I was amazed at the results he was getting with a unique microcurrent stimulator from Australia. After observing Bruce in action and experimenting with ETPS on myself and others, I am convinced that anyone can learn to employ highly effective protocols for the treatment of specific pain problems. In fact, with this little hand-held instrument and the ETPS protocols, anyone can accomplish about 80% of what I am able to do with needles. This was a humbling experience because it took me over two years of formal acupuncture training and practice (in Hong Kong, China and at UCLA) to become an effective acupuncturist. Now, in just one day, people can learn how to alleviate and often eliminate their own pain.

Acupuncturists find this hard to believe and you may too. But more and more acupuncturists are taking a serious look at this new therapy because much of the population will not submit to needles. These acupuncturists know that they could help many more people if ETPS is so effective.

Here are some examples of how ETPS can benefit:

1. Acute myofascial pain syndromes
This includes sports injuries (ankles, knees, shoulders, etc.) and sudden onset of low back pain. These conditions are characterized by painful muscle spasms with consequent shortening of muscles. If you can reduce or eliminate the spasms, the pain goes and function returns. A five- or 10-minute ETPS treatment quickly does just that for most acute conditions. A few follow-up ETPS treatments, along with traditional management, will consolidate these gains and commonly eliminate the pain and restore normal function. Some athletic trainers keep a microcurrent stimulator in their pocket to deal with these acute problems on the spot.

I carry two of the stimulators with me at all times. Recently, while on vacation at beautiful Ross Lake in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, we planned to take a scenic boat ride with two other couples. One of the ladies, who suffers from intermittent severe low back pain, awoke with excruciating back pain. She could hardly walk and certainly couldn't sit. The boat ride was not possible for her until I did a 9-minute ETPS treatment, which gave her complete relief.

2. Chronic pain.
As part of my mission to spread the word on the value of this simple therapy, I do in-service training at chiropractic, physical therapy and pain clinics. I ask the clinics to invite patients with the most difficult pain problems to attend. Over 75% of these patients receive at least 50% symptomatic relief after the first ETPS treatment, which takes only 5 to 15 minutes. I'm continually amazed when I see such results because I've been involved with pain management for over 25 years and have never seen anything like this.

One woman in her late sixties had undergone several back surgeries. Despite this, she still had chronic, disabling back pain. She hobbled into the clinic using a walker for support. I could see she held an attitude that nothing further could help. She was fed up with doctors and pain clinics. After an eleven-minute treatment with ETPS, however, she reported that her pain level had decreased from 9 on a scale of 1 to 10 down to 4. The change in her posture and smile on her face was a joy to behold! This treatment was not a cure for her back pain because the structural abnormalities, including scar tissue from her operations, still remained. However, she did experience immediate pain relief because the associated muscle spasm and shortening of muscles was partially alleviated. Many patients like this will experience complete relief after additional treatments and can be maintained pain free with periodic repeat treatments.

In Alaska, several clinics provide ETPS treatment as part of their pain management program. Most insurance companies cover this treatment. Furthermore, after a person has been shown to respond to ETPS, a microcurrent unit may be prescribed for home use. Some fibromyalgia sufferers have found this to be a useful adjunct to other therapies.