About Jeffrey

Jeffrey C. Russell, MS, DOM, L.Ac, Board Certified Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist

Jeffrey has practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and East Asian Medicine for over 25 years. He is a board-certified Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist. Jeffrey integrates available information from other healthcare providers such as labs, imaging, diagnoses, and reports, into his use of TCM and East Asian medicine. Jeffrey bridges the gap by explaining his findings in TCM and East Asian medicine by translating them into easy-to-understand terminology.

Education

Jeffrey C. Russell trained at the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences in the California Bay Area. He entered that program after studying at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA in the early 90’s. This cultivated his interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), East Asian Medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. After pre-med, he attended a 4-year Masters of Science program in Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. He maintains state and national licensure.

Continuing Studies
Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Sotei, Koshi Balancing, Osteopathic Medicine, Rehabilitative Manual Medicine, Physical Therapy/Physio-therapy, and Mizutani Direct Moxa.

The Foundation of Abacus Chinese Medicine

Pulsenergy–Pulse Diagnosis at Abacus Chinese Medicine

A core technique of Jeffrey C. Russell’s work is pulse diagnosis as a primary diagnostic tool. Pulse diagnosis itself has been used in Chinese Herbal Medicine for thousands of years. The patterns of a patient’s pulse indicate specific conditions and pathologies. It is widely considered a highly effective diagnostic tool in TCM and East Asian Medicine, but also the most difficult aspect of practice to master.

Jeffrey’s method of pulse diagnosis is called Pulsynergy. It is an exceptionally effective diagnostic tool. Bio-medical conditions are often diagnosed quickly with great specificity. It is especially amenable to an integrative practice in which a Chinese Herbal Medicine approach works with information and treatment from other healthcare perspectives.

Pulsenergy–Pulse Diagnosis

Learning from a Master

Jeffrey learned Pulsynergy directly from the man who developed it, Chang Wei-Yen (Jimmy Chang). The technique was developed from Traditional Chinese Medicine classical texts, decades of experience, and 10’s of thousands of patients.

Pulse diagnosis as developed by Dr. Chang is a logical and effective method, yet specific and complex, requiring intensive study and practice. Chang’s work and methods have greatly elevated the use of pulse diagnosis and afford him a significant role in the history of Chinese medicine.

Jeffrey uses this style of pulse diagnosis as the foundation of his practice when diagnosing, prescribing herbal prescriptions, determining appropriate acupuncture treatment, and monitoring patient progress.

Your Initial Consultation–Getting Started at Abacus

Jeffrey diagnoses and treats patients based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, East Asian, and Osteopathic principles. He practices an “integrative” model which means he can work with patients who have been diagnosed and are simultaneously being treated with Western medicine.

Because of Jeffrey’s diagnostic procedure, your first consult may be significantly different than you are accustomed to with other healthcare providers. Most of us expect to start a healthcare appointment by describing our symptoms and issues. Then, after the provider has listened to our complaints, we expect to be examined as the practitioner looks for the problem. Jeffrey does it much differently.

Listening to the body first

In your first appointment, you will be asked to save your report of problems till after Jeffrey examines you. He wants to hear what the body tells him first.

After the exam, Jeffrey will ask what your chief current complaints are and your history. He then combines this information for an integrated understanding of how best to customize your treatment plan.

You might be pleasantly surprised after your initial consult as one patient told us. It’s amazing. He knew what was bothering me and I hadn’t said a word. He simply checked my pulse and ear!

So, yes, things are done differently here! And it’s probably safe to say that’s a large part of why you are coming to Abacus. There are no one-size-fits-all treatments at Abacus.

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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Professional Development

Jeffrey has sought professional development under the tutelage of acclaimed practitioners in his field. He is fortunate to have apprenticed and interned with masters in their professions. They include:

Anryu Iwashina Sensei (aka Dr. Bear)

Dr. Bear is a visually-impaired acupuncturist known for his acuity in non-insertive needle techniques including contact needling and Teishin (a non-insertive tool and ‘needling’ method from the classics). Dr. Bear has refined the art of non-insertive needling techniques to effectively treat complex conditions sensitively with emphasis on palpation and perceptively understanding and applying the classics in practice.

Dr. Li-Chun Huang, MD (China)

Jeffrey completed the Master of Auricular Medicine program at the Auricular Medicine International Research and Training Center with Dr. Huang who has taught 10’s of 1000’s of doctors and practitioners around the world over the last 50 years. Originally a surgeon in China, she went on to research auricular medicine and to develop her practice in that field.

Jeffrey Dann, PhD, LAc

Jeffrey Dann, founder of Koshi Balancing Method has been an educator and community healthcare practitioner for the past 45 years. A respected acupuncture teacher, he has taught internationally, and is a teaching assistant for the Barrall Institute Visceral Manipulation core courses.

Mark Petruzzi, MS, LAc, LMT

Mark is the director of the Traditional Japanese Acupuncture Institute and the developer of the TJA certification program. He has been entrusted by Junji Mizutani Sensei to teach his unique Direct Moxa methods.

Jay Sandweiss, DO, FAAMA

Dr. Sandweiss is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Association in Neuro-muscular Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. He provides continuing education to doctors and manual practitioners.

Paul Shapiro, MD

Dr. Shapiro is a physiatrist, a member of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His appreciation of Neuro-muscular and Manipulative Osteopathy led him to develop unique methods for screening and treating muscle inhibition.

Susan Johnson, MS, LAc

Jeffrey has studied acupuncture styles extensively in the USA and in Asia. He trained with Dr. Susan Johnson, L.Ac who is a ‘lineage holder’ of the practice of Grand Master Tung (董景昌大師) [pronounced Dong]. Master Tung’s approach to acupuncture treatment is a highly effective system that uses points distal to the affected area.

Toby Daly, PhD, LAc

Jeffrey has studied Sa’am acupuncture, or Acupuncture of the Wandering Monks, with Toby Daly. This practice is a Korean monastic tradition.

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