After Four Years of Discomfort, the Trapped Pressure Finally Released
I first saw James in May 2023 while I was working long-term in Canada.
Before that, I had spent more than four years searching for answers. I saw specialists in the United States, Canada, and China. I underwent CT scans, X-rays, and multiple evaluations. Every test result came back “normal.”
But the discomfort never went away.
I constantly felt a pressure in my abdomen — as if gas was trapped and simply wouldn’t move. Over time, this sensation began affecting many parts of my life:
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Poor sleep
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Digestive discomfort
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Pain around the shoulder blade area
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Numbness in my left hand
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Facial tightness
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Dry mouth
A general feeling that something inside my body just wasn’t flowing
After so many consultations without clear answers, honestly, I did not have high expectations for this treatment.
The First Session
During the first treatment, something changed.
After one precise needle was placed, I suddenly felt movement inside my abdomen — something I had not experienced in years. The long-standing pressure that had felt stuck for so long began to loosen and release during the session itself.
It felt as if a blocked point had finally opened.
For the first time in four years, I experienced real relief.
Continued Improvement
While I was in Canada, I continued regular treatments, and the improvement remained stable.
Even after moving back to Seattle in 2024, I still return about once 1-2 months for maintenance sessions, because for me, the results have been consistent and reliable.
Over time, I also noticed:
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Reduced neck tension
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Back pain disappeared
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Better sleep
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Improved digestion
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A stronger sense of overall balance
An Unexpected Bonus
During one session, James placed a single facial acupuncture needle.
I immediately felt my face tighten, and my smile lines softened noticeably. I had tried cosmetic treatments before, but this felt more natural, and the effect appeared surprisingly quickly.
For me, the joy and relief I felt are hard to put into words. After years of feeling internally stuck, I finally experienced movement and ease again.
If you have been living with long-term discomfort, normal test results, yet still do not feel well, I hope my experience encourages you to consider another approach.
At 74, I Finally Felt Lightness in My Body Again
I am 74 years old and retired. I used to work in forestry, and my life and work were physically demanding. Over the years, I developed severe lower back pain and rheumatoid arthritis in both hands. My symptoms would worsen with changes in the weather.
I could only walk a short distance before feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath. (I had a history of asthma.) My right shoulder often hurt so badly that I could not lift my arm. Both my hands and feet were swollen. I also have diabetes.
At the hospital, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in my finger joints. However, no clear cause was found for my back and shoulder pain, even though they continued to trouble me. At times, I could not go up and down the stairs normally. I took many kinds of Chinese and Western medicine, but I did not see meaningful improvement.
On top of that, my husband became ill and needed care. Life felt even heavier.
In December 2024, I heard that James had returned to China to visit family and was offering free treatment. I was told that he used acupuncture only around the navel and that it could help with many different problems. I was skeptical, but I decided to try.
James is easygoing and gentle. Being around him made me feel relaxed and at ease.
After just one treatment, my lower back pain and shoulder pain were greatly reduced. My whole body felt lighter — a feeling I had not experienced in many years. Even the swelling in my feet visibly decreased. After each session, I felt noticeably more comfortable.
In December 2024, I received seven treatments. The back pain and right shoulder pain that had troubled me for years improved significantly. Walking became easier, and I no longer felt breathless going up and down the stairs.
To my surprise, the stiffness, numbness, swelling, and pain in my fingers also improved. I was able to make a fist again. James explained that my condition had developed over many years and might require ongoing treatment to prevent recurrence. He kindly promised to help me whenever he returned to China.
In August 2025, I received another ten treatments. My back and shoulder pain disappeared. What amazed me most was that the numbness, swelling, and pain in my fingers were almost completely gone. I could use my hands normally again. Other doctors had told me that this condition would be very difficult to reverse.
During the treatment period, my blood sugar levels also improved and came close to normal.
James often says that our bodies — and even our lives — function as a whole. Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on overall balance, and navel acupuncture works by helping the body regain equilibrium. When balance returns, many issues gradually improve.
He also taught me simple ways to care for my health in daily life. I am deeply grateful — more than words can express.
If you have similar long-standing problems, I hope you might consider trying this approach.
Severe Depressive State – Gradually Finding Stability Again
For a long time, I was in a really bad place.
The pressure from work just kept building up over the years, until I completely lost control of my emotions. I became super irritable, overly sensitive, and would overreact to the smallest things. I was constantly on edge. My chest felt tight, my mind wouldn't stop racing, and my sleep was completely ruined. There were times when I honestly felt like there was no point to anything anymore.
I knew I couldn't hold it together much longer.
The First Changes
When I first went to see James, I wasn't expecting a miracle. I just wanted a little bit of relief. But after a few acupuncture sessions, the changes in my body were very real.
The biggest thing I noticed first was that the constant, intense tension started to soften. The tightness in my chest eased up, I could breathe much easier, and my sleep slowly started coming back together.
It didn’t suddenly make me happy out of nowhere, but it released my body from that stuck, stressed-out state, and gave me a sense of stability I hadn't felt in a long time.
From "Getting Treated" to Taking Control
As my body started to recover, James said something to me that completely changed how I looked at things.
He told me, "Acupuncture can only do so much—it gives you a push at the right time and opens up your body. But you can't just rely on being treated. If you want long-term stability, you have to take control of your own health. A lot of times, depression happens because we've completely disconnected from nature."
So, along with the treatments, he gave me some very specific homework to do on my own:
Force myself to go outside and get close to sunlight, fresh air, and plants.
Walk barefoot on the grass and soil to ground myself.
Do breathing exercises and consciously catch myself and shift my mindset whenever I felt an emotional reaction coming on.
I started doing this every single day. That’s when I really understood what it meant to take control. James’s treatments built the foundation, but my own actions made the results stick.
Where I Am Now
With the treatments and these changes in my routine, things completely turned around over the next few weeks:
My emotions leveled out: The big mood swings and irritability are completely gone. When work gets stressful, I can actually pause and respond calmly, instead of just reacting blindly.
My body feels healthy again: My sleep is back to a normal, deep rhythm. That heavy, buried tension in my body is gone.
I don’t feel fake-excited or forcedly "happy." I just feel normal again. I can work, I can sleep, and I can handle pressure.
I’m incredibly grateful for James’s treatments and his guidance. I didn’t just get through depression—I finally got my own life back.