ABOUT JOHN DITMARS
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John trained to be an acupuncturist at New York City’s esteemed Tri-State College of Acupuncture, where he extensively studied the work of Dr. Mark Seem and Kiiko Matsumoto, among other well-known acupuncturists in the field. Dr. Seem is the developer of Acupuncture Physical Medicine (APM), which is a palpation-based acupuncture style that excels at addressing myofascial trigger points and stress-holding patterns. APM is truly the most integrative form of acupuncture in that it is a fusion of Japanese, Vietnamese, and classical Chinese acupuncture. APM's language bridges the gap between modern Western Osteopathy/Neurology/Internal Medicine, by viewing through a modern lens while still retaining traditional Eastern roots.
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The unique curriculum at Tri State yields acupuncturists that are excellent at treating pain and stress-induce ailments. One of the standouts of the APM style of acupuncture is the utilization of trigger point acupuncture, which has been called "dry needling." Dry needling as it is called today is simply an acupuncture technique using filiform (acupuncture) needles to release "knots" in the soft tissues that often are the cause of pain or a facet of a dysfunction. Dry needling was originally done with a hypodermic needle (which is a far larger diameter than acupuncture needles), which was not only very painful, but also could result in infection, and only a couple of trigger points could be treated in a session. Decades ago, Dr. Seem linked up with Dr. Janet Travell, who was famous worldwide for creating the map of trigger points in the body, and how each one can cause local and referred pain, as well as lead to organ or nerve dysfunction. Mark introduced Janet to using acupuncture needles to release trigger points! Dr. Travell never knew that acupuncturists have been treating this way for centuries because no one ever really exposed her to true acupuncture before. In this sense, Dr. Mark Seem is the developer of trigger point acupuncture, which when only performed locally, has been called "dry needling" by many Western healthcare practitioners. The APM style of acupuncture is by far the most effective form of acupuncture and "dry needling" there is when it comes to treating pain regardless of the cause. John is one of few people in the Northwest to be trained in this approach and is certainly the only one in Lane County to have this much clinical experience performing trigger point work.
That said, releasing trigger points is only a facet of the APM style, and John tends to use it only when his patients come in with complaints that require it. A treatment session might include some of the techniques of the acupuncture developed by Kiiko Matsumoto, who he studied with for two years in NYC. Of course, John also learned Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, which is the Root of all acupuncture. He continues to study medical bodywork and acupuncture styles that engage both Eastern and Western diagnostic and treatment mindsets, typically under acupuncturists that are also Neurologists or Osteopaths.
That said, releasing trigger points is only a facet of the APM style, and John tends to use it only when his patients come in with complaints that require it. A treatment session might include some of the techniques of the acupuncture developed by Kiiko Matsumoto, who he studied with for two years in NYC. Of course, John also learned Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, which is the Root of all acupuncture. He continues to study medical bodywork and acupuncture styles that engage both Eastern and Western diagnostic and treatment mindsets, typically under acupuncturists that are also Neurologists or Osteopaths.
What brought John to study acupuncture in the first place was a dense personal history of sports injuries and rehabilitative therapies. Athletics have always been a large part of his life (although the tendencies for thrill-seeker activities have greatly lessened due to accumulated injuries, age, and life perspective). After periods of treatment with various acupuncturists, John was treated by an Acupuncture Physical Medicine practitioner and everything changed. The musculoskeletal healing ramped up dramatically once this other style of acupuncture was utilized. Ultimately, this is why he chose to attend The Tri-State College of Acupuncture, for the next level in acupuncture education.
John lives in Eugene, Oregon. Aside from Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, his passions include spending time outdoors in rivers, on hiking and biking trails, in the garden, arts, culinary arts, home repair projects, or sharing good times with friends.
He is a Certified Diplomat in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is licensed to practice in Oregon, Washington, and New York. Please feel free to contact him if you have any questions about acupuncture whatsoever.
John has dedicated time to study with and complete trainings under:
Dr. Mark Seem, LAc.: www.TSCA.edu
Tom Bisio: https://www.internalartsinternational.com/tom-bisio/
Sensei Kiiko Matsumoto, LAc. : www.kiikomatsumoto.com
Whitfield Reaves, LAc.: https://www.whitfieldreaves.com
Poney Chiang: https://riverclinic.ca/tcm-practitioners/
John lives in Eugene, Oregon. Aside from Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, his passions include spending time outdoors in rivers, on hiking and biking trails, in the garden, arts, culinary arts, home repair projects, or sharing good times with friends.
He is a Certified Diplomat in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is licensed to practice in Oregon, Washington, and New York. Please feel free to contact him if you have any questions about acupuncture whatsoever.
John has dedicated time to study with and complete trainings under:
Dr. Mark Seem, LAc.: www.TSCA.edu
Tom Bisio: https://www.internalartsinternational.com/tom-bisio/
Sensei Kiiko Matsumoto, LAc. : www.kiikomatsumoto.com
Whitfield Reaves, LAc.: https://www.whitfieldreaves.com
Poney Chiang: https://riverclinic.ca/tcm-practitioners/