Master of Pulse Diagnosis
Karen's Journey
Karen is an accomplished Chinese medicine practitioner, physiotherapist and a direct lineage holder of the Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis System. She has 30 years of clinical experience gained in both the USA and Australia.​
Her style of practice is influenced by long-term mentor Dr Leon Hammer, MD, renowned Chinese medicine practitioner, physician and child psychiatrist. During their 27 years together, she inherited the Menghe-Ding pulse method and the model of Chinese medical psychology defined by Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies (Hammer, 2005). These teachings were foundational in her non-pathologizing approach to medicine and provided an awareness of the subtle but distinctive energy transformations that result from our individual human experience. And how physiology manifests these patterns that can be accessed on the pulse. Her Classical approach of Jing Fang herbal prescription has been guided by her studies with Professors Heiner Fruehauf and Huang Huang.​
Karen’s academic experience and contribution to the profession include doctoral studies evaluating the reliability of pulse diagnosis; co-authoring a Handbook of Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis; lecturing at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine NY, the University of Technology, Sydney, and the University of Western Sydney; publishing in peer review journals; presenting at conferences and teaching pulse diagnosis classes in China, USA, Australia, and New Zealand.​
Currently her practice is based in Sydney, Australia. As a senior Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis instructor Karen continues to share her knowledge and experience in pulse diagnosis and Chinese medicine psychology. More recently she has taken that beyond the Chinese medicine field introducing pulse diagnosis to medical practitioners, and Classical Chinese medicine concepts to physiotherapists and business leaders.
Holistic Approach
What is a holistic approach to health and well-being? The best way to illustrate this is by discussing a case.​​
Classical Chinese medicine perceives the living body as a dynamic system of energy exchange. The activity of physiology has a finely tuned time and direction for optimal function, that is, cellular activity courses through organs, and substances moves up/down and deep/superficial within our body in a cyclical motion.​
Consider a recent case of corticosteroid managed rosacea. A dermatology specialist had performed a biopsy, confirmed the diagnosis, and prescribed a steroidal cream to control the symptoms. However, after 18 months, the rosacea would flare up worse than before, each time the cream was discontinued. ​​
In the reductionist model of Western medicine, the focus remained narrowly on the skin without considering other systems. By looking down the microscope, the goal was to confirm that the cells were not precancerous or otherwise abnormal. While this information is important, it provided little help in resolving the underlying condition.​​
From a Classical Chinese Medicine perspective, a different picture emerged. The person's irregular eating habits and long-standing constipation (having a bowel movement every 4 to 5 days) were seen as central to the condition. This digestive stagnation disrupted the body’s primary downward movement, preventing the elimination of residual heat and metabolic waste from the body. The retained heat and substances accumulated then ascended, manifesting as facial inflammation.​​
​Treatment involved acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to regulate elimination and descend activity, along with dietary guidance both on what to eat and when. Within weeks, the pain and swelling began to subside. After four months, the skin had returned to a clear, healthy state, with no visible inflammation. (See images below.)​
Whether you're seeking relief from a specific condition or aiming to enhance your overall vitality, our holistic approach combines clinical insight with natural, effective treatments. We consider both your internal constitution and the environmental factors influencing your health.​
Explore the benefits of integrative care—through personalised treatments, educational offerings, and inspiring talks.
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Your journey to holistic well-being begins here.
Rosacea Case - images shared with permission
28 February, 2025
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