Practitioners

David Toone, L.Ac., Dipl. AHM, FICEAM

Two lineages, each a chain of teachers who trained the next in person. In acupuncture, David trained in the Iwashina lineage of Classical Acupuncture, the Dr. Bear Method. Herbal medicine comes from the Han-dynasty classics, through Arnaud Versluys, who founded ICEAM.

Acupuncture and herbal care at Red Earth are given by David.

Licensed in Georgia since 2007

At Red Earth, we've given more than 30,000 treatments.

David Toone at the treatment table, smiling down at a patient under a drape.

Japanese lineage acupuncture and classical Chinese herbal medicine

David Toone

L.Ac., Dipl. AHM, FICEAM

My acupuncture teacher, Master Anryu Iwashina, lost his sight at twenty-two and practiced for more than forty years by touch. He taught the same way, by explanation and through touch. I treat the way he taught me, and I'm with you the whole time.

At the end of a treatment you'll probably hear me say "well done." I mean it. The work is yours.

Two lineages

Through his study of martial arts and Zen, David learned the value of following a lineage as taught to him by a teacher. He strives to adhere very closely to the methods and techniques his teachers have laid out.

Lineage decides how you are examined and treated here.

David Toone pointing to a channel chart on the treatment-room wall.

Japanese lineage acupuncture: from Anryu Iwashina

David's teacher was Master Anryu Iwashina of Morioka, Japan, known to his students as Dr. Bear. Dr. Bear was taught the same way, by a teacher who was taught by a teacher.

David began studying with Dr. Bear in 2004, in his first semester of school in California, outside the curriculum. He trained in Dr. Bear's clinic in Morioka, assisted his teaching in the United States until Dr. Bear's death in 2022, and now assists in teaching Fukushin, Dr. Bear's abdominal diagnosis, for ICEAM in North America.

In 2008, David traveled to Morioka, Japan to study with Dr. Bear. When he left, Dr. Bear said, "OK, now you have graduated from Elementary School" and handed him one copy of the Nan Jing, "the commentary in this one is Middle School." Then he handed him a thicker copy of the Nan Jing, saying "the commentary in this one is High School. But most importantly, see lots of patients. When you have done that you will graduate from College."

In 2019, on David's last visit, Dr. Bear let him diagnose and treat him.

Classical Chinese herbal medicine: ICEAM

The herbal medicine here comes from two texts of the Han dynasty, the Shanghan Lun and the Jingui Yaolue, through a line of physicians: Tian Heming, then Zeng Rongxiu, then Arnaud Versluys, who founded ICEAM and trained David. Formulas are chosen from those texts for the pattern in front of us.

David began at ICEAM in 2010 and became a Diplomate in 2012. In 2015 he was among the first Clinical Fellows of ICEAM. The clinic is an authorized ICEAM training site, and he has served as a clinical supervisor there since 2024.

In a patient's words

I tell you, I was led to David. The Lord said to me, “Look into acupuncture.” I began to do my research to find a good acupuncturist. I found David online and saw he had an impressive background and good training. It took some time until there was an open slot and I was able to get an appointment at Red Earth.
G.B.

Before acupuncture

David trained as an attorney and worked for a telecommunications startup before he studied Chinese medicine. He earned his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley in 2007, the year he was licensed in Georgia. The coursework there was based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

He studies at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center and teaches Shorinji Kempo.

Red Earth is patterned as closely as possible to the clinics of his teachers. Being treated here is meant to be as close as possible to being treated in Japan.

Meet David at a free consult

Bring your questions. In about fifteen minutes you'll know whether this is the right place for you, and so will we. If it isn't, we'll suggest where to go instead.

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