Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Hiding in Plain Sight
Chronic / Acute Conditions

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Hiding in Plain Sight

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) affects more than 15% of the U.S. population but evades most practitioners’ radar. Just five years ago, it wasn’t even on my radar, despite already having 20 years of experience as a clinician at that time. The more I dug (similar to leaky gut and post-COVID syndrome), the more I found my patients were suffering from this disorder.

Bill Reddy, LAc, Dipl. Ac.
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Acupuncture & Acupressure
Spirits of the Points: The Gallbladder (Pt. 6)
Spirits of the Points: The Gallbladder

In prior issues, Neil discussed the Gallbladder Official as a whole (March 2016, including points 17 and 24); points 37-41 (June 2013); points 1,16 and 20 (May 2021); points 2-3, 8-9 and 12-13 (April 2024); and points 7, 10, 14-15, 18-19, 21, and 23 (April 2025). This article features points 25 and 27-30.

Neil Gumenick, MAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac.
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Acupuncture & Acupressure  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Beyond Pain Relief: Distal Acupuncture for Restoring Muscle Recruitment in Microtrauma (Pt. 2)
Distal Acupuncture for Restoring Muscle Recruitment in Microtrauma
Assessment-to-Treatment Workflow

Distal and contralateral needling remains one of acupuncture’s most reliable strategies for the treatment of pain, but in a recruitment-based focus, it becomes more than symptom relief; it enables immediate functional verification. The clinician tests a specific deficient action, needles a minimal set of contralateral points, and then retests under the same conditions to confirm restored contractility.

Andre Yershov, LAc
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Your Practice / Business
Three-Letter Marketing for Acupuncturists
Three-Letter Marketing for Acupuncturists
Why Short Message Service (SMS) Marketing Is Right for You

Do you receive text messages from companies letting you know about offers or giveaways, or simply sharing news? If your answer is yes, then you have opted in for SMS (short message service) text-message marketing. SMS text-message marketing uses various platforms and software to send personalized, timely and sometimes interactive messages.

Antonio Arias
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Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder marked by upper-gastrointestinal discomfort, altered digestion and reduced quality of life. This study examined whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), delivered to the auricular conchae, could improve FD symptoms and modulate brain networks linked to autonomic regulation, interoception and affect.

Sandro Graca, MSc, Lic TCM, FABORM
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Billing / Fees / Insurance  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Medicare Advantage Recoupment of Acupuncture Payments
Medicare Advantage Recoupment of Acupuncture Payments
Is It Medicare or Private Insurance? A Little Bit of Both

In early 2026 a trend arose in multiple state wherein MAP carriers were retroactively repricing the supplemental acupuncture to the Medicare Fee Schedule and attempting to recoup payments for non‑Medicare‑covered acupuncture supplemental benefits. Because stand‑alone acupuncturist services are statutorily excluded under Medicare, the Medicare Fee Schedule and sequestration rules should not automatically apply. Supplemental benefits should be governed by contract law, the insurance plan and state insurance law, not Medicare coverage rules.

Jeffrey Randolph, Esq.
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Sports Injuries
An Acupuncturist's Guide to Treating Tennis Elbow
An Acupuncturist's Guide to Treating Tennis Elbow
How It Develops, What to Look for and the Best Ways to Treat It

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a common injury caused by overuse of the tendons and muscles in the elbow as a result of repetitive motion. Despite its name and the fact the term was originally coined in 1873 as “lawn tennis elbow,” the condition has been known to affect far more than just tennis and racket sport players.

Michael Zakko, LAc
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Before You Use Your Needles...
Before You Use Your Needles...

When learning traditional East Asian medicine, we are taught the four pillars of diagnosis: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. When it comes to palpation, there is often a quick mention of feeling the acupuncture channels, and then the focus moves on to pulse diagnosis. Little to no time is spent palpating the channels – or the skin for that matter.

Kenton Sefcik, RAc, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. TCM
Herbal Medicine
Dit Da Jow in the House
Dit Da Jow in the House

In 1998, when I first started acupuncture school at the N.Y. College of Health Professions in Syosset, N.Y., I was into mixed martial arts. I always had some kind of minor injury or contusion. My buddy Ron, who was going to the same school, was tired of hearing me whine and complain about all my aches and pains. He suggested we should go to the college apothecary, collect a bunch of herbs and make Dit Da Jow.

Christopher Chapleau, DAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac., AIT, IMT, MSHP, CES, HMS
Women's Health  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Acupuncture and Herbal Treatment for Migraine in a PCOS Patient: Case Report
Acupuncture and Herbal Treatment for Migraine in a PCOS Patient: Case Report
Patient's 10/10 Migraine Linked to Oral Birth Control Pills

Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) are the first-line therapy for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patients. However, these medications can cause adverse effects such as nausea, headaches, and hypertension. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated efficacy in managing these side effects and improving the quality of life of affected patients.

Xueling Guo, DTCM, MS