Governor Gavin Newsom has retracted the proposed budget cuts to the Medi-Cal acupuncture program for low-income Californians for the 2024-2025 budget year. This decision marks a significant victory for health care providers and advocates who have long championed acupuncture as a vital component of comprehensive medical care.
News in Brief
Texas College of TCM Announces Scholarship Program
The Texas College of Traditional College Medicine, in conjunction with the Lisa Lin Foundation, will award scholarships to 18 new students for the summer and fall semesters. While the summer semester deadline has already passed, prospective students still have until August 31 to apply for a scholarship for the fall semester. Each eligible student will receive up to $6000 for three years of study at the college. To apply, students must:
- Have completed a minimum of 60 college credits;
- Display their commitment to the school, and the study of traditional Chinese medicine, by writing a letter explaining why he or she is interested in attending the college;
- Fill out and return a completed application, along with the letter and other associated documents and fees.
Upon approval of the scholarship, students will be notified of their acceptance and scheduled for registration. For more information, contact Texas College by phone at (800) 252-5088, or online at www.texastcm.edu.
Canadian Universities to Study Herbal Medicine for ADHD
The University of Alberta has awarded a Canadian researcher a $250,000 grant to study the effectiveness of herbal remedies in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The University of British Columbia will also assist in the double-blind study, which is scheduled for completion this summer.
Dr. Michael Lyon, the director of research and education at the Oceanside Functional Medicine Research Institute in British Columbia, will direct the study. A total of 76 volunteers between the ages of six and 12 will participate. Half of the children will take an herbal product for six weeks, while the other half will receive a placebo. After six weeks, the children will take part in a two-week consultation program with researchers to determine what, if any, effect the remedy may have had.
"We want to apply the scrutiny of scientific research to see if it stands up," Lyon said.
Lyon conducted an informal study on herbal medicine and ADHD three years ago, which was accepted for publication by the Canadian Medical Association Journal. He expects the results of the current study to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine later this year.