Basketball Acupuncture Makes a Splash on National Television
As acupuncture makes its presence known outside the health care market, it is becoming a frequent subject in commercials, radio ads and other aspects of popular culture. In two of the latest examples of its increasing popularity, acupuncture formed the basis of the Sept. 7, 2003 episode of the popular show "Sex in the City," and was featured prominently in a feature on "Monday Night Football," bringing the benefits of acupuncture to more than 20 million viewers.
In the episode of "Sex and the City," the character Charlotte, played by Kristin Davis, visited an acupuncturist known as "Dr. Mao" to increase her chances of becoming pregnant. In addition to receiving acupuncture, Dr. Mao also taught Charlotte concentration techniques to tune out unwanted noise.
Eight days later, New York Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan was seen being treated with acupuncture needles on national television. During the halftime segment of the game between the Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, Strahan showed viewers what it was like during a typical week in the National Football League. On an off-day, Strahan visited an acupuncturist and received a series of treatments to his upper legs and lower back to treat a recurring back problem, along with a massage and adjustments to his neck and spine.
Nielsen ratings for the week of Sept. 15-21 show the football game featuring Michael Strahan's acupuncture treatment was watched by more than 18 million people. Another five million people watched Kristin Davis see an acupuncturist on "Sex and the City."
Bastyr Joins Dietary Supplement Education Agency
Bastyr University has joined the board of directors of the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance, a not-for-profit coalition that provides education and information on the benefits of dietary supplements in optimizing health and preventing disease. Bastyr will be represented on the board by Dr. Thomas Shepherd, the university's president. "
We are pleased to support the DSEA and their critical mission of providing accurate and objective scientific information about nutritional supplements to consumers," said Dr. Shepherd. "... Consumer education is a vital part of our mutual mission."
"We're very proud to be aligned in this effort with Bastyr University," said Elliot Balbert, chair of the DSEA Board. We also believe having Tom Shepherd representing Bastyr on our board will be a great asset."
Five Branches Welcomes New Faculty Members
Five Branches Institute has added three new practitioners to its faculty. They are:
In addition, Janice Walton-Hadlock, LAc, will return to the institute to supervise its internship program. Ms. Walton-Hadlock graduated from Five Branches in 1994, and is the author of a book on Parkinson's disease.
Over my almost 30 years in clinical practice, I have used Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang extensively for a wide array of clinical presentations ranging from chronic headaches to anxiety, insomnia, and prescription drug withdrawal symptoms if these situations fit the appropriate patterns – all with extremely positive clinical outcomes.
There’s no doubt that many of your patients visit your practice because they are in pain. And there’s certainly no doubt that curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) can be incredibly effective in stopping that pain, whether due to chronic conditions like arthritis or acute pain from intensive workouts. But your patients may also benefit from curcumin for other reasons.
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Low back pain is defined as pain the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), and it can be acute or chronic, localized or radiating. It is a common ailment for adults in the United States, with a lifetime prevalence as high as 65-80%. Whether or not an MRI is available to provide definitive knowledge of a structural issue, acupuncture can be an effective treatment for low back pain.
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