The Acupuncture Poll's question for November 2005 was:
Do you support the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 2005?
Results:
These results are based upon 423 responses. As this is a voluntary, non-scientific survey, caution should be used in generalizing the results. Listed below are a sampling of responses to the poll, along with how those respondents voted. Some responses have been edited for brevity or clarity.
Yes: The introduction of coverage within the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan, and even more importantly, Medicare, will open the door to what I feel is what will finally entrench acupuncture into the mainstream of modern medicine: the ability to work as paid staff members of hospitals throughout the country. Coming from a state that currently doesn't have third-party benefits, this would also open that elusive (though sometimes double-sided) door.
Yes: The need for diversification of options for new and current practitioners is vital to our continued existence. This bill will force all states to recognize us from an insurance standpoint, something that will be very costly to tackle on a state-by-state basis.
To vote in the current Acupuncture Poll, or to review comments and responses to previous poll questions, visit acupuncturetoday.com/acupuncturepoll.
Acupuncture can provide constipation relief while maintaining a healthy pregnancy. A combination of San Jiao 6 (Zhi Gou) and Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) is excellent for treating constipation during pregnancy. San Jiao 6 is the shu-stream and fire point of the San Jiao channel. It can regulate the qi of the three jiaos, unblock the qi of the fu organs, descend counterflow fire, open the orifices, activate the collaterals to disperse stagnation, and eliminate distention to stop pain.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
Mitochondria, the cell’s “powerhouses,” generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), regulate oxidative stress, and coordinate vital cellular functions. When mitochondrial health declines, patients may experience widespread effects, from impaired muscle recovery to cognitive decline. The mitochondrial theory of aging even suggests progressive mitochondrial deterioration is a central mechanism in chronic disease and systemic frailty. Photobiomodulation (PBM), the therapeutic use of red and near-infrared light, directly targets mitochondria to restore energy metabolism.
