On March 25, 2009, the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) signed a contract with Sam Brunelli, of Team Builders International (TBI), to serve as its new lobbying firm. Brunelli brings to the table an extensive portfolio of experiences and contacts. He served President Ronald Reagan as director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Education. In 1988, he became the executive director and CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Counsel. During his eight-year tenure, the ALEC became the nation's foremost legislative organization dedicated to limited government, state sovereignty and free-market enterprise. In 1996, Mr. Brunelli formed Team Builders International to lobby at the federal, state, and local level.
In addition to his lobbying experience, Brunelli also has direct experience with the benefits of acupuncture treatment. After college, he was a walk-on left defensive end and left offensive tackle, starting for the Denver Broncos for nearly a decade. Having received acupuncture with considerable success as a past NFL football star, he highly respects its use in sports rehabilitation.
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.
In prior issues, Neil discussed the Gallbladder Official as a whole (March 20 including points 17 and 24); points 37-41 (June 2013); points 1, 16, and 20 (May 2021); and points 2-3, 8-9, and 12-13 (April 2024). This article focuses on GB points 7, 10, 14-15, 18-19, 21, and 23.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability, often managed with pharmacological and surgical interventions. However, acupuncture has long been used as a non-invasive treatment for knee pain, and recent research provides new insights into its underlying mechanisms.
