The NCCAOM launched its new website and logo, along with a new designation for those nationally certified—NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturist. As the profession progresses in 2019 it's likely that national board certification will be a requirement for more employers.
Last year the Veteran's Administration (VA) added jobs for acupuncturists; however, a stipulation for employment rested on board certification.1 Another big player in the acupuncture field, Modern Acupuncture, also requires national board certification for employment. If 2018 is an indicator for what's to come it's likely acupuncturists will need this designation if they want to move ahead in certain areas of health care.
As the NCCAOM has been working diligently on helping acupuncturists move forward, they have also been gathering feedback from volunteers and various stakeholder groups to make some branding changes. The logo, now multi-colored, has a sleeker look, and the website has been updated with new navigation tools for a better user experience.
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.
